“Behold What Manner of

Love…”

1 John 2:28–3:3

28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Keep His commandments (2:3-27)

Abiding in Christ (2:28-3:3)

Loving the brethren (3:11-23)

Indwelling of His Spirit (3:24-4:21)

Believing Jesus is Messiah (5:1-13)

Answers to prayer (5:14-16)

Break patterns of continuous sin (3:4-10)

Abide = in close contact, a connection, a living union, communion

God’s Love inspires us to have an

Abiding Faith

1 John 2:24-29

A. Christ is coming again

B. Christians will appear before Him

And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:1

There is now therefore

(NET)

8 “Blessed is the one against whom the Lord will never count sin.”

7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

Romans 14:10,12 We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. …So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

A. God is Righteous

If you know that He is righteous, you know that every-one who practices righteousness is born of Him.

If you know that He is righteous, you know that every-one who practices righteousness is born of Him.

B. His Children are Righteous

Righteousness Is obtained

Not attained.

Behold what manner of love

Behold (plural) = “all of you behold”

A. The Extent of His Love

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us…

manner = “what kind of” - “Behold, what foreign kind of love the Father has bestowed upon us.”

has bestowed (perfect tense) “to give something to some one.”

Mt. 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel”

Mt. 10:16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves…

Lk. 2:34 “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel…”

Jn. 1:29 “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Mt. 21:5 “Behold, your King is coming to you…”

Mt. 25:6 “Behold, the bridegroom is coming…”

Lk. 24:39 “Behold My hands and My feet…”

Jn. 19:5 “Behold the Man!”

Rev. 1:7 “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him…”

Rev. 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.”

Rev. 22:7,12 “Behold, I am coming quickly…”

Rev. 21:5 “Behold, I make all things new.”

1 John 3:1

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!

B. The Expression of His Love

…that we should be called children of God!

called (kaleō) = the inauguration of a relationship

children (teknon) = born ones

Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

C. The Exclusivity of His Love

know (ginōskō) = to acquire knowledge through experience

present tense aorist tense

up till now the world has never known Him

the world does not presently know

D. The Effect of His Love

2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

Phil. 3:20–21 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

D. The Effect of His Love

2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness...”

The Nature of the Resurrection Body (1 Cor.15:35-58)

John 20:27—the wounds from his crucifixion were still visible

Luke 24:39—He was not a phantom—He looked human in every regard

Luke 24:13-18—the disciples never questioned His humanity after His resurrection

Luke 24:42-43—He ate real, earthly food

John 20:19-28—Yet-His body could pass through solid walls

Luke 24:36—He could suddenly appear out of no where

And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

(present tense) = makes and keeps himself pure

A. The Motivation: Hope (upon)

2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

B. The Model: Christ

“hope resting upon Him” “hope set on Him.”