I John 3:1-3

Children of God.

Take notice of the love that God has for us: He has called us His children. Indeed Paul wrote of our adoption into the family of God. The love which brings this to pass has such depth that it is worthy of careful consideration.

We enter the world alienated from God, and so many suffer under that innate isolation, at odds with the Creator and generally unable to diagnose the cause. But the blood of the Savior is able to bring us near, wiping away the guilt in response to our repentance.

We find at the throne of God acceptance, affection, belonging, and security. None of that do we earn. It is the gift of a good God.

In a world in which we generally must earn everything we have, it is startling for those who are deeply guilty to find they are being freely pardoned. This has happened for so many. I assume that you too have found this acceptance in the open arms of the Savior. If you haven’t, you can.

Jesus cried out with sadness to the wayward in Israel of how often he longed to gather them close to Himself as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. (Matthew 23:37)

The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous runs into it and is lifted up to safety above the fray. (Proverbs 18:10)

Not only do we bear the name of children of God. This name is our reality in Christ. We are in fact the children of God. That is our true and permanent identity.

And yet it is still a wonder.

God is the almighty, eternal King. We can be His children? Amazing. We have been deeply guilty, yet He has pardoned and accepted us.

He loves you, and you cannot do anything to make Him love you more. It is written that Jesus loved His own to the end, that is, to the uttermost limit and deepest degree: the nails of Calvary. It was not because we were compellingly adorable, but because of His own matchless love. (John 13:1)

Being now the children of God, what will we be when we stand before Him in His presence? We are told very little except that we will be given new, perfect, spiritual bodies like His. John writes that we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is.

Make no mistake. Jesus will return some day, and in particular before the great day of wrath, He will come for the church and we will meet Him in the clouds. The dead in Christ will stand up again from their graves, and we who live on that day will be translated directly to glory. All will be changed by this miraculous new creative act of God.

This is a mighty hope, not wishful thinking, but a firm certainty as real as your arms and eyes and toothbrush. Entrusting ourselves to the promise of a God who cannot lie is the means by which we can see this future with confidence.

But John points out that those who abide in this hope are pursuing a life of purity, so that their lives match the life of their Savior.

We know of His freedom from sinning. We know of His grace to lead us too along a path free from sinning. It is obvious that spending eternity with a holy God will entail living in holiness. The grace of God teaches us through the word of God the way toward relief from the pain and guilt of sinning.

So reflect with wonder at God’s love shown to you in making you His child. Live in vibrant hope of the Lord’s soon presence, and make purity a high priority.

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