This Hope
Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 08/11/2024
Foundation Scriptures:
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.
1 John 3:1-3 NKJV
1. Behold His Love.
a. Behold what an incredible quality of love the Father has given, shown, and bestowed upon us.
b. We stand amazed at what He has freely done for us.
c. We wonder and marvel at His mercy, grace, kindness, and undeserved favor.
d. He gave His only begotten Son to pour out His blood for our redemption and to adopt us into His very own family.
e. The Father wants our eyes, and our understanding, to be opened to comprehend, appreciate, and experience this wonderful love with which He loves us.
f. If we have a genuine revelation of His love, we will value and treasure it, and never abuse it or take it for granted.
2. Experience His Love.
a. The Lord wants us to be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, so that we can fully grasp and experience it (Eph. 3:17-18).
b. Ephesians 3:19 AMPC –– [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!
c. God IS love and His love must be practically experienced.
d. This love may not be understood by the natural mind, but it can be comprehended by the heart.
e. He gives us a brand-new heart and pours His love into it by the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 5:5).
f. It may not make sense that He could love the unlovable, but it is true anyway.
3. Adopted.
a. When we received Jesus as Lord and Savior, we were adopted into the family of God (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5).
b. 1 John 3:1a AMPC –– See what [an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are!
c. How wonderful is this love that we should even be allowed to be named and called and counted God’s very own children!
d. We are His children, and we look like Him and we act like Him.
e. 1 John 3:1b AMPC –– The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him.
f. The world—the unsaved world—does not know who we really are.
g. They do not recognize or acknowledge or accept us, because they do not recognize or acknowledge the Lord either.
h. The world will never accept or approve of the doctrines or manner of life of God’s children, because they do not approve of the person or authority of our Lord and Savior.
4. Like Him.
a. 1 John 3:2a AMPC –– Beloved, we are [even here and] now God’s children.
b. Even here and now—on this earth; in this life—we have been made God’s very own children.
c. We belong to Him now, as surely as we will belong to Him in eternity.
d. 1 John 3:2b AMPC –– …it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be [hereafter]…
e. It has not been made clear who or what we shall be in eternity.
f. It has not yet been fully manifested, revealed, or disclosed to us.
g. 1 John 3:2c AMPC –– …but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall [as God’s children] resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He [really] is.
h. When Jesus comes in person—is seen and manifested—we shall see Him as He is, in all His glory.
i. We know, because He has told us in His Word, that when He comes, we will be like Him—we will resemble, and act like Him.
5. Hope.
a. 1 John 3:3 AMPC –– And everyone who has this hope [resting] on Him cleanses (purifies) himself just as He is pure (chaste, undefiled, guiltless).
b. We have this hope, that Jesus is coming back for us.
c. That we will see Him and be caught up with Him in the air.
d. That we will see Him as He really is, and when we see Him, we will be like Him!
e. Jesus is pure—chaste, undefiled, guiltless, and unblameable.
f. Therefore, everyone who has this hope cleanses and purifies himself.
g. 1 John 2:6 AMPC –– Whoever says he abides in Him ought [as a personal debt] to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself.
h. Because we know that God’s Word is true and that Jesus is coming soon, we prepare ourselves to meet Him.
i. We know that we belong to Him.
j. We know that He has purged our hearts of sin, washed, and cleansed us.
k. We know that now sin has no more power over us.
l. We know that we are empowered by the Word and the Spirit of God to walk in love, righteousness, and purity.
m. And so, we prepare ourselves to meet Him by walking it out in our lives.
n. With His help, we practice purity, holiness, and godliness, even as we expectantly wait for His coming.