PM 1 John 2:28-3:10 The Wonder of Being Children of God

[0:00] Welcome to you all to our service this evening. You may have been expecting Thompson Mackenzie.

[0:15] Unfortunately he has a throat problem and wasn't able to come so I'm stepping in for him today. So I notice this Wednesday our Bible study and prayer meeting 7 o'clock when Norman will be leading the meeting.

[0:37] Next Lord's Day we're expecting a visit from the Reverend Douglas Cranston. We're assured that it is permissible for him to come though he's coming from a level 3 area.

[0:48] As the preacher he is technically working so it is legally allowable. Jack is still in hospital following his heart attack.

[1:08] He's doing ok and he's hoping that he might be able to come home on Tuesday. But we think that might be optimistic. But we pray for him and we hope that he might be able to come home later this week.

[1:27] Thanks everyone for their prayers and asks to be remembered to you. He is very thankful to God for all his mercies toward him.

[1:37] Just mentioned these Christian Institute autumn lectures continuing tomorrow night 7.30. Lecture on Christian leadership in times of crisis.

[1:52] Well that's very appropriate isn't it with the US election. I'm sure you'll be able to locate that online if you'd like to hear that. Minutes of the annual congregational meeting are on the table behind Jane.

[2:09] And just to mention that the work on the dry rot has been delayed until the roofer is available. So we will be here in this lower hall for some weeks to come.

[2:22] Total cost is expected to be around £21,000 and grant applications have been made. Let's come before God in prayer and seek his presence with us.

[2:44] Our gracious God and Father we come into your holy presence tonight. Acknowledging you to be our King, our Lord, our Judge, but also wonderfully our Redeemer.

[3:03] We thank you for the Lord Jesus Christ whom you have sent to die on the cross for us and to rise again. And we thank you for the Holy Spirit whom you have sent into our hearts.

[3:15] Who has drawn us through Christ to yourself. Lord, we desire that Christ may be honoured and glorified tonight. We desire that we may all be sensitive to the voice of the Spirit.

[3:31] We ask that we might know the presence of our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit in our midst. We ask for the forgiveness of our many sins.

[3:43] And we pray that we may enjoy your gracious blessing this night. For we ask in Jesus Christ's name.

[3:54] Amen. Amen. Our first psalm tonight is Psalm 46. The first version, 46a in sing-salms.

[4:11] God is our refuge and our strength. Our ever-present aid. And therefore, though the earth gives way, we will not be afraid.

[4:22] We will hear verses 1 to 6. We will hear verses 1 to 6. The first verse, we will hear verses 1 to 6. God is our refuge and our strength.

[4:33] Our ever-present aid.

[4:44] Our ever-present aid. The earth gives way, we will not be afraid.

[4:57] We will not be afraid. O mountains fall into the sea, O waters of my Lord, we will not fear.

[5:23] O mountains free, as we in the crowded shore.

[5:36] The river goes to streets in night, the city of our God.

[5:55] The holy place in which the Lord, O Zion, is our Lord.

[6:13] God is within His holy place. The city will not yield.

[6:31] For God will come and lift the wind to be a help and shield.

[6:50] The nations are in Israel. The kingdom's Israel.

[7:07] The kingdom's Israel.

[7:38] The writings of John. First is from John's Gospel. The opening verses. Chapter 1, verses 1 to 13.

[8:04] John 1, verse 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

[8:17] He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.

[8:28] In Him was life, and the light was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

[8:41] There was a man sent from God. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through Him.

[8:54] He was not the light. He was not the light. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

[9:08] He was in the world, and the world was made through Him. Yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.

[9:25] But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

[9:48] Now we turn to 1 John, chapter 2, reading from verse 28 through into chapter 3, verse 10. 1 John 2, verse 28.

[10:08] And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence, and not shrink from Him in shame at His coming.

[10:24] If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.

[10:39] See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And so we are. The reason why the world does not know us, is that it did not know Him.

[10:56] Beloved, we are God's children now. And what we will be has not yet appeared, but we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.

[11:14] And everyone who thus hopes in Him, purifies himself as He is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning, also practices lawlessness.

[11:29] Sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin.

[11:41] No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning. No one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him or known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you.

[11:57] Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil.

[12:08] For the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

[12:20] No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.

[12:31] By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil. Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

[12:54] Let's bow together now again in prayer. Heavenly Father, we give thanks to you for the word of God, which we have read.

[13:07] We have read wonderful things here. Wonderful things concerning Christ Himself, being the eternal word of God, and coming into this world to save us from our sins.

[13:23] Wonderful things concerning ourselves, that we are counted as believers, as the children of God. But also, Lord, we have read very challenging things.

[13:39] We have read these great statements about righteousness, and about those who continue in sin, being of the devil. Lord, we tremble as we read such passages, for we all know our own sinfulness.

[13:56] And though we confess Christ as our Saviour, we know how often we have strayed from Him, and how often we must have grieved Him.

[14:11] Lord, therefore, we ask for your gracious forgiveness for the cleansing of the blood of Jesus Christ. We pray that you will lead us in the ways of righteousness, just as the word of God has promised, that you would be the good shepherd to us, that we might be led in the ways of righteousness, for your namesake.

[14:37] We pray that you would purify us as a church, grant us as a church, to shine forth with the light of Christ in this present generation in which we live.

[14:54] We know that the moral tide has gone a long, long way out. And though we're aware of sin within ourselves, yet as we look around, we see a world that is accepted so much that is sinful, a world in which so often good is spoken of as evil, and evil as good.

[15:19] And we tremble for our nation, knowing that we deserve the judgment of God. We tremble for our world, knowing that we are no better than the world in the days of Noah.

[15:35] But Lord, you are a gracious and loving God, and therefore we pray that the Spirit of God might be sent forth to move upon this world, to draw people out of darkness into your glorious light.

[15:54] Grant us in this country of Scotland that we might see days of revival. We know from past history what is possible.

[16:07] And we long, Lord, for such great things to happen in our own generation. We pray specifically for this town of Dumfries. We ask that all of the churches in this town might experience your abundant blessing, and that we ourselves here may not be overlooked.

[16:28] Grant us the privilege, Lord, of serving you, and grant us that we may be fruitful in that service. But around the world too, Lord, we pray for the spread of the Gospel, for your protective hand upon missionaries in every land, for your Spirit to be with those who have to face grace opposition.

[16:54] Lord, we've read how the Lord Jesus Christ himself came into the world, and the world did not know him. And we know that that experience is reflected also in the lives of your people in so many countries, where the light is shining through them and the darkness refuses to see it.

[17:22] O Heavenly Father, have mercy upon those who persecute your people and turn their hearts and grant, Lord, to those who are persecuted much courage to stand firm in the midst of all their trials and all their sufferings.

[17:41] We pray, Heavenly Father, for this church in all of its day-by-day activities. Pray that you would be with Norman as he prepares for the midweek meeting.

[17:56] Pray that you'll be with Douglas Cranston as he prepares to come to us next Lord's Day. Remember Thompson before you and pray that whatever problem it is that he has with his throat, it may be cured and that he might be fully well again soon.

[18:15] We remember our brother Jack with much affection and with much desire that his recovery might continue. Lord, we do long for him to be able to go back home again to enjoy the quiet and comfort of his own home and to convalesce fully.

[18:38] We long for a day to come soon when he may be able to come back amongst us here. Truly, Lord, we treasure each one of your saints.

[18:49] Being the children of God, we know that we are brothers and sisters in Christ and we pray for blessings upon the whole family of God. We pray for each one here with all of the varied struggles and challenges that we face, whether in our health or whether in our families, whatever difficulties we face, help us to do so as the servants of Christ.

[19:15] And Lord, grant us that we may, all of us, have much joy in being servants of Christ. Grant us all that we may be seen by the world to be full of joy and peace because Christ is in us and with us.

[19:36] We do pray for the world rulers and particularly we continue to pray for President-elect Joe Biden in America. We ask you, Lord, as he begins to choose the people who will serve in ministry with him, give him wisdom in his choice, we pray that you'll guide him into good policies.

[20:01] But Lord, we pray that that country that has known so much blessing in the gospel might be healed of its disunity and that people might once again quietly turn to the Lord himself and turn away from all the noise of politics and from all the hatred that is being expressed at present and rediscover the love of God.

[20:29] we pray for those parts of the world where there is violence and strife, we think particularly of Armenia and Azerbaijan at this time, but there are other places too where there is still war and on this Remembrance Sunday we do pray that peace may come.

[20:53] Truly, as we heard sung, the nations are in disarray, but when God shall speak with his voice the earth shall be silenced.

[21:05] Thank you that it is in your power to make wars to cease to the end of the earth. And though we know that the word of God has warned us there will be wars and rumours of wars, yet we venture to pray that peace may come to those troubled parts of the earth at the present.

[21:24] draw near to us now as we look into your word and speak to us through it we pray. We ask all in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

[21:38] Amen. Amen. Well, before we look at the word of God we'll hear another psalm being sung and it is Psalm 25 from the Scottish Psalter the first version verses 1 to 7 Beginning to thee I lift my soul O Lord I trust in thee my God let me not be ashamed nor foes triumph o'er me Psalm 25 to thee I lift my soul O Lord I trust in thee my God let me not be outshamed nor foes die out for me

[22:43] Lord I trust in thee to thee to me the duty and command I am to thee shall have Him To thee the know what I trust that must have wilt Can help himself with damn administr us as as as Thank you.

[23:42] Thank you.

[24:12] Thank you. Thank you.

[25:12] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[25:24] Thank you. Thank you.

[25:56] Chapter 2 verse 28 through to chapter 3 and verse 10. I'll read again just the beginning of chapter 3 verse 1. See what kind of love the Father has given to us that we should be called children of God.

[26:16] And so we are. One of the most helpful books that I've ever read is a little paperback book by John Blanchard.

[26:34] What in the world is a Christian? It looks at some of the many titles that are given to us in scripture.

[26:47] To name just a few we're called saints. In Ephesians 1 for example to the saints who are in Ephesus.

[26:58] We're called sheep. John 10 27. My sheep hear my voice. We're called servants. We're called servants. Revelation 22 verse 3.

[27:12] His servants shall serve him. We're called soldiers. 2 Timothy 2 verse 3. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

[27:25] Sons. And much else besides. John Blanchard begins however quite rightly with the greatest title of all.

[27:39] Keeping up with the alliteration of words beginning with S. We are sons. That's the word that's used in the authorised version here.

[27:53] Behold what manner of love the father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God. And that word is also used in many other places.

[28:10] The ESV has opted for the more neutral children of God. And with good reason. The Greek word is tekna.

[28:21] Which is a more neutral word. Though the more specific huyoi. Meaning sons. Is used in many other places.

[28:37] Well I want us to look tonight at this wonderful title. The children of God. We found it expounded here.

[28:49] Verses 1 to 3. What it means. To be a child of God. Maintaining our theme of real Christianity.

[29:00] We could say that real Christians. Are children of God. We will however also look at the more difficult verses either side of that.

[29:16] Which link that thought of being children of God with righteousness. I want us to consider firstly.

[29:28] That the righteous are children of God. At the end of chapter 2. Then the wonder of being children of God.

[29:40] In chapter 3 verses 1 to 3. And then the proof of being children of God. In verses 4 to 10.

[29:53] So first then. The righteous are children of God. Let me read again those verses at the end of chapter 2.

[30:04] And now little children abide in him. So that when he appears we may have confidence. And not shrink from him in shame at his coming.

[30:17] If you know that he is righteous. You may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness. Has been born of him. And if we are born of him.

[30:31] Born of God. Then we are children. Of God. John once again addresses them here.

[30:42] Affectionately. As little children. As he did back in verse 1. And again verse 18. All of this is written in love.

[30:53] To people who he believes to be Christians. He repeats the advice that he had given them earlier. Abide in Christ.

[31:03] Abide in Christ. That really is the key to absolutely everything. In the Christian life. As Jesus said in John 15. Abide in me.

[31:16] And I in you. In him we are safe. In him we are fruitful. In him. In him. In him. We are blessed.

[31:28] Outside of him. There is nothing. But the wrath of God. But he applies it now.

[31:38] Especially to the second coming. Of Christ. He had in fact already said. Back in verse 18. It is the last hour.

[31:51] Now he focuses. Upon that second coming. Christ is coming again. Are you ready for him? If you are abiding in him.

[32:05] Then you will be. Now John speaks here. Of some who will shrink with shame.

[32:16] At his coming. What does he mean by that? There are some who imagine. That he is talking here. About Christians.

[32:27] Being ashamed. Because they have fallen short. In some way. I don't think that. That can possibly be true.

[32:40] If it were possible. To be ashamed. At his coming. Then let's be honest. We all would be. Because we have all fallen short. And whenever the Bible.

[32:53] Speaks of the second coming. Of Christ. It speaks of his people. Rejoicing. It's a day of great rapture. Meeting Christ in the air. How can it possibly.

[33:06] Be a time for shame. Those who are ashamed. At his coming. I believe. Are quite simply.

[33:17] Those who are not. Trusting in Christ. It says in Psalm 25. None who wait for you. Shall be put to shame.

[33:29] They shall be ashamed. Who are wantonly treacherous. Again in Psalm 31. In the Lord. Do I take refuge.

[33:39] Let me never be put to shame. The opposite of abiding in Christ. Is departing from Christ. Depart from Christ.

[33:51] And you will be ashamed. How terrible that would be. If at the last day. Having departed from your saviour.

[34:02] Then you have to face him. As your judge. Depart from Christ. And you will be ashamed. But abide in Christ. And you can look forward.

[34:14] To his coming. With joy. Abiding in Christ. However. Necessarily. Means.

[34:25] Living a righteous life. He is after all. Jesus Christ. The righteous. That's what John called him. Back in verse 1. Righteousness.

[34:38] Righteousness. John says here. Is a test. Of spiritual life. Not the only test. But a test. Of spiritual life. If you know that he.

[34:50] That is Christ. Is righteous. You may be sure. That everyone who practices righteousness. Is born of him. In my very first ever.

[35:04] Biology lesson. At school. I remember learning. The seven. Marks. Of. A living being. Movement.

[35:16] Respiration. Sensitivity. Growth. Reproduction. Excretion. And. Nutrition. I checked it up online.

[35:29] And. Scientists now. Have a whole list of 15. Different marks. Of a living being. But those were the seven. That they taught me. Back in the 1960s.

[35:41] Well. John is here. Giving us. Just one. Mark. Of a living. Child. Of God. Righteousness.

[35:52] He's not saying. That we're saved. By righteousness. We're not. We're saved. By faith. In our Lord.

[36:02] Jesus Christ. But righteousness. Is. A sign. A mark. Of spiritual life. When a baby.

[36:15] Is born. And we've had. Quite a few of those. And more to come. They look. Don't they. For signs. Of life. Usually. It's fairly obvious.

[36:25] From the very first moment. There'll be a cry. There'll be some sort of movement. If there's nothing. Then of course. You start to worry. Well.

[36:38] Here is one sign. Of spiritual life. If a person. Is born. Of God. If you're born again. If you're a child. Of God. Then there will be. Righteousness.

[36:49] Real. Practical. Righteousness. He who. Practices. Righteousness. Notice. Is the phrase. That he uses. Might not be very evident.

[37:01] Right from. The moment. You're born again. But it will certainly. Become evident. In the days. That follow. It is. The mark.

[37:13] Of a child. Of God. Righteousness. Now. This mention. Of being born. Of God. Leads John.

[37:24] To this. Rapturous. Reflection. On that theme. At the beginning. Of chapter three. Let's now look. At the wonder. Of being a child.

[37:35] Of God. See what kind of love. The father has given us. He says. The NIV. Has. Love that the father. Has lavished.

[37:46] Upon us. That we should be called. Children of God. And so we are. The AV translates it.

[37:56] Behold. What manner. Of love. In other words. Look. Stop. Whatever you were doing. Stop. Whatever you were thinking. About before.

[38:07] Stop. And look. At this. Amazing sight. It's one of many such. Exclamations. In scripture. Behold. The lamb of God.

[38:19] Behold. The man. Behold. Your king. Well here. Behold. God's love. In calling us.

[38:31] His children. Here is a very special blessing. A wonderful blessing. Given to us. As Christians. Christians. Now.

[38:42] Some. Might say. At this point. Aren't we all. The children of God. What's so special. In Christians. Being called. Children of God. Surely all mankind. Are God's children.

[38:56] Well. There is a measure. Of truth. In that. We have all. Been. Made. By God. God. We have all. Been made. In his image. We've received.

[39:08] Our physical life. From God. He cares. About us all. The whole. Of mankind. But in that sense. Paul quotes.

[39:19] Approvingly. From the. Greek poet. Aratus. In act. 17. We are all. His offspring. But the problem is.

[39:30] That mankind's. Relationship. With God. Has been. Broken. By sin. The family. Has been. Shattered.

[39:41] By what happened. In the garden. Of Eden. And it can. Only be. Properly. Restored. In Christ. Therefore.

[39:53] John says. In the prologue. To his gospel. Which we read. To all. Who received him. Who believed. In his name. He gave the right. To become. Children of God.

[40:05] Who were born. Not of blood. Nor of the will. Of the flesh. Nor of the will. Of man. But of God. In other words. Only those. Who have believed. In Christ. Have the right.

[40:15] Now. To call themselves. Truly. Children of God. All mankind. No longer. Has that right. Christ. In the strict.

[40:26] And purest. And truest. Sense. Only Christians. Are the children. Of God. To become. A child of God.

[40:36] In this full. Spiritual sense. You. Must be. Born. Again. And that is a miracle. Brought about. By God.

[40:46] God. Now. How amazing. This is. That we should be. The children. Of God. How amazing.

[40:59] It is. That. The almighty. God. Who rules. The universe. Should count. Us. Small. And insignificant. Though we are. As his children.

[41:12] I often. Wonder. How the. Royal. Children. Prince George. And. Princess Charlotte. And Prince Louis. How they must feel.

[41:23] About their great grandma. Being queen. And living in a great big palace. And ruling the whole country. While our father.

[41:35] Sits on the throne of heaven. And rules over the entire world. God. How amazing.

[41:46] It is. That the holy God. Who is perfectly. Righteous. Should. Accept us. Who are sinners.

[41:56] And rebels. Against him. As his children. He would have every right. To disown us. Wouldn't he? You know.

[42:07] In some families. If. Child grows up. And. I don't know. Gets involved in. Drink and drugs. And so on. Sometimes. The parents. Do get to the point. Of exasperation.

[42:18] Don't they? Where they say. He is no longer my son. Tragic. When it happens. But you can understand it. And you could understand.

[42:29] God. Saying that of us. With all of our sins. Is. But he doesn't. Even as Christians. We've continued. So often.

[42:39] To rebel against us. And yet still. He says. No. These are my children. And I love them. God. Has adopted us.

[42:51] Into his family. God loves us. He accepts us. As his children. How wonderful. That is. God.

[43:03] In contrast. However. John says. The world. May reject us. The reason. Why the world. Does not know us.

[43:14] He says. Is that it did not. Know him. Again. Think back. To John 1. He was in the world. And the world. Was made through him.

[43:24] And yet the world. Did not know him. He came to his own. And his own people. Did not receive him. But to all. Who received him. He gave the right. To become children. Of God.

[43:39] They rejected Christ. They will reject us. Also. Just as Jesus said. In John 15. If the world hates you. Know that it hated me.

[43:50] Before it hated you. But that's only. A small problem. For the Christian. The joy.

[44:01] Of being loved. By God. The wonder. Of being his child. Far outweighs. Any suffering. That we might experience. In the world.

[44:14] And the future. Is bright. As John goes on. To say. Beloved. We are God's children now. And what we will be. Has not yet appeared. But we know.

[44:25] That when he appears. We shall be like him. Because we shall see him. As he is. John is still thinking. You see.

[44:35] Of the second coming. And he's looking forward to it. Unknown glory. Awaits us then. As the children of God. We know a little.

[44:47] Of course. Partly because. John himself. Has revealed it to us. In the book of Revelation. We know. That we shall live forever. In a glorious new world.

[44:58] New heavens. And a new earth. In which righteousness dwells. We know. That we shall be free. From sin. And from sorrow. Forever. Above all.

[45:10] We know. That we shall see Christ. And we shall worship him. And serve him forever. Forever. But also. He says here.

[45:22] We shall be like him. Necessarily so. Because nothing unholy. Can enter into heaven. Now if you stop to think about it.

[45:35] That requires a further. Great miracle. Doesn't it? We need to be changed. Into his likeness. Likeness. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15.

[45:47] Behold I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep. But we shall all be changed. In a moment. In the twinkling of an eye. At the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound.

[45:58] And the dead shall be raised. Imperishable. And we shall be changed. Isn't that something glorious. To be looked forward to. But the true Christian.

[46:10] Doesn't want to wait till then. As far as it's possible. We want to be like Christ now. And so John. Says.

[46:22] Everyone who thus hopes in him. Purifies himself. As he is pure. You know that sometimes.

[46:32] A younger child. Will imitate his older brother. Or sister. May not do it very well. But he wants to be like him.

[46:43] Well as Christians. We want to be like our elder brother. Robert Murray McShane. Put it beautifully. Lord make me as holy.

[46:55] As a pardoned sinner can be. Which brings us back. To the theme of righteousness. John hasn't forgotten.

[47:05] What he was saying. At the end of chapter 2. That righteousness. That righteousness. Is the mark. Of a child of God. So let's look then finally.

[47:16] At the proof. Of being a child of God. In verses 4 to 10. And John sets before us here. The very challenging truth.

[47:28] That a real Christian. Cannot. Continue. In sin. Sin. He approaches this. From two angles.

[47:40] The nature of sin. In verses 4 to 6. And then the origin of sin. In verses 7 to 10. Reasoning. In both cases. That if Christ.

[47:51] Came to remove sin. We cannot possibly. Continue. In it. So first.

[48:02] The nature of sin. In verse 4. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning. Also practices lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared.

[48:14] In order to take away sin. And in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him. Keeps on sinning. No one who keeps on sinning.

[48:27] Has either seen him. Or known him. The AV translates it. Rather alarmingly. Whosoever abideth in him.

[48:40] Sinneth not. Whoever keeps himself in Christ. Does not sin. I know some.

[48:52] Who have been. Driven to despair. By that thought. Because we know. That we do sin. And I've known people. Who reflecting on that.

[49:03] Have said. Yes but I sin. Therefore I can't possibly. Be a Christian. But that can't possibly. Be John's meaning here. He himself.

[49:14] Has admitted. Back in chapter 1. That we all sin. So he can't be saying now. That if you're a Christian. You don't sin. The ESV I believe.

[49:26] Has captured the true meaning of it. When it speaks of making. A practice. Of sinning. The tense of the Greek verbs. Actually favors.

[49:37] That idea of continuity. The problem is not. Occasional sins. Or even. Repeated sins. But a life.

[49:49] Of sin. Sin is lawlessness. John says. It's a deliberate. Breaking of the law. Of God. As the children of God.

[50:01] How can we possibly. Break his law. Deliberately. Continually. All the time. Especially when we consider.

[50:12] That Christ. Came into this world. For this very purpose. To die. To die. For our sins. Earlier. You may have. Noticed.

[50:23] He was speaking of Christ's. Second coming. As a motivation. For righteousness. Now he's speaking of his. First coming. As a motivation. For righteousness.

[50:35] Christ. Came into this world. Specifically. To take away. To take away. To take away sin. John the Baptist said. Behold the Lamb of God. Who takes away. The sin of the world.

[50:47] It cost him his life. To do so. Dying. In agony. On the cross. In our place. As a sacrifice. For sin.

[51:00] And you want to go on sinning. It's thought. That some of the. Gnostic heretics. In John's day. Taught that.

[51:12] Knowing God. Was all that mattered. And that the way we live. Was of no importance. There may also. Have been some. Who misinterpreted.

[51:22] The doctrine of justification. By faith. Paul writes. With exasperation. Doesn't he. In Romans 6. About those. Who suggest.

[51:32] That we can go on sinning. Because God. Will freely. Forgive us. All our sins. Anyone. Who thinks like this. John says. Has neither seen him.

[51:44] Nor known him. Anyone. Who abides. In Christ. Will want to be like him. We will want. To be righteous. Because he's righteous.

[51:56] We're glad. That our sins. Have been taken. Taken away. And we want. Nothing more. To do. With sin. But then also.

[52:09] He reminds us. Of the origin. Of sin. And it's links. With the devil. In verse 7. Little children. Still that. Tender. Affectionate. Way of addressing them.

[52:20] Notice. He's not trying. To frighten them. Here. With unreasonable. Demands. Little children. Let no one. Deceive you. Whoever practices. Righteousness.

[52:31] Is righteous. As he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice. Of sinning. Is of the devil. For the devil. Has been sinning. From the beginning.

[52:42] The reason. The son of God. Appeared. Was to destroy. The works. Of the devil. Recall. How sin. Entered.

[52:52] The world. In the garden. Of Eden. Adam and Eve. Gave in. To the temptation. Of the devil. The Bible says. Little of the.

[53:03] Origin of the devil. Though there are hints. That he was a fallen angel. Who rebelled. Against God. But he was always a sinner. And he would drag us down.

[53:15] Into sin. Do you really want that? Recall what Jesus said. About the devil. In John chapter 8.

[53:25] He was a murderer. From the beginning. Do you really want to be. On the side of a murderer? Especially when we consider.

[53:36] That Christ came to destroy. The works of the devil. His death on the cross. Was to set us free. From the grip. Of the devil.

[53:46] Do you really want to be. Back in his grip again? And when Christ returns. The devil will be cast.

[53:57] Into the lake of fire. Do you really want. To go down with him? Surely not. Christ has.

[54:10] Delivered us from. The power of the devil. And we belong to him now. We've turned. From darkness to light. We've turned. From Satan to God.

[54:22] And we have God's power now. Within us. Resisting sin. As he says here. In verse 9. No one born of God. Makes a practice of sinning.

[54:33] For God's seed. Abides in him. And he cannot keep on sinning. Because he has been born. Of God. God's seed here.

[54:45] God's seed here. Could be taken to be. His word. Or his spirit. Or even Christ himself. It comes to the same. There is a new spirit of life in us.

[54:58] That hates sin. It's not that it's impossible for us to sin. Sadly we know we can. But there is now.

[55:09] A revulsion. Against sin. Imagine yourself in some far away land. Where they eat all kinds of outrageous things.

[55:22] And you're asked to eat perhaps. A fried worm. Or a boiled beetle. You'd recoil from it wouldn't you. You might say.

[55:33] I can't eat that. Or if you did eat it. You might feel ill. Immediately afterwards. Just at the thought of it. So it is with sin.

[55:47] It's something alien to us. We recoil from it. And if we do commit sin. We feel terrible about it afterwards.

[55:57] Think about Joseph. In the Old Testament. When he was tempted. By Potiphar's wife. How can I do.

[56:08] This great wickedness. And sin against God. Was possible for him to do it. Of course it was. He might have been attracted.

[56:19] To the idea. I don't know. But he simply couldn't. When he thought about. What it meant. But you might say.

[56:30] Well. Okay. But what about David. He did fall into temptation. With Uriah's wife Bathsheba. Yes. And sometimes we will fall into temptation.

[56:43] But look how he repented later. When he realized what he'd done. Psalm 51. He pleads with God. Wash me thoroughly.

[56:53] From my iniquity. And cleanse me. And cleanse me. From my sin. He feels unclean. Because of what he's done. He hates the very thought of it. He can't understand.

[57:04] How he could possibly. Have done it. That's how it is. With the child of God. Free church theologian.

[57:15] Robert Candlish. Describes it as. A moral impossibility. For the child of God. To sin. Yes we can. Yes we do.

[57:27] But it is something we hate. Something we recoil from. Something we instantly repent of. Because it's against. The new nature. That is in us.

[57:42] John rounds off his argument. With a stark contrast. By this. It is evident. Who are the children of God. And who are the children of the devil. Whoever does not practice righteousness.

[57:54] Is not of God. Nor is the one who. Does not love his brother. That's very black and white. Isn't it? Child of the devil.

[58:05] Sounds harsh. But that's what Jesus called the Pharisees. Isn't it? John 8. You are of your father the devil. Very simply.

[58:16] The children of God. Have the character of God. That is how you can tell. Between a true child of God. And a child.

[58:27] Of the devil. Brotherly love of course. Takes us into the next section. Of 1 John. And we'll. Look at that. God's willing.

[58:38] Next time. But for now. Let me. Close with. The challenge. Are you. A child of God.

[58:51] If you have. The slightest doubt. About it. Then you must. Do something. About that. Because the alternative. Is unthinkable. If you do.

[59:04] Find yourself. On the wrong side. Of the divide. And you don't want to be. Then there is. A very simple answer. And it's right there.

[59:14] In that prologue. Of John's gospel. Which we read earlier. To all who received him. Who believe. In his name. He gave the right.

[59:25] To become. Children. Of God. Believe in him. Believe in Christ. And you'll find yourself. To be truly. On the right side.

[59:36] Of the divide. A member. Of his family. But most of you. I'm sure. Can confidently say. That you are. The children of God.

[59:48] Though probably. Like me. You have to admit. That you're not. A very good one. If you are. If you are. Conscious of failure. If you do feel.

[59:59] Ashamed. About some of your behavior. Again. The answer is easy. And it's right here. In 1 John. 1 John 1 verse 9.

[60:10] If we confess. If we confess. Our sins. He is faithful. And just. To forgive us. Our sins. And to cleanse us. From all. Unrighteousness.

[60:20] But however far. You may feel yourself. To be from. The ideal. That John sets.

[60:31] Before us here. Hold fast. To that truth. That you are. A child of God. That God. The father. Loves you. With an everlasting.

[60:42] Love. This is not an honor. That we have. Earned. For ourselves. It's an honor. That has been given. To us. See what manner of love.

[60:52] Has been given. To us. Bestowed upon us. Lavished upon us. It comes from God. It's all of grace.

[61:03] God has loved us. With an everlasting love. And sent his son. To die for us. And sent his spirit. To draw us. To himself. He's done everything. To make us.

[61:14] His own. And whatever. The faults. We may have still. He is at work in us. He is bringing up. His children. Parents.

[61:26] Among you here. You. Take great. Delight and pleasure. In bringing up. Your children. You have great hopes. From them. You're never going to. Desert them. Or leave them. You care for them.

[61:37] And you train them. And you teach them. That they may be. Everything that they should be. When they grow up. God is doing the same. With his children. Doing the same.

[61:48] With each one of us. That trusts in him. For all our faults. And failures. He's not going to give up on us. He delights. In raising us up. To be his own.

[62:00] In the image. Of his own son. We are. As Paul puts it. Being changed. From one degree.

[62:10] Of glory. To another. Until one day. We shall bear. Clearly. And with purity. The image. Of Christ.

[62:23] Praise God. For his love. Toward us. May we all. Respond. With lives. Devoted to him. Amen. Amen. Close our service now.

[62:39] By hearing. The hymn. Love divine. All loves. Excelling. First verse.

[62:50] Begins. Love divine. All loves. Excelling. Joy of heaven. To earth. Come down. Fix in us. Thy humble dwelling. All by. Faithful. Mercies.

[63:00] Crown. It ends with these wonderful words. Changed from glory. Into glory. Till in heaven we take our place. Till we cast our crowns before thee.

[63:14] Lost in wonder. Love. And praise. O divine. Lord.

[63:24] Excelling. Joy of heaven. Moon Will about.

[63:48] Hildman. All known. Brothers. Good. Fades it out with thy salvation, Lent of every trembling heart.

[64:12] Come, Almighty, to deliver, Let us, Lord, thy light receive.

[64:24] Suddenly, return, and never, Never fuller, Gig Behold, the Old as체적in'. reconsider!

[64:37] Jeette me, woulth me, o'musit Sign God we are as they Pharaoh submit.

[64:50] Pray, God, raise the will of season, glory in thy perfect heart.

[65:05] To me shed thy new creation, your love and stars let us be.

[65:19] Let us see thy great salvation, where the day is not in me.

[65:31] Change the glory to God, where the earth is made of grace.

[65:45] Till the great cross the crowns be found, mercy will come, your name be.

[66:01] Amen. Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all evermore.

[66:18] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[66:31] Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you.