Real Transformational Change - Part 2

Real Transformational Change - Part 2

Text: I John 3:1-3 Date: 3-8-26

I. Our present position: From sinners to sons (I John 3:1-2a)

• This relationship is a direct result of God’s love for us (3:1a).
• We have been admitted to the family of God (3:1b; 2a)

We aren’t just called children; we are NOW God’s children!

This sonship is a present reality and not a future promise. Our identity in this sonship is eternal and secure. Every person who has been born again enjoys the greatest relationship in the world. Every person who has been born again has been adopted into the family of God.

Application: How do you and I live in light of our physical relationships? Do we make daily decisions predicated on our relationships? Let me ask you about your spiritual familial relationship and how you make decisions? Do you give thought to the truth that you not only represent the family of God, but that you are a part of the family of God?

Questions:

• What does it mean to you personally to be called a child of God?
• How does knowing God as your Father affect the way you pray, think, and live?
• Are there areas in your life where you struggle to believe or live like you belong to God?
• What behaviors or habits reflect your relationship with your heavenly Father? If someone saw you tonight, would they know you are a child of God? The world may not, but other believers should.
• The world cannot relate to this relationship (3:1c)

**The world hates us and doesn’t recognize us as God’s children based on their rejection of Jesus Christ. See John 15:18

**We face a hostile world because the world hates us as much as they hate Jesus Christ.

**We must not be surprised by a hatred of the world toward us.

**Why do we love the world that hates us so much? I John 2:15-17

II. Our future transformation: From earthly to eternal (I John 3:2b-d)

“and it doth NOT YET appear what we shall be”: What we will be has not been revealed yet. God’s plan has not been finally realized. We become sons (and daughters) at the moment of salvation. We have an amazing present reality, but the future is even more wonderful. The best is yet to come as they say.

Application: While our future glory is hidden yet, one day we will have our full transformation. Each day we are made more and more Christlike. The mark of Christlikeness is that desire to live as children of God in light of our heavenly citizenship (Phil 3:20; II Cor. 3:18).

“but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like Him”: Here is the favored or fortunate [blessed] hope! Jesus Christ will appear and gather His own at the rapture! We are waiting for this to happen. Even when we don’t know the exact timing, the guarantee is in place.

“for we shall see him as he is”: Here is our final revelation. We cannot see Christ as He is if we haven’t first been transformed to be like Him!

III. Our present practice: From darkness to light (I John 1:3)

Have you ever thought about what it will be like when you and I meet Jesus Christ for the first time? Will we be ashamed? Will we have regrets? Will we be overjoyed? Will we just fall flat on our faces? The future coming of Jesus Christ must have a life-changing, perfecting effect on our lives. ..

Application: Our past conformity (new birth/children) coupled with the future conformity (we shall be like Him) should motivate us to daily align our thoughts, words and actions with the glorious position we have been granted through salvation with the help of the Holy Spirit. Real, authentic spiritual change happens when we live in light of our position as a child of God, Seeing Christ one day should motivate us to live purely today.

**God’s Pledge

Hope means confident expectation rooted in the promises of God. It carries the expectation that some desire will ultimately be fulfilled. The hope must be that one day we will be like Him! This hope leads to transformation!

**God’s Power

We have the power to live pure, so we most definitely can live pure! That power comes from Jesus Christ who is pure. Jesus Christ is the standard and pattern of our purity.

**Our Passion

Application: This is a call to put away all that defiles us. What do you think about? What do you look at? What part of the world is defiling you? John earlier told us to not love the world neither the things in the world. They are often impure and unholy. What is your passion? Is it for moral excellence or moral filth? What occupies your time? The anticipation of meeting the Lord at the rapture should motivate us to live in such a way that we are ready to meet Him at whichever moment He chooses.

Conclusion

Change! We have been changed. We will change. We must change every day.

• In the past, we became a child of God.
• Today, We are a child of God and are being changed daily.
• In the future, we will be like Christ when we see Him.

What is your response today? If you have been born again, you have gone from death to life. How has that truth changed you or manifested itself in your life? This is a final truth. We are a part of God’s plan as His children. Are we living like it?