Family Membership, Prospects and Responsibilities (1 John 3:1-3)

In the section that runs from John 2:28–3:10, John considers the issue of righteousness in particular, and in the process he links it in with other important doctrines. In 2:28-29, he brought in the reality of the second coming of Jesus, with the possibility of himself and his readers finding themselves ashamed when Jesus returns if they did not abide in him throughout their Christian lives. Of course, John had a pastor’s heart and was always sensitive to the possibility that his words could be misinterpreted by some of his readers, and in this connection he may have realised that some of them would become apprehensive that their failures would deprive them of particular rewards of grace when Jesus returns. Whether such was the case or not, in the opening verses of 1 John 3 he provides encouragement and stimuli for his readers.

No doubt, some of us are concerned about how we shall far at the judgement seat of Christ. In fact, all of us should be. Of course, the proof that we are genuinely concerned is that we will modify our lives in response to what the second coming of Jesus demands of us. If we are aware of improper attitudes and actions, and fail to repent of them and cease engaging in them, then we are not concerned about the judgement seat in a spiritual manner.

What does John do to encourage his readers? He does two things: first, he reminds them of a great privilege that they possess and, second, he reminds them of a great prospect that they have. He does not encourage them by highlighting something that would be true of only a few; for example, he does not address only those who have greater intellects than others. Instead he mentions two features that should be common to all followers of Jesus. And that is a very important lesson to note – spiritual encouragement generally comes from the shared inheritance of God’s family. Sometimes we would like God to give us a personal revelation, something unique to us as individuals. Of course, he may do so, but he usually gives out of the spiritual heritage that all his people share.

In addition to observing that John points to what is common or shared among Christian, we should note that his encouragement is based on Christian doctrine. His aim is to get his readers to base their sense of assurance on a true understanding of great doctrinal realities. This is a reminder that we need objective truth to bolster us in our spiritual journey. We are prone to base our sense of assurance on subjective analysis of ourselves first. John does the opposite here. He reminds his readers of objective rocks on which they can stand – the objective rocks of the doctrine of adoption and the promise of glorification – before pointing to the subjective necessity of living a pure life. Christian hope comes first from an understanding of Christian doctrine and then from careful self-examination of our inner life. We should not reverse the process if we want to have spiritual comfort.

The present privilege of adoption (v. 1)

John begins by reminding his readers of the distinctive nature of membership of God’s family. The words ‘what kind’ point to an unusual origin – one suggestion is that it could be translated as ‘from what kind of country’ does this type of love come? And we know the answer to the question – this type of love comes only from the heavenly country.

John does not say that the Father has great love for us, although it would have been true to say so. Instead he says that the Father has given great love to his people. This means that John is not so focussed on the Father’s attitude of love as on his action of love. In other words, John is telling his readers not only to look at what God thinks of them, but also to contemplate what he has done for them, to consider carefully the status he had given to each of the. How many of us said to ourselves this morning, ‘I’m so thankful that God has given me the rank of son in his family’? Such a statement reveals what we think of God and his grace.

This new family status is undeserved. By nature the disciples of Jesus were not members of the family of God. They were outside the family, they were children of wrath, even as others. Instead of God being their Father, God was their opponent. He was angry with them because of their sins against his law. They deserved punishment; instead they received membership of his family.

Further, we can say that this new family status is unexpected. By this I mean that it would have been possible in theory for God to forgive our sins without also bringing us into his family. Adoption therefore is a higher blessing than forgiveness of sins. We would have expected a lower status because we did not deserve any grace. Yet in marvellous grace, the Father elevated sinners to the highest place possible.

In addition, this new family status is unrecognised by the society in which we live. We are familiar with attempts by well-known people to adopt orphans and the subsequent publicity that is generated. Therefore we would be very surprised if such an adopted child became unknown in whatever place his new parents lived. Yet when we consider the family of God, we find that world places no value at all on membership of his family. If we tell people that we belong to God’s family or suggest that too can become members of it, they look at us as if we are mad. People don’t know who Christians are.

John gives this reason for this lack of knowledge – the world did not know him. Who does the ‘him’ refer to? I would suggest that the tense of the verb suggests that John has Christ in mind, particularly when he was here in earth. If the ‘him’ referred to God the Father, I suspect that John would have used the present tense and said, ‘The world does not know him.’ Instead he uses the past tense and points to a specific place and time during which the world did not recognise who Jesus was. When he here on earth, observers suggested that he was a prophet, a religious leader, and a political leader. Even the most astute did not perceive that Jesus was the Son of God, and all those that did only did so because his identity had been revealed to them by God. And until God reveals who his children are, which he will do at the return of Christ, their identity remains unrecognised.

So family membership is undeserved, unexpected, and unrecognised. Even more important than these points is the necessity for each of us to realise how a sinner becomes a member of God’s family. Let me mention three aspects of membership. First, a sinner becomes a member by faith in Jesus (John 1:12). Second, membership is free and full – it is not dependent on sanctification. Those who are adopted will be sanctified, but their sanctification does not elevate them higher up a spiritual ladder. Third, membership is permanent. Those who become members cannot be disinherited, even by God himself, because the grounds of adoption are always perfect. This should give a sense of security to all who believe in Jesus.

Perhaps we can now see why John wanted any discouraged readers to turn their eyes on to the great privilege that the Father had given to each of his children. They were to fill their minds with this great privilege of family membership. Yet John reminds them of more by asking them to think if what will happen to them when Jesus returns.

The future prospect of glorification (v. 2)

John gives us a good example of how to respond to the fad of assessing future events. First, he admits that does not know some details and, second, he says that the reason he does not know is that God has not revealed these details.

John does give one important detail about what will happen to God’s children when their Elder Brother returns – they will become like him when they see him. What does John mean by this prospect of likeness? He does not mean that believers will possess divine attributes as omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence. The likeness is connected to the humanity of Jesus.

First, we can say that Christ’s humanity will be the model for redeemed humanity. This is the destiny of each chid of God – full conformity to the image of Jesus. We shall be like him physically (perfect body with no weaknesses), we shall be like him in the sense that we will be under the enabling influences of the Holy Spirit, and we shall be like him in our capacity for absorbing and delighting in the glory of God.

Christ’s humanity will be transfiguring continually. The effect of the sun in the sky is to give us a tan if we spend time in its rays. We don’t change the sun, it changes us. In a far higher way, the presence of Jesus will have an effect on the family members. The initial sight of Jesus will transform all his people, whether they had died or are still alive when he comes, into his likeness. Then his presence will continue transforming them into increased experiences of and capability for glory for ever.

No doubt, the child of a rich person could say, ‘I have this wonderful status. One day I will inherit all that my father has promised. I cannot tell you at this stage what it has of what it is worth, but I know that it is worth waiting for.’ A Christian will think the same. He will be amazed at his status as a son of God and astounded by the prospects ahead.

The common effect (v. 3)

John then reminds his readers of the inevitable outworking of a proper attitude to the future appearance of Jesus. Why will they develop this attitude? One reason is that they admire the glorious Christ and long to see him personally for their own satisfaction and publicly for his universal exaltation.

Another reason is that they don’t want to be ashamed in his presence when he returns. When I did something wrong as a child, my shame increased according to the importance of the person. The teacher gave me the belt in front of my classmates and I felt ashamed. Sometimes I was reported to the headmaster, and I felt shame as his eyes searched me. The biggest shame occurred when I had to explain myself to my father – the intimacy of the relationship increased my sense of shame. When I stand before Christ, I will have greater shame there for my wrong actions that If I had been brought before an earthly judge for these same actions. I will be ashamed of the actions for which Jesus died to atone.

Concerning these options, John reminds us that each of us has a personal responsibility to purify ourselves. The progress in sanctification is not automatic – it depends on spiritual absorption with the glorified Saviour. Our degree of progress in assurance and understanding is linked directly to our determination to live for Christ day by day. It is very important to realise that Christians progress depends on determination to be as like Jesus as possible in our everyday lives and situations. And if we live in this way, it will go well with us at the judgement seat of Christ.