Live Like a Child of God (1 John 2:28-3:3) - 10/18/26

Intro

• Chapter 2 has shown us what it looks like to truly know Christ: obey Him, love His people, reject the world, and remain in the truth.

• John now carries that same theme into chapter 3.

• We are not only followers of Christ; we are children of God.

• Because we are God’s children, John shows us how our lives should reflect who we are as we wait for Christ to return.
  

Stay Close to Christ — v. 28

“And now, little children, abide in him…”

To abide means to remain, continue, and stay faithful to Christ.

• In John 15, Jesus connects abiding in Him with a life that bears fruit.

• We do not produce spiritual fruit by simply trying harder; it flows from staying connected to Christ.

• Christ is coming again, so we should live today in a way that prepares us to meet Him with confidence.
  

Stay close to Christ. Let your life flow out of your relationship with Him.

Practice Righteousness — v. 29

“…everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.”

A Changed heart produces a changed life

• We do not live righteously to become children of God.

• We live righteously because we have been born of God.

• A changed heart results in a righteous life… an ongoing pattern, a new direction, a way of life.

So what does a changed life look like?

• Holds to His truth — the Gospel and the sufficiency of His Word.

• Seeks and worships God.

• Obeys His Word.

• Hates sin and turns from it.

• Bears the fruit of the Spirit.

• Serves others.

• Shares the hope of the Gospel.

• Wins the day by doing the next right thing.
  

Righteous living is not just doing better. It is not a list of things to do. It is a life of loving Christ, seeking Him, and following Him day by day.

Know Who You Are — 3:1–3

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God…”

We are His Children (Our Identity)

• The Father has shown us incredible love.

• In Christ, we are truly children of God.

• We are deeply loved by our Father.

• We are personally cared for by our Father.

• We are secure in our Father’s hands.

• We belong to His family and are never alone.

• We have a future that is already settled in Christ.

• As God’s children, we are loved, cared for, and secure in Him.
  

We are growing into the image of His Son (Our direction/destiny)

“…when he appears we shall be like him…and everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies Himself as He is pure

• One day we will see Christ.

• One day we will be like Him.

• Our hope in Christ should shape how we live now.

• Hope in Christ produces a desire for purity.

• Because He is pure, we should pursue holiness.

• Hope in Christ should produce holiness in us.

The What Now?

• Abide in Christ.

  Stay close to Him through His Word, prayer, and daily dependence on Him.
  

• Practice righteousness.

  Let your new life show in the way you think, speak, choose, and respond.
  

• Remember who you are.

  Live each day as someone who is loved, cared for, secure, and being made more like Christ.