1 John 3-4

Some thoughts from the last time I read 1John3-4 in April

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"

What does it mean to be a child of God? What is the significance of the word lavished? If that is what we are, how can this be seen practically in our lives?

What we will be has not yet been made known. So, I guess it doesn't really matter as much as the fact that we are His children. No matter what happens, you are always your father's child. This is how it is with God as well. When you are adopted by Him, He will never leave or forsake you.

But it says we shall be like Him. What does that mean? We will not be gods. That is sure. For God alone, the perfect three-in-one image of diversity and unity, is worthy of all our praise. We deserve none. But it says we shall see Him as He is. This being one of the characteristics of Christ. Seeing the Father for all that He is. That's gonna be amazing. If only based on the little bits and pieces we see of Him now, God is absolutely world shatteringly awesome and powerful, yet lavish in His eternally driven and passionate love for those He has created in His image.

All with this hope purify themselves. Do we purify ourselves? I mean, it does say it, but what does it /say/? Cuz it's pretty evident experientially that this is a losing battle. In chapter two it says to young men "you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one." This strongly reflects Psa119:11 and Eph6:17. And more so, it is He who purifies, He who "take away our sins", and He shall make us holy as He is holy, to reflect more and more of His image (2Cor3:18).

They will not continue in sin because God's seed (the Word of God) is in them!

Whoa! Awesome. Exactly what the other passages were saying!

To destroy the devil's work. Does this include those who are being drawn to sin? I don't think so, but those who are of the devil (what does that mean?) I guess so. For you know we were all at one point objects of this wrath; we were deserving of punishment. We are deserving of this wrath.

I think this is where the lavishness of God's love comes in. Instead of wrath, He poured it out on Christ that we might be adopted into His family; given the right to become His children.

But now is when we are strengthened by Him, strengthened by His Word, and strengthened by His Spirit and the hope that will never fade. May we continue to reflect more of Him and truly be children of God, pure and blameless by His blood and that even, by being born of Him, we /Cannot/ go on sinning.