A scribe by trade To write the
love of God above Would drain the ocean dry Nor could the scroll
contain the whole Though stretched from sky to sky O love of God,
how rich and pure How measureless Thank you, Sherry. All right,
let's go to 1 John chapter 3. We are only going to look at
the first two verses tonight, because this subject is so glorious. Two is sufficient for this. My,
my, the love of God bestowed upon us. The half has never been
told, nor will it be, after this message. Let's look at verse
one. Behold, what manner of love the
Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the
sons of God. Whenever you see the word behold,
that means stop and wonder. Stop and consider with amazement. what you're about to hear or
see. Behold, what manner of love the
Father hath bestowed upon us. What kind of love, what manner
of love that the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should
be called the sons of God. Now, before we go any further,
I emphasize the words us and we, so we go any further. This will only mean something
to those who are amazed that they would be included in this. This will only mean something
to those who know what they are. Unworthy unloved that there's
nothing in. Them to love that there's nothing
deserving of this so great love that they are poor wretched.
Blind miserable. Undone unclean sinners not children
of God by nature but rather children of wrath. Not lovers of God by
nature or when he found them but enemies. by their own wicked
work. This will only mean something.
The love of God, this matter of love, will only mean something
to those who know what they are, really. That's the reason all
this talk of God loving everybody is the most blasphemous thing
I can think of. How the preachers stand up and
tell a world full of people who could care less that God loves
them. It's utter blasphemy. But to
those who realize by God's grace, by God's spirit, that they are
altogether unlovely and unworthy of such love, to them and them
only will this really mean something. Behold, what manner, the kind
of love that God the Father hath bestowed on us. that we should
be included are called the sons of God. Behold the Father. Now
God, God is first and foremost the creator, the judge, the king
of the universe. He's not everyone's father. He is not everyone's father. God is not the father of all
mankind. Scriptures are very clear about
that. He's a father to some who are his children by. By election by adoption by redemption
but God is first and foremost the creator of the judge of the
universe shall not the judge of all the earth do right. Yes
he will. God Almighty has but one begotten
son, one son that came from his, as it were, his loins. One who
is the expressed image of God. Adam was created by God. Right? Adam was created by God,
from what? The dust of the earth. The Son
of God, the only Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, came from
the bosom of the Father. He's called the seed, the seed
of God. So God has but one begotten Son,
yet He has adopted many sons. Oh, it's just like him, the writer
of Hebrews says. It became him in bringing many
sons to glory. It's just like God. And we read
there in Romans 8 where it says in verse 15 that we have received
the spirit of adoption. This is talking to those who
have been adopted. Behold what manner of love the
father, the father of one child. God had an only child. He didn't
need any more children. When you have a child like his
child why would you want another job you don't need more. He's
the perfect job. And God dwelt with the son right. Proverbs eight says from the
beginning just he and the son in perfect bliss with the spirit
needing no one. And yet. God purpose to have many. But every
one of them are going to be like that. Every one of them he predestinated
to be conformed to the image of that. After you've had a perfect
child all else will be an inferior one. So God had but one begotten
son of God son of the son. And yet he adopted. He didn't
have to He didn't have to, but he did. He adopted many sons. Behold what manner of love the
father of the only child, yet the father bestowed upon us, us, that we should be called
the sons of God. Now, notice the word bestowed.
Behold what manner of love the father hath bestowed That means
placed upon, conferred upon, or as a king of old would crown
or bestow honor and blessings upon a lowly servant. Not ask that servant if he wants
it, not offer it to him, but bestow it upon him. Behold what
manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us. set his love. God set his love sovereignly. He had to. There's no one worth
loving. And he had to do this before
the world began. Behold what manner of love the
Father hath bestowed or sovereignly set upon us that we should be
called. the sons of God. Now this is
what we, I said last Sunday, we don't have to say election
every time. We don't have to talk about election
every time we meet together, but it seems like we do, don't
we? Because this is, this is the thing that amazes, really
amazes God's people. This is the amazing thing about
this kind of love, that God chose me. We sang that song. How can it be that God should
love a soul like me? The world thinks they deserve
the love of God. Not one of God's people think
that. And they all say, how can it
be that God should love a soul like me? This is that sovereign, amazing,
electing love that we're always talking about and will never
grow tired of talking about. What we're talking about is the
mercy of God in adopting no good center. This is what God is just
well, it's it's somewhat simple to a man going down to an adoption
agency adoption is just that. Well, it used to be more like
this. It's not now people just pretty
much take what they get now, but it didn't used to be that
way adoption agency. What's the name orphanages used
to be plenty didn't after various wars all over orphanages were
full of. Children off the streets who
were left without parents. Full of. And if a man and woman or either
or decided that they wanted to have a child to adopt a child
they will go down to one of these orphanages. And go in there and
pick out of all those children the child they wanted to take
home with them they didn't have to do that. The man goes in an
orphanage and he doesn't have to take any of those children
home, but he in mercy and in kindness and in love goes in
there and chooses one of those children to be his own. This
is exactly what God Almighty did. Now say that man goes in
that orphanage and he doesn't choose the prettiest little girl,
the sweetest, kindest little girl, but over there in the corner
is little Billy that everybody hates and can get along with
nobody. Little red-headed, mean as a
snake, rotten boy that nobody wants. Dirty, filthy, and ragged.
And the fellow says, I'll take him. Oh, you don't want him. That's the one I choose. And
that's every single child that God adopts. That's how they feel
about themselves. Turn with me to Luke 14. I was
listening to a message by a preacher. He preached this years ago, and
it just blessed my heart to no end. And I was going to save
it, but I might not live to preach it. But look at this. I was going to preach this all
by itself, but just look at this. This is wonderful. That man was
preaching that on tape, and it just broke me. The Lord said,
verse 12, Luke 14, When thou makest a dinner or a supper,
call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen,
nor thy rich neighbor, lest they also bid thee again, and recompense
be made to thee. In other words, don't call them
that can do a favor for you. Don't call somebody who can return
your goodness and your kindness. In other words, I invite somebody
over to my house, and I'm knowing that they'll invite me back,
or I do a favor for somebody, knowing that they can, they'll
really, you know, they'll help me out when I need it. No, don't
do that, the Lord said. Because this is what he did.
Look at it. When thou makest a feast, call the poor, the lame,
and the blind. Now, you reckon they'd appreciate
being called? You reckon they'd argue that
they were elected and chosen to come? You reckon they'd argue
about it? Why, they'd just be thrilled
to be there. Read on. And thou shalt be blessed. They
cannot recompense thee. That's who God Almighty chooses.
That's who God Almighty sets His love upon. That's who God
Almighty calls. It's those that can't do anything
for Him. God doesn't help those that can help themselves. God
helps those who cannot help themselves. And God only helps the helpless,
those who can't do anything for Him. The poor, the lame, the
lame, the blind. Well, behold, what manner of
love the Father hath bestowed upon us. Here's an even better
illustration. Go to 2 Samuel 9. I was looking for some recognition
in the eyes, and I saw a second Samuel 9. Anybody know what that
story is? I saw a couple light up. Here's
a better illustration of this, of true love, God's love to His
people, King David in this story. And I never get tired of this
story, never. This same preacher was preaching. He preached the whole counsel
of God. Wonderful. Same preacher, he touched on
this too, and I was just It just thrilled me. I've heard this
more than anybody in this room, I guarantee you. But it just
thrilled me like I've never heard it before. King David is the
king on the throne, and he represents God Almighty, the Father. And
Jonathan, in this story, represents God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, there's a man named Mephibosheth. He's one of the king's enemies.
He's a son of Saul who tried to kill King David. And so David
was having all the house of Saul killed as enemies of his. And
this man Mephibosheth, his whole family has been destroyed up
to this point, except for him and a few of his brothers. And
they will be, the rest of them will be destroyed. All the king's
enemies will be destroyed, except who he makes, who he reconciles. And so the king, in mercy and
grace and kindness, purpose to show kindness to someone. Now here's this fellow named
Ephibosheth. He's living far from the king. He's hiding from
the king down in a place called Lodabar, a place of no bread,
a house of no bread, in this little house far from the king. in mercy and kindness and love.
For Jonathan's sake. You see, David loved a man named
Jonathan, who happened to be this man's father. And David
and Jonathan made a covenant together. David promised to show
kindness to Jonathan's house, to his posterity. For Jonathan's
sake, because of his love to Jonathan. And God Almighty made
a covenant with his son, the Lord Jesus Christ, before the
world began. But God purposed to save, to
be merciful to, to show kindness to a multitude of people, not
for their sake, because they're enemies, they're children of
wrath, even as others. They're just like the rest of
the world, but for Christ's sake. For Christ's sake. the purpose
to show kindness. And so David spins for Mephibosheth. He spins for Mephibosheth. He
doesn't ask him to come. It wouldn't do any good if he
did, because the man is lame. He can't walk. He can't come. Not only can he not come, but
he will not come. He's an enemy. But David, rich
in mercy. And true to his promise, for
Jonathan's sake, sends two mighty men down to where that man is
and fetches him. Fetches him, picks him up, lays
hold of him, and brings him all the way to the feet of the king. Brings him, spares him. And the
first thing he does is speak peace to him. He says in verse
7, fear not. He speaks peace to him. This
man, by this time, is trembling at the presence of the king,
knowing he deserves to die like his father, or like his grandfather. But David says, I will surely,
not I might, not if you'll straighten up, I will surely show thee kindness. What the king promises is sure. Why? For Jonathan, thy father's
sake. And not only that, but he restores
all that Jonathan lost to his grandfather. And he orders everything
for Jonathan, for Mephibosheth's good. He orders a man named Ziba
to tend to him the rest of his life. And look at verse 11. And it
says, And according to all that the Lord the King hath commanded
his servant, so shall thy servant do. That's Ziba. And as for Mephibosheth,
said the king, he shall eat at my table as one of the king's
sons. He adopted him. Behold, what manner of a daughter
the father bestowed upon us. That's it. What was Mephibosheth's
response to all this? Huh? What was his response? Did
he feel worthy to be there? Did he feel worthy to be called?
Did he think he ought to be there? He said, Who am I that thou shouldest
show such kindness to such a dead dog as I am? Are you going to
have a dead dog at your table? Yes, that's the only kind I take.
Do you think Mephibosheth appreciated being there the rest of his life?
Do you think he had any argument about sovereign mercy? Do you
think he had any argument with sovereign grace, electing grace?
Neither do any of God's people. true, called and chosen. They're
faithful to God's glory. Behold, what manner of love.
What manner? We're talking about sovereign,
electing, calling, fetching love. That's what matters. Redeeming
love. Go back to the text. Redeeming love. Look at verse
16 of chapter 3, 1 John. Redeeming love. That means to
pay a price. Redeem means to pay a price.
Redemption. Verse sixteen, Hereby perceive
we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us. Who
did? It says God did. Doesn't it? Hereby perceive we the love of
God, that he laid down his life for us. Isn't
this what is written in the book of Acts? Peter said to the church,
feed the church of God which he hath purchased with his own
blood. God was manifest in the flesh.
He laid down his life. Chapter 4, verse 10. Why did he lay down his life?
Why did Jesus Christ die? It wasn't an offer to anybody. It wasn't a general offer of
amnesty if any old rotten son of Adam will take it or leave
it. No, sir. Would you do that? If you had one child, would you
sacrifice that child, that rotten, no good bum, to take it or leave
it? That's what the world preachers are saying about the Son of God.
Nothing makes me more angry. Nothing makes God more angry.
God didn't send his son down here to die for rotten, no-good,
hell-deserving sinners, for them to take it or leave it. And that's
what men and women do when they stride on the blood of the Son
of God. Is it nothing to you, all you
that pass by? No, it's nothing to them. They
could care less if Jesus Christ came. So God didn't spill one drop
of His Son's precious blood for one person He didn't intend to
save. This is the most blasphemous
doctrine in the world. Do you hear me? And there's priests
standing up every Saturday pretending to offer the blood of the Son
of God. It's not in their power to offer.
The Son of God was not offered to men to do with as they pleased. He
was offered to God. The blood of Jesus Christ was
offered on the holy throne, the holy mercy seat in the presence
of God Almighty for His people. Why am I getting so angry? We're
going to see the anger of God Almighty someday. We're going to see it like it's
never seen before when His wrath is kindled but a little. What's He mad at? What's God
going to be angry at? The fact that people could care
less that Jesus Christ came. And the fact that preachers are
throwing the blood of His lovely, precious Son out on the ground
for men to trod upon. This is more than a doctrine. my soul." The blood of God's Son, Jesus
Christ, cleanses. The Lord Jesus Christ came to
lay down his life for his people. He came to pay a price that they
couldn't pay, and he paid it. And he paid it all in full. And
the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleansed his people. It
pays for every one of their sins. Whoever Jesus Christ died for,
they're saved. God insists upon it. Or else
that precious blood was shed in vain, was wasted. Would you waste a drop of your
only child's blood? if you had to give it. Would
you? Would you take that precious
child of yours? How precious is that girl of
yours? Would you throw her to the dogs? It's incon... Here, take her or leave her.
Would you do that? Scripture says in Romans 5, for
a good man some would dare to die, for a righteous man some
might die. But God commended his love toward
us, God's people. What manner of love? Look at
chapter 4, verse 10. Herein is love, not that we love
God, but that he loved us. Who's the us? He's not talking
about every son of Adam. Read the book from the start. Start at the first. Talking to
God's people here. This is who he shed his blood
for. his own. Not that we love God, this is
the manner of love, but that he loved us and sent his Son
to be the propitiation. That means a bloody sacrifice
for our sins. What it took to save us was the
Son of God being made a bloody offering, not to men, but to
God. That's what all those types in
the Old Testament picture all those animals rivers and why
why were there. You have been if you would have
been. At the tabernacle and and if you had witnessed the high
priest and solemn especially at the dedication of the temple
if you to witness what went on there it would. You would might
pass. At the glory how glory. hundreds
upon thousands of animals, rivers of blood. The whole place was
a bloody mess. It was horrible to see. It wasn't
lovely at all. There was blood everywhere. Why? To show God's utter abhorrence
of everything. Everything has to be covered
in blood. And to tell us that all that
blood can't put away one thing you keep offering them forever
and it won't put away one thing. But this man. After he made one
offering for sin, the God put away sin for him by his own precious
blood. Entered in the Holy of Holies.
To make redemption. To pay the price. This is what Scripture talks
about the Son of God walking through this earth. His garments
died with blood pretty soon. But if the blood of Christ was
shed for us, there's no condemnation. This is what manner of love.
What manner of love? Look at the text, verse 1. that we should be called the
sons of God. Therefore the world knoweth us
not, because it knew him not. No one knew, no one knew or believed
that that man named Jesus from Nazareth was the son of God. No one knew that or believed
it. This is what Paul wrote, he said,
none of the princes of this world knew, had they known it, they
would not have crucified the Lord. None of them knew or believed
that that son, seemingly son of Joseph and Mary, that carpenter
from Nazareth named Jesus, was the son of the Most High God,
for he looked like a man. He looked like an average man.
He didn't look any different, he didn't dress up to be religious. He didn't wear his hair or his
beard any differently than anybody else. He looked just like a common
man. Nobody could distinguish him from the common man. And so it says here that the
world didn't know him. Oh, but God's people, he reveals
him to them and they know him. Not our flesh and blood doesn't
reveal it. Think about this. Think about
this. Those fishermen. Here's a man their age. There's
somebody my age. Stan. Yeah, you're my age. I know he looks older than me,
but we're about the same. Well, you take Stan's my age. These men, these fishermen. Here's
Stan, he's Peter, and I'm the Lord. And we're the same age,
we look alike, just flesh and blood. But after a short time,
Brother Henry, they believed that he was a God,
a man. I mean, a flesh and blood man. Thomas fell down at his feet,
a man. fell down his feet and said, My Lord and my God, God
that made the universe, standing there in a man. Our Lord said,
Flesh and blood didn't reveal that to you. And it still doesn't. People still don't believe he's
much more than a man, do they? That's why they call him Jesus. That's why they still have him
like a baby. That's the reason they can do
with Him what they want to. He's no more than a man. We're going
to see. Scripture says there in verse
2, as He is. That world didn't know Him. Disciples knew Him. A few choice
ones. He took up on the mountain one
day. Remember? Peter, James, and John. He took
them up on the mountain to show them Who he is, as he is. He took back away that, took
away that veil of flesh. I was determined I wasn't going
to go through that one, and I did not. But they believe he was the son
of God. Now, it says here, now the world knows us not because
it knew him not. The world didn't see anything
special in him, nor do they see anything special in us. Somebody said, well, that's old
Ron Fannin. I've known him for years. He's
just old Ron. I've known him since he was a
boy, you know. I ran with him. We got in trouble together and
all that. No, that's the son of God. He's just not an ordinary
person. That's the son of God. I don't
see anything special about him. No, he don't. God doesn't see as man sees. God looks on the heart like that
tabernacle in the wilderness. Looks like any old tent on the
outside. Uh-huh, there's something new
on the inside. A new man, a new creature on
the inside. And Ron doesn't see anything different about Ron.
Ron looks in the mirror and he sees old Ron. He sees the same
man that he's seen all his life when he looks in the mirror.
And he says, oh wretched man that I am. But God says, don't
you call unclean what I clean. No, beloved, it says now first
to. You like this now, are we the
sons of God? Let's say we shall be. I'm talking
to God's people, I'm talking to those whom Christ died for,
whom he imputed his righteousness to, who believe him and trust
him, love him, love this gospel of God's sovereign electing mercy. That's what I'm talking about.
Nobody else. I'm not talking to anybody else. The rest of
them are sons of the devil. But beloved, those who have been
loved by God Almighty before, now are we the sons of God. Now
are we the sons of God. Not shall be, but now. That's the reason I wanted to
read. He was hoping I'd read that. Behold, there is therefore
now no condemnation. to them that are incorrect you
see the great king before we said at his table he explains
to. You know. That's the first thing you said
to me if they were here not he was shaking I'm going to die
no I wouldn't have called you if you're going to die I wouldn't
have showed these things to you if you're going to die I wouldn't
have told you all these things if I was going to kill you I
can't lie no you're no fear not. Now. Those who have been called
by his grace, who have heard this gospel and believe, now
are we the sons of God. Now, right now. But, he says,
it does not appear, yet appear, what we shall be. That's the
reason we can't believe it. If anything, you know, if anything,
everyone in here, every believer can attest to this, that you
look at yourself now through the mirror of God's word. This
is called a looking glass, a mirror. You see yourself now worse than
you ever were. No, you look at yourself from
the pages of this book. Before you had this mirror, you
didn't see yourself, but then you'd start looking in the mirror,
the looking glass of God's word, and you see yourself as The light
comes on bright. Told you about that magnifying
mirror that my wife bought me. I wish you'd never bought it
for me. I'm looking older every day. I see every blemish, every
wrinkle. You ladies, that's the reason
you throw all that makeup on your can. Us men, we don't use
makeup. We don't think we need it. You
get you a magnifying mirror, you'll think you do. And that's what this is. It magnifies
the law that it exposes our blemishes exposes our sins for what we
really are and we didn't see ourselves till we see ourselves
in there. And then we say with Paul wretched
man that I am. I don't I'm not a son of God.
I'm rotten to the core. Oh no no now. It does not yet
appear. What we shall It doth not yet appear what we
shall be. But we know this. We know. We know this. Verse 2. When he
shall appear. Now, he said this before, back
in verse 28. When he shall appear. Scripture
doesn't say if he comes. Brother Roy, that's the theme
of the whole New Testament. When he comes. And he shall,
when he shall appear, then it says, we shall be like him. For we shall see him as he is. We shall be like him. Oh my, do you remember this? Over in 1 Corinthians 15, do
you remember this? I'm going to close with this.
It says, you remember, we looked at this not long ago. It says,
the first man, verse 47, is of the earth, earthy, the second
man is the Lord from heaven. 1 Corinthians 15, 48, as is the
earthy, such are they also that are earthy. That's us, that's
me, that's you, that's we're, like the earth. Father Adam and
we're decaying, aren't we? We're dying daily. The old man is dying daily, but
the new man is being renewed. As is the heavenly. Such are
they also that are heavenly. It goes on from glory to glory.
As we have borne the image of the earth, we shall also bear
the image of the heavenly. What's that? We looked at that.
We've devoted one whole message to that, remember? the glorious manifestation of
the sons of God. You don't remember that. I'm
going to preach it again, son. I don't remember. I want to hear
it again because it does not yet appear. I forget what this
says. It says, this I say, brethren,
verse 50, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of
God, neither does corruption inherit corruption. Behold, I'm
going to show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep. That
is, die, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, twinkling
of an eye. There's no purgatory. Some people
are all confused about that. Scripture says to be absent from
the Lord is to be absent from the body is to be present with
the Lord. It says in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, we're
changed. At the last trump, the trumpet
shall sound. And the dead shall be raised
incorruptible. We shall be changed into his
likeness. This corruptible shall put on
incorruption. This mortal shall put on immortality.
Then shall be brought to pass the same that is written, Death
is swallowed up in victory. And the former things shall not
be remembered nor come to mind. And we shall see him as he is, as he is. Every eye shall behold
him. Scripture says, every eye shall
behold him, the lost and the saved, the damned and the glorified.
Every eye shall behold him, and what will bring mortal terror
and fear to the hearts of some. We sung that song that they sing
for the rocks and the hills to fall on, to hide them from the
face of him. Every eye shall see him, and they shall wail
because of him, the Scripture says. What will bring mortal
terror and fear into the hearts of many will bring inexpressible
joy. You've never been happier. You've
never had such feelings of overcoming, overwhelming joy. Never! It hath
not yet entered into your heart yet. Not even one iota of what
it's going to be like when He shall appear. inexpressible. It says fullness of joy. Every
joy we've experienced has abated. That is, that means it has dwindled
off. It won't. It won't ever cease. And we'll see him as he is. Not
the way men think he is. Not as he is. As he is. And we'll be like him. Nobody can really say much about
that because we haven't seen it. Paul came back and said,
I can't tell it. John tried to describe him, didn't
he? It's impossible to see. We have to experience it. Beloved,
behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us.
us that we should be called the sons of God. Therefore the world
knoweth us not, because it knew him not. And beloved, now we
are the sons of God, now. It doth not yet appear what we
shall be, but we know him when he shall appear. We shall be
like him, and we'll see him as he is. All right, stand with
me. Our God and our Father, in the
name of Christ, we give you thanks for your blessed word. It is
such a glorious, glorious revelation of your sovereign, majestic person
and son. Lord, we thank you when we're
able to see just a glimpse of him, just a touch of him of his
garment. We thank you that you've not left us to feed on husks,
but rather fat things, wine on the leaves, well refined from
your word. Thank you, Lord. You spread a
table in the midst of thine enemy, and we thank you for it. We've
been fetched like a fish set at your table. Thank you. Make
us more thankful than ever for your amazing love. Through Christ
our Lord, we pray and give thanks. Amen. You're dismissed. Thanks.