We're in 1 John chapter 3 one
more time. We're going to read the first
three verses of this. It says, behold, what manner
of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called
the sons of God. Therefore, the world knoweth
us not because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons
of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be. But we know
that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall
see him as he is. And every man that hath this
hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. And we're
going to call this look at the passage this morning, We Shall
Be Like Him. Now I'd like to read also before
we get into this in particular, I'd like to read the first few verses of the chapter
one of 1 John, that was to kind of remind us where we started
and how the book started off. It says, that which was from
the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with
our eyes, which we have looked upon and our hands have handled
of the word of life. For the life was manifested and
we have seen it and bear witness and show unto you that eternal
life, which was with the father. That which we have seen and heard
declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with
us and truly our fellowship is with the father and with his
son, Jesus Christ. And these things right. These
things write we unto you that your joy may be full. This then
is the message which we have heard of him and declare unto
you that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. If
we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness,
we lie and do not the truth. But if or but since we walk in
the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another
and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all
sin. And that'll... that'll come back
to mind as we look in chapter three here. But as he starts
off, they had handled, they had seen, they had been with the
Lord himself and had been with him. And because of that and
because of God revealing things to them and to John, this is
the message that it says that God is light and in him is no
darkness at all. And then from that stems, From
that stems everything that we have seen in, indeed, the scriptures
and in 1 John. Verse two, it says, and we looked
at first one last time, that the world did not know the Lord
when he came to him and to his own, it says, that received him
not. And it says that, therefore, the world knoweth us not because
it knew him not. We looked at that some last week,
but the last time. But here in verse two, it says,
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and doth it not yet appear
what we shall be? But we know that when he shall
appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And sons and daughters of his, We
know by the scripture the place we now have in Christ and yet
now in the flesh we see as Paul has said and others have told
us what we are like and we know we're like in the flesh. The
world may not see us as the sons of God because of what we are
like now. As Paul lamented his condition
and lack of abilities in the flesh, as we can surely relate
to, but our hope is in him, in the Lord himself. His promise,
the Lord's promise is when he comes again, we shall be like
him and we will see him as he is. Also, because we have the
hope that we will be conformed to his image, our desire are
to be like him, our faith shall be known by our works as James
has written. We are renewed after the inward
man, but we are still in the flesh. And we're going to see
in some scripture this morning, we're going to look at how these
thoughts are brought out. And some of the passages will
have both these thoughts in it. We will see him, as Job said,
we know that he lives and will stand on the earth again. We'll
see him in the flesh. We'll see him in our own eyes
and not from another, and we shall see him as he is. I'd like
to start with a book of 1 Corinthians. We're gonna be in a couple of
places in 1 and 2 Corinthians, but in 1 Corinthians chapter
15, First Corinthians chapter 15.
And I'd like to start with verse
45 and reading down a bit. First Corinthians chapter 15,
verse 45. It says, and so it was written,
the first man, Adam, was made a living soul. The last Adam
was made a quickening spirit. How be it, that was not first
which is spiritual, but that which is natural, and afterward,
that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth,
earthy. The second man is the Lord from
heaven. As is the earthy, such are they
also that are earthy. And as the heavenly, such are
they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image
of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that
flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither doth
corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery.
We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment,
in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet
shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and
we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put
on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when
this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal
shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass
the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory. One of the hope that we have
within us that this is, and we're going to see this in other places,
that we shall be changed from this, and as Paul says, when
he talks about his condition that we all are in as believers,
that those things that we would desire to do, we seem to not
be able to do. And on the other hand, those
things we're not gonna do, that's we seem to do. And he said, who's
gonna save us from the body of this death? And he says, I think
our Lord Jesus Christ himself is to save us from this. And
that is the, the hope that we have. One of the hope we have
is that, as it says in 1st John, that we shall see him as he is
and we shall be like him. And we're gonna see other places
that speak to that. But the flesh and blood can't
inherit those things. Only spirit can inherit those
things. And he will, it says, change
us and we will be like, have a new body, like his glorious
body, it says. And then in 2 Corinthians, a couple of spots, starting in chapter four of 2
Corinthians. Let's see. Chapter four, starting with verse
five, it says, For we preach not ourselves,
but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus'
sake. For God, verse six, for God who
commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in
our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory
of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in
earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and
not of us. We are troubled on every side,
yet not distressed. We are perplexed, but not in
despair. Persecuted, but not forsaken.
Cast down, but not destroyed. Always bearing about in the body
the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might
be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always
delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus
might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh
in us, but life in you. We have the same spirit of faith
according as it is written. I believed and therefore have
I spoken. We also believe and therefore
speak. knowing that he which raised
up the Lord Jesus shall raise us up also by Jesus and shall
present us with you. For all things are for your sakes
that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many
redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not
but through our outward man perish Yet the inward man is renewed,
day by day, for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh
for us a far more excellent and eternal weight of glory. While
we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which
are not seen. For the things which are seen
are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
And this, again, dealing with what we are like now in the thought,
one of the thoughts from here. We have this treasure in earthen
vessels, if the excellency of the power may be of God and not
of us. And I think that that is always
the case when the gospel, the scripture is brought by anyone,
that the excellency is of God and the power is of God. as it says, the treasure in earthen
vessels. We are earthen vessels. We're
not the permanent, but we have a treasure in this earthen vessel.
And then in chapter five, in the page there, and it goes on from this. Again, the hope is and what the
condition we find ourself in now, chapter five of second Corinthians,
starting with the first verse. For we know that if our earthly
house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building
of God and house not made with hands eternal in the heavens.
For in this we groan earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with
our house, which is from heaven. If so be that being clothed,
we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle
do groan, being burdened, not for that we would be unclothed,
but clothed upon that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God who
hath also given unto us the earnest of the spirit. Therefore, we
are always confident knowing that whilst we are at home in
the body, we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith,
not by sight. We are confident, I say, and
willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with
the Lord. Wherefore, we labor that whether present or absent,
we may be accepted of him." And here again, along the same lines
of Paul, saying what we are like in the flesh. Here he says, as
the house or tabernacle we're in now, we desire a better, and
that that is the hope and that is a promise of God to us. That
it says in verse five, he that wrought for us the self, same
thing as God, who hath given unto us the earnest of the spirit.
And he said that his spirit beareth witness with our spirit, that
we are the sons of God. have that in the earnest of it,
at the beginning of it, and the hope and promise of that. And
then a couple of verses in chapter six, starting with verse 16 of chapter
six of 2 Corinthians, it says, And what agreement hath the temple
of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the
living God. As God hath said, I will dwell
in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they
shall be my people. Wherefore, come out from among them and
be separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing,
and I will receive you. And I will be a father unto you,
and you shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting
holiness in the fear of God. Again, the condition we're in,
and He willed that we come out from that, and as it says there
in our text, in verse three of there, that we purify ourselves
and be as pure as He is. tough road to hoe. It can't come
from inside. The purification is, we cannot
purify ourselves. We, as Paul says, and as we bear
witness to, we can set about and try to do that in one little
area sometime and see how long it lasts. It's worse than, harder
than, it's impossible than, New Year's resolutions to keep. You
have no power to do that. The hope and the power is in
Him, that in Him, it says we are holy and as pure as He is
in Him. And that's the only way that
it can be, is as we stand in Him. And as it says here, that It says in verse 17 here in chapter
six, come out from among them and be separate, saith the Lord,
and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you and will
be a father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters,
saith the Lord Almighty. And in 1 John, it says, beloved,
we are called the sons of God and daughters. of God by him
and because of the standing we have and because of him that
we are accepted in the beloved. In the book of Romans, turn to
the book of Romans, we have to stop a couple of spots. In the
book of Romans in chapter six, we're just gonna touch on this
a little bit here. Romans chapter 6, in verse 11, starting with verse
11, Romans chapter 6 verse 11. It says, likewise reckon ye also
yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in
your mortal body that you should obey it in the lust thereof.
Neither yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness
unto sin, but yield yourselves unto God as those that are alive
from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousness
unto God. For sin shall not have dominion
over you, for ye are not under the law, but are under grace. Here again, our situation by
nature where we are at, but in him, we are, as it says here,
we are alive unto God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. And that sin shall not have dominion over
you, for ye are not under the law, but under grace. That's what we find ourselves
in, by sons and daughters of God, that sin shall not have
dominion over us. In the end, sin is not who we
are slave to. We are, by nature we are, but
we are redeemed from that. We are redeemed from that, and
as Paul says, who's going to save us from the body of this
death. And our Lord, as it says here,
he is the only hope that we have for the nature of sin that we
have. And our desires are, as Paul
says, and there's a lot of places that we see in Scripture that
says to abstain from this or that or the other and how we
should walk and things. That's our desires is to be after
what the Scripture says. And as we're going to see in
another couple of places, to be as he is. That's the desire. The ability is not there, but
in him we do have those things, and the hope will be, and the
hope is that we will be like him. And then in chapter eight of Romans, just
a couple of verses, I'd like to look at with the same thoughts
in mind. Starting with verse 19, Romans 8, 19, it says, for the
earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation
of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject
to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who has subjected
the same in hope. because the creature itself also
shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious
liberty of the children of God." Another hope we have when he
calls us, beloved you are called the sons of God and daughters
children of God. that it says, shall be delivered
from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of
the children of God by him. That's the hope we have. We hope
to see him again, and that's the promise that we have, and
we're headed that way. And then two verses at the end
of chapter eight, and wonderful verses that we that we know, but I think a lot
of times that they're taken out of place. But verses 28 and 29
of chapter eight of Romans, it says, we know that all things
work together for good to them that love God, to them that are
called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he
also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son, that
he might be the firstborn among many brethren. And then it goes
down a list there and speaks about what God did and does for
us. But here, whom he did foreknow,
he did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son, that
he might be the firstborn among many brethren. The promise is
that we will be conformed to him. And as John says there in
the text there, we shall see him as he is. We shall be like
him. We shall see him as he is. And that's a wonderful promise.
And a lot of times the verses are taken out just to say, well,
all things work together for good. kind of in the sentence
there, but there's a purpose that's involved here called according
to God's purpose for his honor and glory, and surely for our
good, but for his honor and glory, these things are done according
to his purpose and that we will be conformed to the image of
his son. as the other verse says, what
do we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be
against us? That puts us in pretty good stead. And then, turn to
the book of Ephesians, if you would, please. Ephesians chapter two, we're
gonna be in familiar verses, but I'd like to keep them in
mind with what we see in 1 John there. Ephesians chapter two,
starting with verse seven. It says, that in the ages to
come, he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness
toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are you saved through
faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of
works lest any man should boast, for we are his workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them. And these particular here, we
know these verses, but I'd like to keep in mind in this, in this
thought with what we are looking at, that we are saved by God's
grace through the faith that he gives us, and then that not
of works lest any man should boast, but then verse 10, where
his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God
hath ordained that we should walk in them. So the The third
verse there that we see in 1 John, let me get there and quote it
correctly. And every man, verse three, chapter
three of 1 John, every man that hath this hope in him purifieth
himself even as he is pure. And as you said, that's not a,
that's not a, it's like faith, that's not started with us, it's
given to us. But, but over here, the work is his
in Christ Jesus, two good works. There are things, the outworking,
the life that is there. As the baby cries because there's
life there, there are things that God's people will desire
to be like, as Paul says, and strive towards. As it says, to
be holy as he is holy. We desire and strive to that,
but it's not an end to itself, and it's not the next step to
a better standing with God. It's because of life was given
there. If we are indeed born from above,
there will be signs of that. And as Paul says, it does not
yet appear what we shall be, or as we desire to be, That's,
we don't see that now. We don't see what the end result
is, but that's coming. And as we, we will see him, but
here where it says that created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which he hath ordained that we before ordained that we should
walk in them. There's going to be, there's
going to be life here. There's going to be a sign of
this that is given by him to us. In Ephesians chapter four, turn
the page with me to chapter four of Ephesians, and a thought from, here, it speaks about the condition
of natural man having the understanding darkened and alienated from God
by nature, verse 20, Ephesians chapter 4 verse 20 says, but
ye have not so learned Christ, if so be that ye have heard him
and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus. That you
put off concerning the former conversation, the old man, which
is corrupt according to the deceitful lust, and be renewed in the spirit
of your mind. And that you put on the new man,
which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. These are the desires that we
have. These are the desires that are there and that we see of
ourselves. These are not so, but in Him,
they are so. In Him, we are clothed with His
righteousness and we are in Him and it says here we are Put on
the new man which after God is created in righteousness and
true holiness. The new birth in him is that. And then Book of Colossians. The Book of Colossians, I'd like
to read in chapter three. It says, chapter three, verse
one of Colossians. If you be risen with Christ,
seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right
hand of God. Set your affection on things
above, not on things on the earth. For you are dead, and your life
is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life,
shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. And
it goes on to say, mortify the flesh. Again, seek those things
which are above, and we desire those things. We read the scriptures,
and it says what he is like and what we have in him, and as Paul
said and that we can relate to, we see such a gap there between
what should be and what we are. And as long as we're in the body
of this sin and death, we see that. And as with Paul, we're
kind of lament the situation we're in, but we know in him,
we are not that way. We are not that. seen as in him, and I'd like
to then turn to Philippians, turn back to the book of Philippians,
and a couple of different places we're
gonna kind of turn the corner here a little bit. In Philippians
chapter three, verses 20 and 21, chapter three,
verses 20 and 21 of Philippians. It says, for our conversation is in heaven,
from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like
unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is
able even to subdue all things unto himself. And that's what
it says there in 1 John, we shall see him and we shall see him
as he is and we shall be like him. And then in the chapter
one of Philippians, chapter one of Philippians, starting with
verse six, it says Philippians 1,6 says,
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun
a good work in you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ.
Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because
I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my bonds and in the
defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers
of my grace. For God is my record, how greatly
I long after you all in the vows of Jesus Christ. And this I pray,
that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and
in all judgment, that you may approve things that are excellent,
that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by
Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God. And here, again,
it tells that your love may abound yet more and more in the knowledge
and in all judgment. Approve things that are excellent,
sincere without offense till the day of Christ. Things that
we desire and strive for to be like, to be like him, and to
be like the scriptures says that new life puts in us and causes
us to come about. Then turn to the Book of Song of Solomon, if you
would. Turn to the Book of Song of Solomon, chapter five. We were in this book some time
back now, and the pictures here of the Lord and what he thinks
of the church, the bride, There's some wonderful passages in here,
but I'd like to look at Psalm and Solomon chapter five. And starting with verse nine. This is those speaking to the
daughters of Jerusalem, it says, And they said, in verse nine,
what is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest
among women? What is thy beloved more than
another beloved that thou dost charge us? My beloved is white
and ruddy, the chief among 10,000. His head is as the most fine
gold, his locks are bushy and black as a raven. His eyes are
as the eyes of doves by the rivers of water washed with milk and
fitly set. His cheeks are as a bed of spices,
as sweet flowers, his lips like lilies dropping sweet-smelling
myrrh. Verse 14, his hands are as gold rings set with the barrel,
his belly as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. His legs are
as pillars of marble set on sockets of fine gold. His countenance
is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. And above these things
here, the descriptions and all showing his power, his majesty,
his glory, and in verse 16 it says, his mouth is most sweet,
yet is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this
is my friend who adores Jerusalem. So here, when we see him as he
is, it'll be like that. And that, As it says here, no
flaws, no shortcomings, no imperfections, all together lovely. And then
in Titus, just a couple more spots in our time remaining. Titus chapter two, and start with verse 11. It says, for the grace of God
that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching
us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously and godly in this present world. Looking
for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great
God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us that
he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar
people, zealous of good works. These things speak and exhort
and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. hear
those thoughts from 1 John in the same verses here, that we
should live soberly and righteously and peaceably and the things
that we're admonished to be like. looking for that blessed hope
and glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus
Christ. That, as Job says, that's a sure
thing. We know that. We know that our
Redeemer lives and we will see him again. And that we will see
him, as it says in 1 John, as he is. And then we will be like
him in 1 Thessalonians. right direction here. In the
book of 1 Thessalonians, in chapter 4, 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verse
15 and following It says, for this we say unto you by the word
of the Lord that we which are alive and remain unto the coming
of the Lord shall not prevent them or precede them which are
asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and
with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds and so shall ever be with the Lord. Wherefore,
comfort one another with these words." And this is a comfort
to God's people, not just in the last, our last physical days,
but in present time, that this is the, this is what it says,
we shall be with him and ever with the Lord. And in his perfection,
we've got a couple more just a couple more spots, but seeing
him as Song of Solomon said, altogether lovely. So in him,
in all his perfections. As we see him, we'll see him
holy, righteous, merciful, glorious, gracious, loving. Those things
we'll see in his person, and we can't comprehend that now. We can't understand that, and
we will also see him as our Redeemer, Bread of Life, Fountain of Living
Water, Lamb of God. There's about a hundred names
in the scriptures for him, for the Lord. And all those pictures
we see in the Old Testament that describe each little piece of
him. And we will see those come together as it were in him.
And then, Hebrews chapter 13. Hebrews chapter
13. It says, Hebrews chapter 13 verses 20 and 21. It says, Now the God of peace that brought
again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of
the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working
in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ,
to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. And then one more
time in the book of 1 John, It says, beloved, verse two of
chapter three, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not
yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall
appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is,
and every man that hasteth hope in him purify himself even as
he is pure. We'll closed for today, and then we'll
pick this up on verse four and following, Lord willing, the
next time. Thank you for your attention.