If you would turn with me in
your Bible to 1 John chapter 3. 1 John chapter 3. While you're turning, let me
say that I love the certainty of the Scriptures. I love the
certainty of salvation in Christ. And I love the certainty of God
in all things. The book, this book, this Bible
is the Word of God. I think sometimes we forget that.
It is the Word of God. It's the final authority in everything. People look for the meaning of
life. They look for the fountain of youth. Life never ending. And it's all right here. in the
contents of this book. I've often said, wrote an article
not long ago on it, that if I advertised on the television or radio that
I had found the fountain of youth, you wouldn't be able to get down
this highway to get the people in this place. And we have just
that. And yet no one seems to be much
interested. We have the fountain of youth.
We have life everlasting in the Lord Jesus Christ. And we see
the certainty of that in the scriptures. Solomon wrote, have
I not written to thee excellent things and counsels and knowledge
that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth,
that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send
unto thee? I had someone say to me recently,
there's nothing certain or for sure anymore. Oh, yes, there
is. Yes, there is. That's not so. God and His Word are certain
and sure. The forgiveness of sin is certain
and sure. Eternal life in Christ is sure
and certain. Nevertheless, the foundation
of God standeth sure, having this seal. The Lord knoweth them
that are His." 2 Timothy 2.19. And God has made with His people
an everlasting covenant. Don't you love that word everlasting? That word covenant too. It's
an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure. It's sure, for this is all my
salvation. Oh yes, there are still some
certain and sure things in this world. The Lord Jesus is a firm
and sure foundation. Thus saith the Lord God, behold,
I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious
cornerstone, a sure foundation. And he that believeth shall not
make haste. Isaiah 28, 16. We have a more
sure word of prophecy, where unto ye do well that ye take
heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place. And then here
in 1 John 3, verse 1, we read these words. Behold, what manner
of love the Father hath bestowed on us, that we should be called
the sons of God." Now I want to establish something right
here in the beginning in the revised version translation of
the Bible, there are some words in the original Greek, the original
text, that have been left out in the authorized King James
Version. And though I could not and would
not recommend the revised Bible over the King James Version,
I will say that the revised version is an addition for study especially
in this instance, adds two Greek words here that ought not to
have been left out of the King James Version. We run into that
sometimes. There's no perfect translation
because men translated it. But these two Greek words are
interpreted in three English words here, and those three words
are, and we are. Now let me read it to you that
way. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon
us, that we should be called the sons of God, and we are. And we are. It's for certain. It's for sure. We are what? We're
the sons of God. You might ask, isn't everyone
a son of God? No. John is talking about the
us, those whom the Father loves. The Father hath bestowed upon
certain men and women, called us, in this verse, called them,
in other parts of Scripture, John 17. How many times we read
that word them? and other parts of the Scripture
of them, and they are called the sons of God. Now, why are
they called the sons of God? Because they are. Because they
are the sons of God. Now, if you're trusting in the
Lord Jesus Christ as the only substitute for sin, and let me
add, He is the only substitute for sin. If you're putting your
trust anywhere else, your sin will never be put away.
But if you're trusting in Christ as the only substitute for sin,
you're not only called perfect, holy, and righteous, and just,
but you are holy, perfect, righteous, and just. It's for sure and certain. And this sonship is our possession. It's not ours in word only. You
can call somebody anything. They don't make them what you
call them. But this possession is ours in
reality and it's ours forever. In the spiritual blessings of
God, there's neither male nor female. I know you ladies know
this. God's blessings in Christ are for all his children, both
male and female alike. So this title, sons of God, and
the reality that you are applies to you believing ladies also. So don't feel like you're being
left out. You're a child of God, sons of
God, child of God, daughter of God, however you wanna say it.
In Christ, that's what you are. He's your father, you're his
child. Now again, behold what manner
of love the Father hath bestowed upon us. that we should be called
the sons of God, and we are. And again, I love the certainty
of God's love on those to whom He has bestowed it. That's another
good word, bestowed. It means to give. Give. What did you have that you have
not received? It's given to us by God. In this
context, it's used in the widest sense. It's given, it's granted,
it's administered freely. You remember what the word freely
means? We've looked at it a time or two in other study. It means
without a cause, without a cause, for no reason, for no reason
outside of himself, for no cause within us. The word also means
reward. It's not a reward for something
that we did or something that we do. It simply means that we
are Christ's reward. We didn't do anything to earn,
merit, or deserve a reward. We're awarded the reward that
Christ earned and merited and deserved. And it's called substitution. Isn't it amazing that you and
I could be considered a reward? Who is this reward awarded to? John says, upon us. Those whom
the Father bestowed, those upon whom the Father gave it. Behold
what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we
should be called the sons of God. And we are. And we are. Now just for a minute,
I want you to think about what intense love is manifested to
that man or woman who is favored to be called a child of God.
Why, it is love in the highest degree. Behold what manner of
love. Behold what a word of wonder
You know, John lived among wonders. John lived a life of wonders. You know, he was one of the disciples
that was with the Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration when
Moses and Elijah appeared with Christ. You remember that? With
his physical eyes, he saw the glory of Christ. What a wonder
that must have been. John witnessed the miracles of
Christ. He walked with Him. He lived
with Him for three and a half years. He saw blind men bestowed
or given sight. He saw the physically deaf given
spiritual and physical ears to hear. He saw the lame made to
walk. He was there that day when the
Lord went to Bethesda and He told that man that lay on his
bed for 38 years. waiting for the water to be moved. And he said, I had no man to
put me in the water when the angel stirs it. And the Lord
Jesus said, you don't need that. What you need is me. Rise up and walk. And he rose
up and he walked. John saw that. He saw the lame
walk. He saw the dead rise. Lazarus,
come forth! And he that was dead came forth.
Oh, John saw some wonders, wonders. He was with the Lord in Gethsemane's
garden. The Lord asked the soldiers,
whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. And John heard
the Lord say, I told you that I am he. If therefore you seek
me, let these go their way. And he pointed to John and the
other disciples. What a wonder. John was at the
cross when our Lord was crucified. It was there that the Lord saw
His own mother and the disciples standing by, whom He loved, that
being John, who wrote the gospel narrative of John that bear His
name. And He said unto His mother,
Woman, behold thy son. And then the Lord said to John,
Behold thy mother. And from that hour, John took
her into his own home. What a wonder. John was at the
tomb when the Lord Jesus arose. When all the other apostles were
martyred and killed, John was spared and banished to the Isle
of Patmos where he received the revelation of God. Isn't that
a wonder? Yes, John lived a life of wonders
and one who has experienced the wonders of God knows something
about the wonders of God. Have you experienced the wonder
of God in salvation? Well, in our text, John says,
behold, in wonder and amazement, what manner of love the Father
hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of
God. And friends, we are the sons of God. Isn't that a wonder
of wonders? Behold the wonder of such things. Isaiah wrote, behold, a virgin
shall be with child and shall bring forth a son and thou shall
call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with
us. God with us. Isn't that a wonder? One day the shepherds were attending
their flocks by night, and a multitude of heavenly hosts appeared and
said, Behold, behold, we bring you good tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day
in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. John
the Baptist, the forerunner of the Lord Jesus Christ, was baptizing
in the Jordan River one day, and he saw the Lord Jesus, and
he said, behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin
of the world. What a wonder of wonder. One
day when time will be no more, friends, we will hear these words. Behold, he cometh and every eye
shall see him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because
of him. Revelation 1-7. And I don't suppose
that there's anything that's more wondrous and more amazing
and glorious than the behold that we have here in our text. Behold, in wonder and amazement,
what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, hath given
to us. You didn't earn it, you didn't
deserve it, it was given to you, it's a free gift. Oh, it was
bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God because
we are. And beloved, how wondrous is
that? That word manner means of what possible sort. It implies that we should search,
investigate, be curious and intrigued about the love that the Father
has bestowed upon us. It implies that we should investigate
as to what great a favor this love is. The word actually means
interrogative. It's to interrogate as to what
an instance of matchless love that God freely gives us to search
what a wondrous blessing of grace it is that He would love you
and me, the wretches that we are. How intriguing, how curious,
how impossible it seems. How unimaginable that God the
Father would call us the sons of God. Why does He? Because we are. Christ has made
it so. This blessing, this favor does
not come by nature. It does not come by birth. It does not come by merit. It
comes by grace. For by grace are you saved through
faith, and that's not of yourselves. It's a gift of God, not of works,
lest any man should boast. The grace of adoption. Oh my,
God predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus
Christ unto Himself. It comes by the grace of the
new birth. Whosoever believes in the Lord
Jesus Christ is born of God. We have this grace by an inheritance
in whom you also trusted after you heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation, in whom also, after that you
believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,
which is the earnest, the down payment of our inheritance. And this grace springs from the
everlasting, unchanging love of God. Oh, what manner of love
the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called
the sons of God and that we should be the sons of God. Oh, it takes
a great miracle of grace for us to become a son of God, just
as much a miracle as it took for the son of God to become
the son of man. Now, what a miracle that was.
Well, can you explain that? No, and neither can you. Who
can? God's ways are past finding out. Sadly, not many folks today
know about this kind of love. You know, people talk flippantly,
I mean flippantly, about the love of God. But behold, in wonder
and amazement, what manner of love it is. We live in a day
where men and women talk a great deal about their love for God. Oh, I love Jesus. How many times
have you heard somebody say that? But John said in the very next
chapter, herein is love, not that we love God. That's not
what it's about. But that He loved us. How much
did He love us? So much so that He sent His Son. to be a propitiation for our
sins, 1 John 14. Now there's no love for a sinner
apart from the Lord Jesus Christ coming into the world, being
a propitiation for our sin. Now did you notice or do you
notice in 1 John 14 that those two words to be are italicized,
they were added. The verse actually reads, God
sent his son, the propitiation for our sins. Jesus Christ is
our propitiation for sin. And oh, what manner of love that
is. It's divine love. It's everlasting
love. The Lord hath appeared of old
unto me saying, yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore, with loving kindness
have I drawn thee. Oh, isn't that an amazing statement? If God loves you, He's always
loved you. His love for you is in Christ
alone. The gifts and callings of God
are without change. Having loved His own, He loved
them until the end. This love was not sold to us. He says, come and buy without
money and without price. How do you do that? You charge
it. It's charged to His account. This love was not merited by
us. This love is unarmed. Here the
word behold is also a word of instruction. Behold, consider
with amazement the extraordinary love of God. Ponder, consider,
weigh, mark, and behold the manner of love that the Father gives
to us. Who calls us the sons of God? This is the wonder. The eternal
God does so. He speaks unto us as children.
He bids us to call Him our Father. He pities us as a father pities
his children. He says, I'll be a father unto
you and you shall be my sons and daughters. God does. Christ speaking of God His Father
calls Him my Father and your Father. I'm like, huh, isn't
that a wonder? The Lord Jesus said, I'm not
ashamed to call you brethren. You know what that means? That
means that His God is my Father and His Father is my Father.
That means that God is our Father. His Spirit bears witness with
our spirit that we are what? The sons of God, the children
of God. What do we cry? I'm a father. Daddy, what an endearing word
that is. I'll never forget the first time
my daughter Leah looked at me and batted those eyes and she
said, Daddy, oh, it just make you melt, don't it, Chris? Daddy,
what an endearing word. Are you experiencing trouble,
sorrow, and affliction? Be of good cheer. What son is
there whom the Father chasteneth not? Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called the children of God. Our text does
not say, behold, what manner of honor the Father hath bestowed,
but what manner of love. What amazing love, amazing love. How can it be that thou, my God,
would die for me? It's amazing love, isn't it? It's amazing grace. What amazing
love it is for a worm, a maggot, to be called a son of God. Works could never climb to this
lofty height. This came no other way than by
faith, but as many as received Him, bowed to Him. That's what
that word received means. It ain't aligning your will with
His will, I'll tell you that. It's bowing to Him and worshiping
Him. To them gave He the power to
what? Become the sons of God, even
to them that believe on His name, John 1, 2. And the giving of
grace comes before the believing. God's gift of life is what enables
us to believe. This sonship is forever. The
servant abideth not in the house forever, but a son abideth ever. We're called the sons of God,
and we are. And that can't be undone. We really are what we're said
to be. Infinite love has no end. It's
the love of the infinite one. It's the everlasting Father that
loves us. And to which of the angels did
he say, thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee. Now
look at verse two in our text, 1 John 3, verse two. Beloved,
Oh, isn't that a precious word? Isn't that a wonder that He would
call us His beloved? Beloved, now are we the sons
of God. Now. Right now. Not at some future
date. But right now. There is therefore
now no condemnation to them which are what? In Christ Jesus. You're
a son of God right now. You might ask, am I a son of
God? Well, let me ask you a question. Do you really believe in the
Lord Jesus Christ? Oh yes, with all my heart. Then
right now, you're a son of God. Do you trust in His blood? Is
your righteousness His righteousness? Then you're a son of God. After
all, He's given us the right and He's given us the power to
be His children. He made us willing in the day
of His power. We weren't willing. We weren't
able. He made us able. We weren't willing. He made us
willing. He bestowed it upon us. He gave it to us freely without
a cause. We're not going to be a child
of God. We are right now. Therefore being, being justified. Right now, by faith, we have,
past tense, already have, peace with God. Do you have peace with
God? If you're resting in Christ, you should. Read on, verse two,
it does 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. Now what does that mean? Well,
though we are sons and daughters and children right now, we do
not appear as such, not like we will one day. It doesn't manifestly
appear while we still deal with this old man within. If I look
within and try to find any confidence there that I'm a son of God,
I won't find any. And neither will you. But to
God we are. God can justly cause those things
that are not as though they are. And we're so plagued by sin,
that sin that so easily besets us, that we do not appear to
ourselves to be perfect and reconciled to God. But we are. We are. But we can still be confident
that when Christ shall appear, we shall be just like Him. That's
what He promised. He's not a man that he should
lie, son, a man that he should repent. As being the one in whom
there is no variableness or shadow of turning, he cannot change
his mind. And that's where our confidence
lies. Our minds today try to see Christ
as He was. But one day soon we'll see Christ
as He is. He's not in a manger. He's not
on a cross. He's not in a tomb. We'll see
Him as He is now. He's not on a cross. He's on
a throne. He's not in a tomb. He's sitting at the right hand
of God, making intercession for His sons and daughters. He's the Lord of hosts, the exalted
Savior. And verse 3 says this, And every
man that hath this hope in Him purifies Himself, even as He,
being God, is pure." Now isn't that a wonder? We have this hope
in ourselves. The sons and daughters of God
have this hope in themselves. The hope of being holy, just
like God. Righteous, just like Christ. Pure as God the Father, Son,
and Spirit. If that doesn't give you hope,
nothing will. When we see Him, we will be perfectly
conformed to His image. Do you remember how that comes
about? Well, it all began before the foundation of the world. You know what I love about that?
It takes me out of the equation. I wasn't around when the foundation
of the world, before the world was made. Matter of fact, I didn't
come around to 1956. But that's what I love about
the election of God. It takes me out of it. before I was born, before I've
ever done any good or evil, that the purpose of God, according
to election, might stand. Not of works. Not because of
what I did. I wasn't around. I wasn't alive. And not because of something
I didn't do. but of Him, God in Christ, they
call it, Romans 9, 11. For whom He did foreknow. He
also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son. That's
what we're talking about. Being sons of God. When I see
Him, I'll be just like Him. That He might be the firstborn
among many brethren. Again, you know what that means?
That means that He's the firstborn of God, and He's the firstborn
of many brethren. That's talking about us. God
knew me before the world began. It was then that He did predestinate
me. He determined, He purposed beforehand. That's what predestination means.
God determined and purposed before. He preordained, He foreordained
before I was ever born to conform me to the image of who? His Son! And that's the only reason that
you and I are the sons of God. And I might add, and we are. And we are. That Christ might
be the firstborn among many brethren. Christ is the firstborn of the
same Father that we are. Moreover, whom He did predestinate,
predetermined for, ordained, the ones that He predetermined
to be His children, He also called, and He justified, and one day
very soon He'll glorify them to be Christians. And I use that
word on purpose. You know, that's a word that's
been highly abused and misused. Christian. Well, everybody's
a Christian, they say. Are you a Christian? Yes, I'm
a Christian. Are you a Christian? Yeah, I'm a Christian. Everybody's
a Christian. But that title, Christian, means
little anointed ones. It means to be just like Christ.
It means to be God's little children. We're sons of God. What shall
we say to these things if God be for us? Who can be against
us? Who shall lay anything to our
charge? Shall the law of God charge us? No, it can't. Christ
fulfilled the law. Christ satisfied God's justice. Can God's holy justice charge
us? No. Can Satan charge us? Absolutely
not. What about our flesh? Can our
flesh charge us? Nothing or no one can charge
us with sin. Who can condemn us? Who can separate us from the
love of God? Nothing and no one. We're in
Christ and we are the sons of God. Look down at verse 16. Hereby perceive we the love of
God, because he laid down his life for us, and we ought to
lay our lives down for the brethren. And this was manifested, the
love of God towards us. Because that God sent his only
begotten Son into the world that we might live through him, 1
John 4, 9. Dear beloved friends, may God
be pleased to make this so for his own glory, for our good. And for Christ's sake, you are,
if you're trusting in Christ this morning, if you're relying
upon Him and leaning upon Him to put your sin away and provide
you with the perfect righteousness that only He can provide you
with, then you are the son of God. The sons of God. What a glorious thought. Isn't
that a wondrous thing? Amazing grace.