If you would, and you want to
follow along, please turn to the book of first John, back
near the book of revelations. First John chapter three. I'm going to read just the first
two verses. The first John chapter three,
beginning in verse one, behold, 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. I've entitled this Called the
Sons of God. Called the Sons of God. Now,
the first epistle of John is different, I think, than any
other epistle. John writes this wonderful epistle,
and he writes it to give great assurance, and I mean great assurance,
to believers. Because this epistle is full
of knowledge and of love, both. Because believers have both. He's very clear. I think I looked it up 28 times. You'll see the word know or knoweth
in the first epistle of John. And that's from chapter two back.
It's not in chapter one. Chapter one is the setup for
the rest of this book. And there's 12 verses in first
John. Actually, it's 11 verses, but
it's 12 times because in one verse it says it twice. You'll
find this one phrase, we know. Now, I've been around people
that used to tell you, and Walter's been there too. We were out witnessing
one time before we learned better. We've invited ourselves in that
time. But anyhow, where someone told
us, and it's been said to other places, You can't know you're
saved. I beg to differ. And the only
reason I beg to differ is because of what John wrote here, among
others. We know some things. We do know
some things. But John is very clear, the reason
we know some things is because we know someone. We don't get
to know someone because we know some things. We're very clear
here, try to be very clear here, knowledge does not save. But
we are also very clear, or and we are very clear, that with
salvation does come knowledge. Paul wrote it more than once,
I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren. Well, there's a reason
why. Because the father reveals himself
to his children. The father reveals his son to
his people. The Lord Jesus Christ does not
leave his people ignorant. Now we all start out that way.
We start out ignorant. I think I said it last week.
Saul of Tarsus' education began again. when the Lord met him
on the road to Damascus. He said, go over here and this
fellow's gonna come to you and teach you some things. And Saul
was a Pharisee then. A Hebrew of Hebrews. Ah. The Lord will reveal himself
to his people. And you will know him and you
will know some things because of him. He has promised them
these things to be taught to you in his word. And we have his
word, we have his gospel, we have his message, and we have
his messengers. So, behold. Behold, what manner
of love the Father hath bestowed upon us. Behold, look, see the depth and
the height and the breadth of the love of God for His people. For His people. The Father hath
bestowed on everyone upon us. Us. Upon His people. because the love of the father
is in his son. And any love that the father
has for his people is in the same exact place. It's in his
son. Paul wrote it in Ephesians, in
the beloved. In the beloved, who's the beloved?
Jesus Christ. That's where the love of God
resides. And if you are in Christ, the
love of God resides upon you. Upon us. Upon us. I really wish I could grasp this. If I could lay hold of this,
Walter, my feet wouldn't touch the ground. But I can't do it. But I can read it and I can believe
it. And I can preach it. If you know
Christ, the love of God's upon you. And boy, what is that manner?
What manner of love is this? What manner? The wonder that
John reveals here, because everything that flows on from this verse,
from this part of this verse, the front of this verse, it flows
from the love of God. Every single bit of it. And every
single bit of his love is in his son. So everything that we
read here is coming from the father through the son. And it's
coming from the son, and it's upon us. It's upon us. And he states this as the first
thing, that we, again, not the world, not everyone, that we,
should be called the sons of God. What an amazing, glorious
statement. Didn't he call Jacob a worm?
You're a worm and no man? I feel I'm a worm and no man?
I mean, but he has also called us that believe
the sons of God. And you understand, that's not
Paul or John or any other apostle calling us the sons of God. That's
God calling us the sons of God. That's what manner of love Father
has bestowed upon you. He calls you the sons and daughters
of God. John's not unknowing of where
we came from. He knows clearly the pit from
which we were digged. He knows clearly the depravity.
He wrote the gospel of Jesus Christ according to John. And
it's clear in there that Jesus is exalted as the Christ, the
Son of God, the Lord from heaven, the bread that came down from
heaven. And we are down here in the muck and the mire And
yet the same man writes that God has bestowed this upon us.
We didn't earn it. It was bestowed. You understand? We didn't work for it. We didn't
come looking for it. It was bestowed upon a lost sheep
that he brought into the fold. He's not unknowing of where we
came from. He's not unknowing of what we
still are. Back up here just a little bit
in John chapter two and verse 19 says this. They went out from
us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they
would have no doubt continued with us, but they went out that
they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. Verse
20, but ye have an unction from the Holy One, wait a minute,
and ye know all things. We are called the sons of God. Why? Because we have an unction
from Him. From Him, from the Holy One.
It's not anything we did. It's not anything we deserve.
It's not anything we keep. He preserves. We only persevere
because he preserves. But we are called the sons of
God. Then he makes this statement.
Therefore the world knoweth us not. The world, and that's religious
and secular, both, The world does not understand believers. They don't understand believers. The world doesn't get believers. And this is a fact, this is not
supposition. I have seen this in my own life.
And it's all throughout the scripture. You can read in the book of Acts
some of the things that the apostle Paul did with Luke. and some
of the preaching he did, and some of the places he did it.
In Athens, to that governor, almost thou persuadest me to
be a Christian. No, I don't think so. I think
that might have been a little sarcasm. But Paul put forth the
truth, and that truth made a mark on that man. Understand, Paul's
argument was not just an argument, it was a message. And that message,
he says in another epistle, makes the messenger the saver
of death unto death or life unto life. Death unto death is because the
world knoweth us not. Because there's a reason the
world doesn't know you. doesn't understand believers,
doesn't get believers, don't know why you drive 30 miles or
however long to get here. Every Sunday, rain or shine,
when we're having services. The reason they don't understand
you is because the world knew him not. We're not that special. But we have odd behavior to the
world. Why? Because we know him. And the
reason the world doesn't get it is because they don't know
him. The world did not know Jesus
Christ, and this is a fact. What does it say? If the princes
of the world knew who Jesus Christ was, they would not have crucified
the Lord of Glory. but they didn't know. And they
did exactly what God had foreordained for them to do. They don't know him, and because
of that, they don't know you who follow him. And guess what? For the most
part, they don't want to. They don't want to. I preached
about it last week. The religious are looking for
a sign and the secular are seeking wisdom. They're looking for things,
they're not looking for him. No one looks for him until he
finds them. And you can take that any way
you want because that's scriptural. The good shepherd said, other
sheep I have and they better get down here. No, he didn't
say that. He said, other sheep I have and
them I must bring. The parable where that man who
had had one sheep that was lost, 99 were in the fold, he went
and found it. He searched until he found it,
picked it up, put it on his shoulders and brought it back home into
the fold. This world will not look for
the Lord of glory because they don't know the Lord of glory
because he hasn't brought them in. And guess what? We are called the sons of God
by God and the world don't see it. What manner of love is he
bestowed upon us? The world doesn't know us or
want to know us. And guess what? That's what manner
of love the Father has bestowed upon us. That's it. Because the world doesn't know
Him. That's what manner, what? What manner of love the Father
has bestowed upon us. The world doesn't know Him. That's because of the love of
God toward us. No, people don't understand that,
people don't like it. The world not knowing Jesus Christ
is tied to the love of God upon us. Because at one time, each
and every single one of us didn't know Christ, didn't love Christ. But when the love of God in this
manner is bestowed upon us, you know him. And by Him, you know
the Father. That's the manner of love bestowed
upon us. And the religious world and the
secular world don't get it. They don't get it because they
don't get Him. Now what a glorious verse, verse
one is. And just when you think it can't
get any better, it does. I like this. Verse two, 1 John
chapter three. Beloved, now. 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. See, John goes from that we should
be called the sons of God. Well, there's a reason we should
be called the sons of God. Beloved, now we are. That's why you're called the
son of God, because you are. Not in the world's sight. They
don't know you, they don't know him. But in God's sight, you
are a son of God. Right now. Right now. This is John saying this in the
present, and he's saying it, it was complete, and he's saying
it is a fact. Because we, believers, are not
waiting to become the sons of God. It's not that we're called
the sons of God, and now we're waiting to be one. No. John says
you're called one because you are one. And if he's not calling you one,
it means you aren't one. And guess where all this comes
from? What manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us. We have been given the spirit
of adoption. I'm gonna throw this at you.
Romans eight, verses 14 to 18. Apostle Paul writing, for as
many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of
God. That's Romans chapter eight and
verse 14. For we have not received the
spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the spirit
of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself bearing
witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs. Heirs of God. And joint heirs with Christ.
If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified
together. glorified together. For I reckon
that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us, in us. So what's Paul writing there?
He's writing, beloved, now we are the sons of God and it does
not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he
shall appear, we shall be like him. It doesn't appear what we shall
be. We're sons now and daughters of God, now. But the life we have now as believers
is not all there is. There's more, there's more. Now, it's not apparent by our
appearance. It does not yet appear what we
shall be. It's not apparent. The world
don't know it. It's not apparent. It's not something,
oh, you look like a Christian. What does that mean? What does
that mean? Oh, you look so much like Jesus,
you walk so much like Jesus, you talk so much like Jesus.
No, the reason they were first called Christians in Antioch
is because that's who they preached continuously. They preached Christ,
Paul, and him crucified. And that's why they were called
Christians. And guess what? The world didn't
know it even in Antioch. I got a feeling they were called
Christians as an insult at first. Oh, stay away from, they're Christians.
They just talk about that guy Christ all the time. They just
preach about him. They don't believe in the law,
Mason, if he's Jewish. It doesn't appear right now,
we are the sons of God. It doesn't appear what we shall
be. Because if in this life only
we have hope, we are of all men most miserable. You understand? The battle between our two natures,
the old man and the new man, between the spirit and the law. Romans chapter seven. I don't
want that to go on forever. The battle between our two men,
the old man and the new man is not eternal. We, we, this is,
This is the manner of love the Father's bestowed upon us. We
are going to be more. We are going to be better. He's promised it. He'll bring
it to pass. It says, but we know that when
he shall appear. Now, who is this he? This is
the same Jesus that went up in front of his disciples. and he's
gonna come again in like manner as you've seen him go. When he
shall appear, he's going to come again. He's
coming again in like manner as he went. We shall be like him, for we
shall see him as he is. Well, I got to turn to 1 Corinthians
chapter 15 and verse 51. It doesn't 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. 1 Corinthians 15
and verse 51. First word is behold. Look at this. 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. We shall not all sleep, but we
shall all be changed. There you go, for the better,
for the better. We're gonna be like him, incorruptible,
immortal. We are going to be without sin
and without sins, both. Most people don't see those as
two different things. Sins are what we do. Sin is what we are
by nature. That's the corruptible part that's
gonna put on incorruption. That corruptible part's still
in here right now. One day it won't be. One day
it won't be. We sin because we're sinners. We will see him as he is. And I can tell you this, he's
coming back with a name on his vesture and a name on his thigh
that says King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Because that's how he is and
that's who he is. He is Lord and King. He's Lord
and King now. He's just coming back with his
name on him. He was Lord and King while he was here. And we, we, we know him now. And we shall see him as he is. Now behold what manner of love
that is. That's been bestowed upon you,
upon you. All right, so what's my point?
What's the message here? Here's the message. We believers
are called the sons of God because we are the sons of God. And here's what manner of love
this is. We are heirs of God and joint
heirs with Jesus Christ. I have an inheritance. You have
an inheritance if you're in him. And that inheritance is incorruptible
and undefiled. And it fades not away. Paul read
it this morning. There's a new heaven and a new
earth coming. And guess what? There ain't gonna
be no temple in that new heaven and new earth. Don't need one. Because you've got the temple.
The lamb is the temple. And the lamb's got his bride.
And his bride's gonna be with him. And that bride's gonna see
him as he is. And guess what? We are that bride. A piece of it. A piece of her. We are heirs of God and joint
heirs of Jesus Christ. We are the sons of God now. So what do we do? Rejoice. Rejoice. And again, I say rejoice. We, right now, that's us, fallen,
sinful, faulty, weak, inherently worthless, ill-tempered, spiteful,
and sometimes just plain mean creatures are called the sons
and daughters of God right now because you are a son and daughter
of God. When the father looks at you,
he sees the righteousness of his son. That gives me goose
pimples sometimes. That's the message. Salvation
is of the Lord and it is bestowed upon you by the love of the Father. How is this possible? Well, a
guy by the name of John already told us. But as many as received
him, to them gave he power. What? To become the sons of God. The right. Even to them, that
believe on his name. Which were born, which were born,
which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man, but of God. We don't boast. I'm not boasting
up here, I'm preaching. And I'm boasting of him. Because we don't boast, we rejoice.
We don't take credit, we glory in him. And give him all the
glory. We don't want any credit. We
wait for his coming. How, why? Because believers,
the sons and daughters of God, are born of God. Behold, what manner of love has
a Father bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons
of God? Isn't that great? Our Heavenly Father, we are thankful
this time, this place, most of all, for your son, by whom you've
given us all things. Thank you, Lord. Thank you for
all your blessings. Be with Walter as he comes to
preach your word. And we'll give you the praise
and the honor and the glory through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.