Sermon #1407 Miscellaneous Sermons

Title: “Behold, What Manner of Love”

Text: 1 John 3:1-5

Subject: Matters of Great Joy and Great Concern

Date: Tuesday Evening – May 23, 2000

Tape # V-85a

Readings: Bobbie Estes and Rex Bartley

Introduction:

I want you to turn with me once more to 1 John 3:1-5, and just hold your Bibles open, as I endeavor to talk to you from my heart about matters of great, great importance to every believer’s heart.

(1 John 3:1-5) "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. (2) 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. (3) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (4) Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (5) And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin."

I. Here is a cause for wonder (v. 1).

(1 John 3:1) "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."

John was a man whose life was filled with wonders. It is unlikely that any other mere man on earth ever saw and experienced such wonders as this man.

· He walked with the incarnate God.

· He witnessed the Lord’s miracles, as he walked on this earth.

· He was with the Lord of Glory on the Mount of Transfiguration.

· John was present in Gethsemane.

· He was there when the Son of God was nailed to the cursed tree.

· He saw the risen Christ.

· He was an eye-witness of the Lord’s ascension.

· The Revelation of Jesus Christ was given to this man, John.

He saw it all! He experienced, first hand, all those great wonders we talk about! Yet, as he contemplated the great love of God for his people, it seems to have struck him as the greatest wonder of all. He says, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us!”

A. Here is a great wonder indeed!

Sinful, wretched worms, though we are, God almighty, the great God of Glory, infinite, glorious, eternal, has bestowed his love upon us! I am not amazed by the fact that God loves. “God is love.” I expect him to love. But I amazed that he loves us. We do not deserve his love. We are unlovely and unlovable by nature; but he loved us. Imagine that!

1. Our Father bestowed his love upon us in eternity. He loved us with an everlasting love (Jer. 31:3; John 17:23-24).

(Jeremiah 31:3) "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

(John 17:23-24) "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (24) Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."

2. The love of God bestowed upon us is immutable.

3. God’s love toward us is abundant, boundless and free. It is unconditional, unqualified, unwavering, infinite love!

4. This love of God, which was bestowed upon us in Christ before the world began, is an unending, uninterrupted, persevering love. – It is everlasting both ways! “Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.”

5. This love of God, so freely bestowed upon us from everlasting, is the very same love as that which the Father bestowed upon the Son from eternity, as our Surety and Mediator (John 17:23-26).

(John 17:23-26) "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (24) Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. (25) O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. (26) And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them."

6. The love of God for us is the source and cause of every blessing of grace performed for us and bestowed upon us in Christ (Eph. 1:3-7).

(Ephesians 1:3-7) "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (7) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"

7. God’s love for us is the source, cause, and motivation of our love for him (1 John 4:19).

(1 John 4:19) "We love him, because he first loved us."

Note: If God loves me, everything is all right!

B. The wonder of God’s love is seen in that which he has done for us because of his love.

Love is measured best by its deeds. God’s infinite love is the boundless fountain from which and through which all mercy and grace flow to our souls. Because he loved us…

1. God chose us and adopted us as his own dear children.

2. Our heavenly Father devised a plan of redemption and grace, and entered into a covenant with his Son to save us (Jer. 31:31-34).

(Jeremiah 31:31-34) "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: (32) Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: (33) But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. (34) And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

3. God sent his Son into the world and gave him up to suffer the painful, shameful, ignominious death of the cross as our Substitute to save us (1 John 4:9-10).

(1 John 4:9-10) "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

4. Then, at the appointed time of love and grace, the Lord God came to us, called us by his Spirit, and revealed his love to us and in us in Christ (Ezek. 16:6-8).

(Ezekiel 16:6-8) "And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live. (7) I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. (8) Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine."

C. We also see the wonder of God’s love in the effect it has upon those who know it and experience it.

When a sinner is made to experience the love of God in Christ, his soul, his very life, is transformed by it, transformed to such a degree that he becomes a mystery to the people around him. Because of the love of God bestowed upon us and experienced by us, it is written, “The world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” The people of this world simply cannot understand the people of God. The believer is an enigma to the unbeliever. The unbeliever, no matter how religious he may be, cannot understand the believer’s…

· Worship and Devotion.

· Commitment to Christ and the Gospel.

· Motivation and Concern for the Will and Glory of God.

· Hopes, Aspirations, and Desires.

· Unruffled Peace amid the Trials and Troubles of Life.

Truly, this is a cause for wonder. -- "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.”

II. Here is a cause for confidence (v. 2).

(1 John 3:2) "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."

Before the worlds were made, God loved us, chose us as the objects of his grace, and adopted us as his sons and daughters in Christ. And, now, as the result of his matchless love and grace, we are the sons of God (Gal. 4:6-7).

(Galatians 4:6-7) "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (7) Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."

Here are four things every believer ought to know and rejoice in with confident assurance. If we are in Christ, these four things should be matters of confident and constant joy to us.

A. We are now the sons of God.

Our adoption was made in eternal election, paid for at Calvary, experienced in regeneration, and shall be perfected in the resurrection. But we are now the sons of God1 And the faithful God will never disinherit or disown any of his children!

B. Our heavenly inheritance, as the sons of God, is altogether beyond the scope of human thought and imagination. – “It doth not yet appear what we shall be.”

1. We do not really know what heaven will be like (1 Cor. 2:9).

(1 Corinthians 2:9) "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

2. We rejoice to know that some things will not be there (Rev. 21:4).

(Revelation 21:4) "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

3. And we rejoice to know that our Lord is there. (Jehovah-shammah – The Lord is There – Ezek. 48:35). – Nothing else much matters!

C. One day soon, we shall behold our Redeemer face to face (Job 19:25-27).

“When he shall appear, (in death or in his second advent), we shall see him as he is!”

· In His Divine Glory

· In His Mediatoral Glory

(Job 19:25-27) "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: (26) And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: (27) Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me."

D. And when we see him as he is, “we shall be like him.”

In that great and glorious day, we shall be immediately changed into his likeness, perfectly conformed to the image of the Son of God! Then we will…

· Think as he thinks.

· Want what he wants.

· Love what he loves.

· Hate what he hates.

· And have what he has!

May God grant to every believing soul here an unshaken confidence in these things, that we may draw near to him in full assurance of faith.

(2 Timothy 1:12) "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

(2 Timothy 4:6-8) "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. (7) I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: (8) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

III. Here is a cause for hope (v. 3).

(1 John 3:3) "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."

Faith in Christ gives us a cause for hope, “hope that maketh not ashamed.” We have “a good hope through grace.” “This hope” is our hope.

A. Our hope is the confident expectation of everlasting good from God.

· Preservation

· Resurrection

· Everlasting Glory

B. The basis of our hope is the finished work of Christ as it is revealed in Holy Scripture.

· The Immutability of His Purpose

· The Efficacy of His Blood

· The Power of His Grace

· The Virtue of His Intercession

· The Truthfulness of His Promises

C. This blessed hope has a purifying effect upon all who possess it.

1. It purges our hearts from the love of this world.

2. It sets our hearts upon the pursuit of Christ.

3. It fills our hearts with the anticipation of heavenly glory.

IV. Here is a cause for concern (v. 4).

(1 John 3:4) "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."

A. God’s elect, as long as we live in this body of flesh, are sinners still.

B. Sin, with us, is an unceasing, bitter and painful, fact of life.

C. Our sins deserve eternal damnation.

We have transgressed God’s holy law. We have violated the very character of God. Unless a suitable sacrifice is found, one who can fully atone for all our sins, satisfying God’s law and justice for us, we must forever perish under the wrath of God in hell. But, blessed be God, such a sacrifice has been found by God himself in the person of his own sear Son (Job 33:24).

(Job 33:24) "Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom."

V. Here is a cause for joy (v. 5).

(1 John 3:5) "And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin."

A. Our Lord Jesus Christ was manifested to take away our sins.

B. He did what he came here to do. – “It is finished.” – “Now, once, in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” – “He has, by himself purged our sins.”

C. “And in him is no sin!”

“Did you hear what Jesus said to me?

‘They’re all taken away, away!

Your sins are pardoned and you are free.

They’re all taken away!’”

Now listen carefully. I want you to get this, rejoice in it, and glorify God for it.

1. We are no longer under the curse of the law because of sin.

2. We are no longer under the dominion of sin (vv. 6-9).

In these verses John tells us three things which need to be clearly understood.

a. God’s saints are not ruled, governed, and controlled by sin (vv. 6-7; Rom. 6:18).

(1 John 3:6-7) "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. (7) Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous."

(Romans 6:18) "Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."

Illustrations: Tennis Ball

Mississippi River

b. Those whose lives are ruled by sin, by the lusts of their flesh, are children of the devil (v. 8).

(1 John 3:8) "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."

c. When the believer sins, it is not him (his true self) sinning, but sin (the old man) that dwells in him (Compare v. 9 and Romans 7:20).

(1 John 3:9) "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

The believer is a person with two natures, flesh and spirit, the old man and the new man. The old man will never surrender to the new. The flesh will never surrender to the spirit. Yet, we live not after the flesh but after the spirit (Rom 7:14-25; Gal. 5:22-23; Rom. 8:1-9).

(Romans 7:14-25) "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. (15) For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. (16) If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. (17) Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (19) For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. (20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (21) I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. (22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: (23) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (24) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (25) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."

(Galatians 5:22-23) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

(Romans 8:1-9) "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (5) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."

3. In the eyes of God’s law, we are no longer guilty of sin. – Our debt has been paid! -- Our obligation has been met, fulfilled, and satisfied by Christ (Heb. 1:3). – “He that is dead is freed from sin” (Rom. 6:7).

4. God will never charge us with sin, punish us for sin, or treat us any the less graciously because we have sinned (1 John 2:1-2; Rom 4:8).

(1 John 2:1-2) "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

(Romans 4:8) "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."

5. In Christ we have no sin (V. 5; Jer. 50:20).

(1 John 3:5) "And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin."

(Jeremiah 50:20) "In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve."

Near, so very near to God, nearer I cannot be,

For in the Person of His Son, I am as near as He!

Dear, so very dear to God, dearer I cannot be,

For in the Person of His Son, I am as dear as He!

Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness,

My beauty are, my glorious dress.

Midst flaming worlds in these arrayed,

With joy shall I lift up my head.

When from the dust of death I rise

To take my mansion in the skies,

This, this alone, shall be my plea, --

“Jesus has lived and died for me!”

Bold shall I stand in that great day,

For who aught to my charge shall lay,

While through Thy blood absolved I am,

From sin’s tremendous guilt and blame!

Yes, I shall stand before God’s throne,

With Jesus’ spotless garments on,

Accepted in my Lord, God’s Son,

Made holy as the Holy One!

Application: If these things are so (And they most assuredly are!), then you and I who have been made the recipients and beneficiaries of such amazing grace and wondrous love should…

· Love the Lord our God with all our hearts.

· Be full of unceasing gratitude and praise.

· Hate our sins.

· Tell sinners everywhere about the great forgiveness of sins in Christ.

· Give ourselves unreservedly to our great Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

(1 Corinthians 6:19-20) "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

(Romans 6:11-12) "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (12) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof."

(1 Peter 4:1-2) "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; (2) That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God."

If the Lord God has done this for me in Christ, (And he has!), maybe he will do the same for you. Indeed, if you trust him, he has!

AMEN.

Songs of Grace #67