Sermons on 1 John 3:1-2

1 John 3:1-2 Interpretation:

Transformative Love: A New Perspective in Christ (Victory Hill Church) interprets 1 John 3:1-2 through the metaphor of the artistic process, comparing the Christian life to a work of art that moves from a rough sketch to a finished masterpiece. The sermon emphasizes that believers are "in process"—not yet the finished product, but continually being shaped by God. The preacher draws out the phrase "what we will be has not yet been made known" to stress that our ultimate identity and transformation are still unfolding, and that both we and others should be seen as works in progress. This analogy is used to challenge listeners to see themselves and others not by worldly labels or past failures, but through the lens of Christ’s redemptive work, with the cross as the central reference point for identity and value.

Seeing Potential: The Power of True Friendship (Become New) offers a unique interpretation by connecting 1 John 3:1-2 to the dynamics of friendship, particularly the biblical friendship between David and Jonathan. The sermon uses the question "What is to become of you?" as a lens to explore how friends can either condemn, collude, or, ideally, reflect and call out the God-given potential in each other. The preacher highlights that "what we shall be has not yet been made known" is an invitation to see others as God sees them—full of potential and possibility, not yet fully revealed. This perspective is applied to the practice of friendship, encouraging listeners to be like Jonathan, who discerned and affirmed God’s work in David, rather than condemning or colluding.

Dreaming in Alignment with God's Kingdom (Become New) interprets 1 John 3:1-2 as a call to dream not about circumstances, but about the person God is shaping us to become. The preacher contrasts worldly dreams (about circumstances, achievements, or relationships) with the biblical dream of being transformed into Christ’s likeness. The phrase "what we shall be has not yet been made known" is used to encourage listeners to focus their aspirations on spiritual growth and alignment with God’s kingdom, rather than on external outcomes. The sermon draws on C.S. Lewis’s "Screwtape Letters" to reinforce the idea that circumstances are merely raw material for spiritual formation, and that the true dream is to become like Christ.

Embracing Our Glory: Adoption, Suffering, and Hope in Christ (Ligonier Ministries) interprets 1 John 3:1-2 as a profound statement of both present privilege and future destiny for believers, emphasizing the “atmosphere” of family and glory. The sermon uniquely weaves together the language of adoption and glory, drawing a parallel between Paul’s teaching in Romans 8 and John’s in 1 John 3, and uses the Greek term “adelphos” to highlight the inclusive nature of Christian siblinghood. The preacher employs a striking analogy of a beautiful woman and her unexpected boyfriend to illustrate how the church, as the “glory” of Christ, should reflect the worthiness of its Savior, just as Eve was the “glory” of Adam. The sermon also explores the concept of “squint looking,” referencing John Cotton, to describe the spiritual myopia that prevents Christians from fully grasping their current and future status as God’s children. The preacher further interprets the “not yet appeared” aspect as a call to focus on the privileges and destiny secured in Christ, even as the fullness of that glory remains hidden.

Embracing Our Identity as Children of God (Ligonier Ministries) offers a unique historical-linguistic interpretation, focusing on the radical nature of being called “children of God” in the first-century context. The sermon highlights the Greek word “exousia” (authority/right) in John 1:12, connecting it to the authority Jesus displayed and the authority given to believers to become God’s children. It also distinguishes between the Greek prepositions “en” (in) and “eis” (into), emphasizing that faith is not just belief about Christ but a mystical union—believing “into” Christ. The preacher stresses the uniqueness of Christ’s sonship (monogen?s) and the adoption of believers, warning against conflating the two.

Eternal Love: God's Adoption and Redemption Plan (Ligonier Ministries) interprets 1 John 3:1-2 as an expression of “apostolic astonishment” at the privilege of adoption, rooted in the eternal love of God for the Son and, by extension, for believers “in the Son.” The sermon uses the Old Testament story of Mephibosheth as a metaphor for adoption, illustrating how believers are brought into God’s family not by their own merit but because of the Father’s love for the Son. The preacher underscores that our status as children of God is not natural but supernatural, granted by adoption and the indwelling of the Spirit.

Living in Hope: Our Hidden Life in Christ (Desiring God) interprets 1 John 3:1-2 through the lens of “hiddenness” and future revelation. The preacher draws a vivid contrast between the ordinary, unimpressive appearance of believers now and the future glory that will be revealed when Christ appears. The analogy of a seed sown in dishonor and raised in glory (from 1 Corinthians 15) is used to explain the “not yet appeared” aspect of 1 John 3:2. The sermon also references the “shining like the sun” imagery from Matthew 13:43 and uses C.S. Lewis’s metaphor of the “dullest and most uninteresting person” becoming a creature of such glory that we would be tempted to worship them, to drive home the hidden, yet-to-be-revealed splendor of God’s children.

1 John 3:1-2 Theological Themes:

Transformative Love: A New Perspective in Christ (Victory Hill Church) introduces the theological theme of "process theology" in the Christian life, emphasizing that sanctification is ongoing and that both self-perception and the perception of others should be rooted in the understanding that everyone is a work in progress. The sermon also presents a nuanced view of identity in Christ, teaching that God sees believers as hidden in Christ, and thus, their worth and status are not based on performance but on Christ’s finished work. This leads to a call for humility and grace in relationships, as recognizing one’s own process should foster patience and compassion toward others.

Seeing Potential: The Power of True Friendship (Become New) develops the theme of redemptive friendship, arguing that Christian friendship is a spiritual practice that helps reveal and confirm the God-given identity and potential in others. The sermon uniquely frames 1 John 3:1-2 as a mandate for friends to look beyond present realities and to call out the future, as-yet-unrevealed likeness to Christ in each other, thus making friendship a means of spiritual discernment and encouragement.

Dreaming in Alignment with God's Kingdom (Become New) presents the theme of "spiritual dreaming," urging believers to set their hopes not on changing circumstances but on the transformation of character into Christlikeness. The sermon’s fresh angle is its insistence that the greatest dream is to become like Christ, and that this is the true fulfillment of 1 John 3:2’s promise. The preacher’s use of C.S. Lewis’s insight that circumstances are "raw material" for spiritual growth adds a distinctive theological layer, shifting the focus from external to internal transformation.

Embracing Our Glory: Adoption, Suffering, and Hope in Christ (Ligonier Ministries) introduces the theme of “the tragedy of lost glory and its recovery in Christ,” arguing that humanity’s original destiny was to reflect God’s glory, which was forfeited in the fall but is being restored through Christ. The sermon adds the nuanced idea that suffering in the Christian life is the “raw material” out of which God fashions the specific glory that will be revealed in each believer, making suffering not just a trial but a creative process in God’s redemptive plan.

Embracing Our Identity as Children of God (Ligonier Ministries) presents the distinct theological theme that adoption is not a mere metaphor but a real, legal, and spiritual status, with no “second-class” children in God’s family. The sermon also explores the “mystical union” of believers with Christ, using Greek prepositions to show that faith is an incorporation “into” Christ, resulting in a shared spiritual bond among all Christians that transcends biological ties.

Eternal Love: God's Adoption and Redemption Plan (Ligonier Ministries) offers the unique theological insight that God’s love for believers is fundamentally rooted in His eternal love for the Son, and that our adoption is a gift to the Son. The preacher emphasizes that believers are loved “in the Son,” and that the privileges of adoption are grounded in the Father’s delight in Christ, not in the inherent worthiness of the adopted.

Living in Hope: Our Hidden Life in Christ (Desiring God) develops the theme of “hiddenness and future revelation,” teaching that the true identity and glory of believers are currently concealed but will be revealed at Christ’s return. The sermon adds the idea that the entire creation is waiting for the unveiling of the children of God, and that the universe’s renewal is contingent upon the glorification of believers, thus placing cosmic significance on the destiny of God’s children.

1 John 3:1-2 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Embracing Our Identity as God's Beloved Children (Live Oak Church) provides historical context by contrasting the Old Testament understanding of being God’s people with the New Testament revelation of adoption as children of God. The preacher notes that, while Old Testament believers were God’s people, they did not grasp the depth of intimacy and identity available to New Testament believers, who, through Christ, are legally adopted and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. This contextualizes the radical nature of John’s statement in 1 John 3:1-2 for its original audience and for contemporary Christians.

Embracing Our Identity as Children of God (Ligonier Ministries) provides detailed historical context by explaining that, in first-century Judaism, addressing God as “Father” was virtually unheard of and considered radical. The sermon references the research of Joachim Jeremias, who found that the first recorded instance of a Jew addressing God as “Father” in prayer outside the Christian community was not until the 10th century A.D. in Italy. This highlights the revolutionary nature of Jesus teaching His disciples to pray “Our Father,” and the subsequent astonishment of the early church at being called children of God.

Eternal Love: God's Adoption and Redemption Plan (Ligonier Ministries) gives historical context by discussing the ancient practice of adoption, using the story of Mephibosheth to illustrate how adoption was an act of royal favor and inclusion, not based on the merit of the adopted but on the love and covenantal relationship with another (David’s love for Jonathan). This frames the New Testament teaching on adoption as a radical act of grace rooted in ancient covenantal loyalty.

1 John 3:1-2 Cross-References in the Bible:

Transformative Love: A New Perspective in Christ (Victory Hill Church) references several passages to expand on 1 John 3:1-2: 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 is used to establish the theme of new creation and the call to see others from a Christ-centered perspective; Colossians 3:1-4 is cited to illustrate the believer’s hiddenness in Christ and the call to set hearts and minds on things above; and Romans 8:37-39 is invoked to affirm the inseparability of believers from God’s love, reinforcing the security and permanence of their identity as God’s children.

Embracing Our Identity as God's Beloved Children (Live Oak Church) draws on Genesis 3:8 to illustrate God’s original intent for intimate relationship with humanity, and Matthew 6 (Jesus’ teaching on the birds and flowers) to show God’s ongoing care for his children. Hebrews 13:5-6 is also referenced to assure believers of God’s unfailing presence and help. These cross-references are used to deepen the understanding of what it means to be God’s child and to live in the confidence of his love and provision.

Seeing Potential: The Power of True Friendship (Become New) references Romans 15:7 (accepting one another), Colossians 3:16 (teaching and admonishing one another), and the story of David and Jonathan from 1 and 2 Samuel to illustrate the dynamics of condemnation, collusion, and redemptive friendship. These passages are used to frame the practical outworking of 1 John 3:1-2 in relationships.

Dreaming in Alignment with God's Kingdom (Become New) references 1 John 3:1-2 directly and alludes to various biblical stories where God calls people into unexpected circumstances, emphasizing that the biblical pattern is transformation through circumstances rather than the fulfillment of worldly dreams.

Embracing Our Glory: Adoption, Suffering, and Hope in Christ (Ligonier Ministries) references Romans 8 extensively, paralleling its themes of adoption, suffering, and future glory with 1 John 3:1-2. The sermon also draws on Genesis 1:26-28 (humanity’s original calling and loss of glory), Romans 1 and 3:23 (exchange and loss of glory), Ephesians 5 (marriage as a type of Christ and the church), 1 Corinthians 11:7 (image and glory language), 1 Corinthians 15 (order of resurrection and restoration), and Revelation 21 (the new creation and the dwelling of God with humanity). Each reference is used to expand on the idea that believers’ current status and future destiny are part of a grand biblical narrative of lost and restored glory.

Embracing Our Identity as Children of God (Ligonier Ministries) cross-references John 1:10-13 (authority to become children of God), Romans 8:12-17 (adoption and the Spirit), and the Lord’s Prayer (“Our Father”), using these passages to support the claim that adoption is a gift received by faith and the Spirit, not by natural birth. The sermon also references the “mystical union” language found throughout Paul’s letters, especially the use of “in Christ.”

Eternal Love: God's Adoption and Redemption Plan (Ligonier Ministries) references John 3:16 (God’s love for the world), 2 Peter 1:16-18 (the Father’s declaration of love for the Son at the Transfiguration), Romans 8:9-17 (adoption and the Spirit), and the story of Mephibosheth from 2 Samuel 9. Each passage is used to show that the believer’s adoption is rooted in God’s eternal love for the Son and is realized through the Spirit’s work.

Living in Hope: Our Hidden Life in Christ (Desiring God) cross-references Colossians 3:1-4 (hidden life in Christ), Romans 8:19-21 (creation waiting for the revealing of the sons of God), 1 Corinthians 15 (resurrection body), Matthew 13:43 (the righteous shining like the sun), and 1 John 3:1-2 itself. These references are used to reinforce the theme of hiddenness and future glory, showing that the New Testament consistently teaches a present reality that is not yet fully visible.

1 John 3:1-2 Christian References outside the Bible:

Seeing Potential: The Power of True Friendship (Become New) explicitly references Eugene Peterson, who writes about the spiritual significance of friendship, particularly the friendship between David and Jonathan, and Martin Buber, who is quoted as saying, "The greatest thing any person can do for another is to confirm the deepest thing in him or her, to take the time and have the discernment to see what is most deeply there... and then confirm it by recognizing and encouraging it." These references are used to reinforce the sermon's interpretation of 1 John 3:1-2 as a call to affirm and call out the God-given potential in others.

Dreaming in Alignment with God's Kingdom (Become New) draws extensively on C.S. Lewis’s "Screwtape Letters," particularly the idea that circumstances are "raw material" for spiritual formation and that the true measure of life is whether we are moving closer to God. This insight is used to support the sermon's application of 1 John 3:1-2 as a call to dream about becoming like Christ, rather than about external achievements.

Embracing Our Glory: Adoption, Suffering, and Hope in Christ (Ligonier Ministries) explicitly references John Cotton, a 17th-century New England preacher, who described the spiritual problem of “squint looking” to illustrate the Christian’s tendency to lose focus on their privileges and destiny. The sermon also quotes C.S. Lewis, noting his observation that Christians who are most effective in this world are those who think most of the world to come, and John Donne, who wrote, “He loves us to the end, and not to our end, but to His end, and His end is that He might love us more.”

Living in Hope: Our Hidden Life in Christ (Desiring God) explicitly references C.S. Lewis, quoting his famous statement that “the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship,” to illustrate the future glory of believers.

1 John 3:1-2 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Seeing Potential: The Power of True Friendship (Become New) uses the novel "A Gentleman in Moscow" as a central illustration, focusing on the question "What is to become of you, Alexander?" as asked by different characters (the Grand Duke, the grandmother, and Helena). The sermon analyzes how each character’s approach—condemnation, collusion, or genuine curiosity—mirrors different ways people relate to one another, and then connects this to the biblical call to see and call out the potential in others, as reflected in 1 John 3:1-2.

Dreaming in Alignment with God's Kingdom (Become New) uses personal anecdotes about dreams (including a humorous story about a friend dreaming of making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and being taller than the preacher) and the common anxiety dream of being unprepared for a test or sermon. These stories are used to illustrate how people often dream about circumstances, but the sermon pivots to encourage dreaming about spiritual transformation, aligning with the message of 1 John 3:1-2.

Embracing Our Glory: Adoption, Suffering, and Hope in Christ (Ligonier Ministries) uses a detailed social analogy involving a young man’s reaction to a beautiful woman and her unexpected boyfriend at a social event. The illustration is used to explain the concept of “glory” as “weight” or “worth,” and how the church, as the “glory” of Christ, should reflect the greatness of its Savior, just as a beautiful woman’s presence is assumed to reflect the worthiness of her partner. The preacher also references Shakespeare’s “the times are out of joint” from Hamlet to describe the fallen state of creation.

Eternal Love: God's Adoption and Redemption Plan (Ligonier Ministries) uses the story of Mephibosheth from the Old Testament, but also references the practice of playing baseball trivia and a mistake about the casting in the film “Elmer Gantry” (confusing Shirley Jones with Jean Simmons) as a lighthearted introduction to the theme of God’s merciful love covering human error. While not a direct analogy for 1 John 3:1-2, it sets the tone for the discussion of grace and adoption.

Living in Hope: Our Hidden Life in Christ (Desiring God) uses the analogy of a seed sown in dishonor and raised in glory (from 1 Corinthians 15) and the image of shining like the sun (from Matthew 13:43) to illustrate the transformation from hiddenness to revealed glory. The preacher also references the ordinary appearance of believers—baldness, aging, and physical weakness—to emphasize the contrast with the future, glorious state.