Sermons on 1 John 3:2
The various sermons below interpret 1 John 3:2 by focusing on the transformative journey of becoming like Christ, each offering unique metaphors to illustrate this process. They all emphasize the idea of transformation as central to the Christian experience, highlighting the assurance and hope that come with this spiritual journey. One sermon uses the analogy of abiding, likening it to a deep, personal relationship, while another employs the metaphor of a lathe, illustrating God's sovereign role in shaping believers. A third sermon uses the imagery of a house, with different "floors" representing aspects of Christian identity and hope. Despite their different approaches, these sermons share a common theme of transformation and the anticipation of seeing Christ, which is portrayed as a source of confidence and hope for believers.
In contrast, the sermons diverge in their theological emphases and the nuances they bring to the interpretation of 1 John 3:2. One sermon highlights the theme of abiding as an active pursuit of righteousness, suggesting that it involves living confidently and moving towards Christlikeness. Another sermon introduces the concept of predestination, offering comfort and assurance by emphasizing that transformation is part of God's unchangeable plan. Meanwhile, a third sermon focuses on hope as a transformative force, describing it as an "edgy" and active expectation that purifies believers. This sermon also introduces the idea of God's love as something astonishing and foreign, adding a layer of excitement and wonder to the anticipation of becoming like Christ.
1 John 3:2 Interpretation:
Abiding in Christ: Transformation, Righteousness, and Confidence (WoodlandParkOnline) interprets 1 John 3:2 by emphasizing the transformative process of becoming like Christ. The sermon uses the analogy of abiding, likening it to a deep, personal relationship where one desires to be with the other, as illustrated by the story of Ruth and Naomi. The sermon highlights that abiding in Christ means living confidently and differently, moving in the right direction towards becoming like Christ when He appears.
Understanding Predestination: Assurance of God's Sovereign Grace (Oak Grove Baptist Church) interprets 1 John 3:2 by focusing on the assurance of becoming like Christ as part of God's predestined plan. The sermon uses the metaphor of a lathe, where God shapes believers into the image of Christ, emphasizing that this transformation is a guaranteed outcome of God's sovereign will.
Living in Hope: Embracing God's Transformative Love (Bethel Church Fargo, ND) interprets 1 John 3:2 by using the metaphor of a house to describe the Christian life. The sermon emphasizes the idea of living on different "floors" of a spiritual house, representing different aspects of Christian identity and hope. The second story of the house is where believers can "see the view," symbolizing the anticipation of seeing Christ face to face and being transformed by that vision. The sermon highlights the Greek word "Potapen," used in the passage, which conveys astonishment and excitement, likening God's love to an alien ship arriving at a port, something foreign and astonishing.
Embracing Our Identity as God's Children (Gospel in Life) interprets 1 John 3:2 by emphasizing the transformative power of seeing Christ as he is. The sermon highlights the Greek term "agapetoi" (beloved) to stress the intimate relationship believers have with God. It uses the analogy of adoption to explain that being a child of God is a legal standing, not based on behavior but on God's bestowed love. The sermon also uses the metaphor of a diamond to describe Christianity's multifaceted nature, suggesting that each facet offers a unique perspective on the believer's identity in Christ.
Transformed Hope: The Promise of Resurrection Bodies (South Side Baptist Church) interprets 1 John 3:2 by focusing on the future transformation believers will undergo. The sermon uses the analogy of seeds transforming into plants to illustrate how believers will be the same yet different in their resurrected bodies. It emphasizes that believers will bear the image of Christ, drawing from the Greek term "pneumatikos" to describe the spiritual nature of the resurrected body. The sermon also uses the metaphor of a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly to illustrate the radical change believers will experience.
1 John 3:2 Theological Themes:
Abiding in Christ: Transformation, Righteousness, and Confidence (WoodlandParkOnline) presents the theme of abiding as central to Christian life, suggesting that it involves living with confidence and pursuing righteousness. The sermon emphasizes that abiding is not just about avoiding sin but actively moving towards Christlikeness.
Understanding Predestination: Assurance of God's Sovereign Grace (Oak Grove Baptist Church) introduces the theme of predestination as a comforting assurance for believers, highlighting that God's purpose is to conform them to the image of Christ. The sermon stresses that this transformation is part of God's unchangeable plan, providing believers with security and hope.
Living in Hope: Embracing God's Transformative Love (Bethel Church Fargo, ND) presents the theme of hope as a transformative force in the Christian life. The sermon emphasizes that hope is not just a passive expectation but an active force that purifies believers as they anticipate seeing Christ. It introduces the idea that hope is "edgy" and requires opening one's heart to possibilities beyond human control, aligning one's will with God's, and trusting in His ultimate goodness.
Embracing Our Identity as God's Children (Gospel in Life) presents the theme of adoption as a legal standing, emphasizing that believers are already children of God, not by effort but by divine declaration. This theme is distinct in its focus on the legal and relational aspects of being God's children, contrasting with the common notion of striving to become a child of God.
Transformed Hope: The Promise of Resurrection Bodies (South Side Baptist Church) introduces the theme of continuity and transformation, highlighting that believers will retain their identity while being transformed into a glorified state. This theme is distinct in its emphasis on the continuity of personal identity through the resurrection, using the analogy of seeds and plants to illustrate this transformation.
1 John 3:2 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Living in Hope: Embracing God's Transformative Love (Bethel Church Fargo, ND) provides a cultural insight into the use of the Greek word "Potapen," explaining its historical context as a term used in Greek seaport towns to express astonishment at the arrival of an unfamiliar ship. This insight helps convey the sense of wonder and foreignness associated with God's love in 1 John 3:2.
Embracing Our Identity as God's Children (Gospel in Life) provides historical context by explaining the concept of adoption in New Testament times, where an adopted adult would have their debts canceled and gain full rights as a child. This insight helps to understand the depth of the believer's new identity in Christ as described in 1 John 3:2.
1 John 3:2 Cross-References in the Bible:
Abiding in Christ: Transformation, Righteousness, and Confidence (WoodlandParkOnline) references John 14 and 15, where Jesus speaks about preparing a place for believers and the concept of abiding in Him. These passages are used to support the idea that abiding in Christ is foundational to being transformed into His likeness.
Understanding Predestination: Assurance of God's Sovereign Grace (Oak Grove Baptist Church) references Romans 8:28-30, Ephesians 1, and John 15:16 to expand on the concept of predestination and God's purpose for believers. These passages are used to illustrate the process of salvation and the assurance of becoming like Christ.
Proving Our Love for God Through Action (Arrows Church) references Romans 5:6-8 to illustrate the depth of God's love, emphasizing that Christ died for us while we were still sinners, highlighting the transformative power of God's love and its implications for believers' identity as children of God.
Living in Hope: Embracing God's Transformative Love (Bethel Church Fargo, ND) references 1 Corinthians 13:12 to illustrate the difference between our current understanding and the future clarity we will have when we see Christ face to face. It also references 2 Corinthians 3:18 to describe the ongoing transformation of believers into the image of Christ, emphasizing the progressive nature of this transformation.
Embracing Our Identity as God's Children (Gospel in Life) references several passages to expand on 1 John 3:2. It cites John 1:12 to emphasize the need to receive the right to become children of God. It also references Romans 8, which speaks of creation's liberation through the glory of the children of God, and 1 Corinthians 13, which contrasts seeing through a dark window with seeing face to face. These references support the sermon’s interpretation of the transformative vision of God.
Transformed Hope: The Promise of Resurrection Bodies (South Side Baptist Church) references Philippians 3:20-21, which speaks of the transformation of our lowly bodies to be like Christ's glorious body. It also cites 1 Corinthians 15 to discuss the nature of resurrected bodies, using these references to support the idea of believers being transformed into Christ's likeness.
1 John 3:2 Christian References outside the Bible:
Living in Hope: Embracing God's Transformative Love (Bethel Church Fargo, ND) references a story about E.V. Hill and Natalie Cole to illustrate the concept of inheritance and identity in Christ. The sermon also mentions Martin Lloyd Jones, who emphasizes that holiness is not something we do to become something, but something we do because of who we already are in Christ.
Embracing Our Identity as God's Children (Gospel in Life) references John Flavel, a Puritan writer, who describes the ultimate fulfillment found in the vision of God. The sermon also quotes C.S. Lewis, who speaks of the longing to be united with beauty and the promise of putting on the splendor of the sun, illustrating the deep desire for the beatific vision.
1 John 3:2 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Abiding in Christ: Transformation, Righteousness, and Confidence (WoodlandParkOnline) uses the analogy of waiting in line to illustrate the concept of moving in the right direction. The sermon compares the Christian journey to choosing the right line and progressing towards the goal of Christlikeness.
Understanding Predestination: Assurance of God's Sovereign Grace (Oak Grove Baptist Church) uses the analogy of a tracer lathe in a machine shop to describe how God shapes believers into the image of Christ. The sermon explains that just as a lathe meticulously follows a template to create an exact replica, God uses life experiences to conform believers to Christ's likeness.
Living in Hope: Embracing God's Transformative Love (Bethel Church Fargo, ND) uses the analogy of a house to illustrate the Christian life, with different floors representing different aspects of spiritual growth and hope. The sermon also references the experience of visiting Yosemite National Park to convey the difference between seeing something from a distance and experiencing it firsthand, paralleling the anticipation of seeing Christ face to face.
Transformed Hope: The Promise of Resurrection Bodies (South Side Baptist Church) uses the analogy of a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly to illustrate the transformation believers will undergo in their resurrected bodies. This secular illustration helps to convey the radical change and beauty of the resurrection, making the concept more relatable to the audience.