Embracing Our Identity as God's Beloved Children
Summary
In 1 John 3, we are reminded of the incredible quality of love that God has shown us by naming, calling, and counting us as His children. This is not just a title; it is our primary purpose in life. Our number one calling is not to achieve worldly success, fame, or wealth, but to be loved by God and to experience that love deeply. Many people have heard about God's love, but few have truly experienced it in their hearts. This disconnect often leads to a superficial understanding of God's love, which can result in missing the profound joy and transformation it brings.
God's love is extravagant, lavish, and beyond comprehension. It is constant and unwavering, regardless of our actions or feelings. On both our good and bad days, whether we feel deserving or not, God's love remains the same. It is not contingent on our behavior or achievements but is rooted in His very nature, for God is love. Our task is not to impress God with our deeds but to open our hearts to receive His love fully. This understanding transforms our lives, allowing us to live with the assurance and peace that come from being deeply loved by our Creator.
Key Takeaways:
1. Understanding Our True Calling: Our primary purpose in life is to be loved by God, not to achieve worldly success or recognition. This calling is about receiving and experiencing God's love, which is the foundation of our identity as His children. When we embrace this truth, it shifts our focus from striving for external validation to resting in the assurance of His love. [00:30]
2. Experiencing God's Love: Many people know about God's love intellectually but have not experienced it in their hearts. This gap can lead to a superficial faith that lacks the joy and transformation that comes from truly knowing God's love. To bridge this gap, we must seek to experience His love personally and deeply. [01:13]
3. The Nature of God's Love: God's love is extravagant and lavish, extending beyond our comprehension. It is constant and unwavering, not dependent on our actions or feelings. Understanding this nature of God's love helps us to live with confidence and peace, knowing that we are loved unconditionally. [01:45]
4. God's Love is Unchanging: God's love for us does not fluctuate based on our behavior or circumstances. He loves us equally on our good and bad days, and nothing we do can increase or decrease His love for us. This truth provides a stable foundation for our lives, freeing us from the pressure to earn His love. [01:57]
5. Receiving God's Love: Our number one calling is not to impress God with our deeds but to receive His love. This requires us to open our hearts and let His love transform us from the inside out. By doing so, we align ourselves with our true purpose and experience the fullness of life that God intends for us. [02:16]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:17] - The Incredible Love of God
[00:30] - Our Primary Purpose
[00:44] - Experiencing God's Love
[00:59] - Head Knowledge vs. Heart Experience
[01:13] - The 18-Inch Gap
[01:27] - Named, Called, and Counted
[01:45] - The Extravagance of God's Love
[01:57] - Unchanging Love
[02:16] - Receiving Over Doing
[02:30] - Conclusion and Reflection
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- 1 John 3:1-2
#### Observation Questions
1. What does 1 John 3:1 say about our identity as children of God? How does this relate to our primary purpose in life? [00:17]
2. According to the sermon, why might people have a superficial understanding of God's love? [00:59]
3. How does the sermon describe the nature of God's love, and what are some characteristics mentioned? [01:45]
4. What does the pastor mean when he says that God's love is not based on who we are or what we do? [01:57]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding our identity as God's children change the way we view our life's purpose? [00:30]
2. Why is it important to experience God's love in our hearts rather than just knowing about it intellectually? [01:13]
3. What does it mean for God's love to be constant and unwavering, and how does this impact our daily lives? [01:45]
4. How can the idea that God's love is not contingent on our actions free us from the pressure to earn His love? [01:57]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Have you been striving for external validation rather than resting in God's love? How can you shift your focus this week? [00:30]
2. Think about a time when you felt disconnected from God's love. What steps can you take to bridge the gap between head knowledge and heart experience? [01:13]
3. In what ways can you remind yourself daily of the extravagant and lavish nature of God's love? [01:45]
4. How can you practice receiving God's love more fully, rather than trying to impress Him with your deeds? [02:16]
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle to believe that God's love is unchanging. How can you address this doubt? [01:57]
6. Consider someone in your life who may not have experienced God's love deeply. How can you share this message with them in a meaningful way? [01:13]
7. What practical steps can you take to live with the assurance and peace that come from being deeply loved by God? [01:45]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Our Divine Identity
Our primary purpose in life is to be loved by God, not to achieve worldly success or recognition. This calling is about receiving and experiencing God's love, which is the foundation of our identity as His children. When we embrace this truth, it shifts our focus from striving for external validation to resting in the assurance of His love. Understanding this can transform how we view our lives and our purpose. Instead of chasing after achievements or accolades, we can find peace and fulfillment in knowing that we are already loved and valued by God. This realization invites us to live authentically, free from the pressures of societal expectations, and to find our worth in being His beloved children. [00:30]
1 John 3:1 (ESV): "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him."
Reflection: In what ways have you been seeking validation from the world? How can you begin to rest in the assurance of being loved by God today?
Day 2: Bridging the Gap Between Head and Heart
Many people know about God's love intellectually but have not experienced it in their hearts. This gap can lead to a superficial faith that lacks the joy and transformation that comes from truly knowing God's love. To bridge this gap, we must seek to experience His love personally and deeply. This involves moving beyond mere knowledge and allowing God's love to penetrate our hearts, transforming our lives from the inside out. It requires intentionality in our relationship with God, seeking Him in prayer, worship, and reflection, and being open to the ways He reveals His love to us daily. [01:13]
Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV): "So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Reflection: What steps can you take this week to move from knowing about God's love to truly experiencing it in your heart?
Day 3: The Extravagance of God's Love
God's love is extravagant and lavish, extending beyond our comprehension. It is constant and unwavering, not dependent on our actions or feelings. Understanding this nature of God's love helps us to live with confidence and peace, knowing that we are loved unconditionally. This knowledge can transform our perspective on life's challenges, as we realize that nothing can separate us from His love. It encourages us to trust in His goodness and faithfulness, even when circumstances seem overwhelming, and to rest in the assurance that His love is always present and active in our lives. [01:45]
Psalm 36:7-9 (ESV): "How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light."
Reflection: How does understanding the extravagant nature of God's love change the way you view your current circumstances?
Day 4: The Unchanging Nature of God's Love
God's love for us does not fluctuate based on our behavior or circumstances. He loves us equally on our good and bad days, and nothing we do can increase or decrease His love for us. This truth provides a stable foundation for our lives, freeing us from the pressure to earn His love. It invites us to live authentically, knowing that we are accepted and cherished just as we are. This understanding can bring immense peace and security, allowing us to approach God with confidence and to live out our faith with boldness and joy. [01:57]
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel the need to earn love or approval? How can you rest in the truth of God's unchanging love today?
Day 5: Receiving Over Doing
Our number one calling is not to impress God with our deeds but to receive His love. This requires us to open our hearts and let His love transform us from the inside out. By doing so, we align ourselves with our true purpose and experience the fullness of life that God intends for us. This shift from doing to being can be challenging in a world that values productivity and achievement, but it is essential for spiritual growth and fulfillment. It invites us to prioritize our relationship with God, to be still in His presence, and to allow His love to shape our identity and actions. [02:16]
Isaiah 30:15 (ESV): "For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.' But you were unwilling."
Reflection: What is one practical way you can prioritize receiving God's love over doing for Him this week?
Quotes
Here's what the Bible says, 1 John chapter 3: "What an incredible quality of love the Father has shown to us that we should be named and called and counted the children of God, and so we are." I love that in the amplified: we're named the children of God, we're called the children of God, we're counted the children of God because we are the children of God. [00:01:03]
This is your number one calling in life. Your number one purpose in life is not to accomplish something. Your number one purpose in life is not to make something of yourself. Your number one purpose in life is not to make a lot of money, to be famous, to have a lot of fun. Your number one purpose in life, God created you and called you to be loved by Him, to experience that love. [00:30:09]
Most people have never truly experienced the love of God. Oh, they've heard about it. Everybody here said, "Oh, God loves you." Yeah, yeah, I know God loves me. The very fact that you're bored by that means you don't get it. Because if you got it, you would be so excited about it. You've never experienced it. You've heard it in your head, but you don't have it in your heart. [00:55:45]
A lot of people are gonna miss heaven by 18 inches because they got it here and they don't got it here. They don't have it here. You've got to experience God's love in your life. He says we're named and called and counted the children of God. Now, why in the world would God do that? In order to express His love. [01:18:10]
God's love is extravagant, and God's love is lavish, and God's love is beyond comprehension. And as I've said so many times, He loves you on your good days and bad days, when you feel it and don't feel it, when you think you deserve it, when you don't think you deserve it. You can't make God stop loving you. [01:36:83]
God will never love you any more than He does this second. God will never love you any less than He does this second because God's love is not based on who you are or what you do. It's based on who He is. God is love. So I'll say it again because I want you to get it. [01:47:54]
Your number one calling in life is not to do something to impress God with what you do. Your number one calling in life is to receive something, to let God love you. [02:13:23]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Sep 01, 2015. Do you have any questions about it?