Living in Hope: Embracing God's Transformative Love

Devotional

Day 1: God's Astonishing Love

The love of God is like a foreign ship arriving at a familiar port, brimming with surprise and wonder. This love is adoptive, giving us a new status and nature as children of God. It is a foundational truth that should astonish and transform us daily. This love is not something we can earn or fully comprehend; it is a gift that changes our identity and our destiny. As we reflect on this love, we should allow it to shape our thoughts, actions, and relationships, knowing that we are deeply loved and valued by our Creator. [32:46]

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: Think about a time when you felt truly loved and accepted. How does that experience compare to the love God has for you as His child? How can you let this astonishing love transform your daily life?

Day 2: Future Glorification

Our future hope is anchored in the promise that we will see Jesus face to face and be transformed into His likeness. This is a reality that we can only partially comprehend now, but it is guaranteed by our relationship with God as His children. Our current understanding is like seeing through a dim mirror, but one day we will see clearly and be transformed into His likeness. This future glorification is a source of great hope and anticipation, reminding us that our present struggles are temporary and that a glorious future awaits us. [35:42]

1 Corinthians 13:12 (ESV): "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known."

Reflection: How does the promise of seeing Jesus face to face and being transformed into His likeness impact your perspective on your current challenges? What steps can you take to keep this future hope alive in your heart?

Day 3: Living in Hope

John urges us to fight for hope, especially in times of discouragement and despair. Hope is not passive; it requires active engagement and trust in God's promises, even when circumstances are challenging. This hope is like a light that guides us through the darkest times, reminding us that God is faithful and that His promises are true. By holding on to hope, we can find strength and encouragement to persevere, knowing that God is with us and that He has a good plan for our lives. [44:02]

Romans 15:13 (ESV): "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel discouraged or hopeless? How can you actively fight for hope and trust in God's promises today? What practical steps can you take to keep hope alive in your heart?

Day 4: Purifying Ourselves

Holiness is not a prerequisite for becoming a Christian but a response to our identity in Christ. We are called to purify ourselves, not to earn salvation, but because we are already assured of it. This involves spiritual discipline and community support, as we seek to live lives that reflect our new identity in Christ. By pursuing holiness, we honor God and demonstrate the transformative power of the gospel in our lives. This process of purification is ongoing and requires intentional effort, but it is made possible by the grace and strength that God provides. [49:05]

1 Peter 1:15-16 (ESV): "But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"

Reflection: What areas of your life need purification and alignment with your identity in Christ? How can you incorporate spiritual disciplines and seek community support to pursue holiness in these areas?

Day 5: Christ Living with Us

Jesus desires to live in every part of our lives, even the hidden and messy areas. By surrendering control to Him, we allow Him to purify and transform us, making us more like Him each day. This ongoing relationship is the essence of our spiritual journey, as we invite Jesus to be present in every aspect of our lives. By allowing Christ to dwell in us, we experience His love, grace, and power in new and profound ways, leading to a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him. [51:54]

Revelation 3:20 (ESV): "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."

Reflection: What areas of your life have you been hesitant to surrender to Jesus? How can you invite Him into these areas and allow Him to transform and purify them? What changes might you need to make to fully embrace His presence in your daily life?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the profound truths found in 1 John 3:1-3, focusing on the themes of faith, hope, and love. We likened our spiritual journey to living in a house with three distinct floors: the basement, the second story, and the main floor. The basement represents our foundation in Christ, rooted in the astonishing and adoptive love of God. This love is foreign to us, like a ship from a distant land, and it changes us fundamentally, giving us a new status as children of God.

Moving to the second story, we discussed our future glorification when we will see Jesus face to face. This future hope is like a breathtaking view from a high vantage point, something we can anticipate but not fully grasp until we experience it. Our current understanding is like seeing through a dim mirror, but one day we will see clearly and be transformed into His likeness.

Finally, we focused on the main floor, where we live our daily lives. Here, John calls us to purify ourselves as we hope in Christ. This involves active, ongoing spiritual discipline and community support. We are not alone in this journey; we are part of a spiritual family that encourages and strengthens each other. The gospel empowers us to live holy lives, not as a means to earn our place in heaven, but because we are already assured of it.

###

Key Takeaways

1. YkGg3o&t=1966s'>[32:46]
2. Future Glorification: Our future hope is anchored in the promise that we will see Jesus face to face and be transformed into His likeness. This is a reality that we can only partially comprehend now, but it is guaranteed by our relationship with God as His children.

3. Living in Hope: John urges us to fight for hope, especially in times of discouragement and despair. Hope is not passive; it requires active engagement and trust in God's promises, even when circumstances are challenging.

4. Purifying Ourselves: Holiness is not a prerequisite for becoming a Christian but a response to our identity in Christ. We are called to purify ourselves, not to earn salvation, but because we are already assured of it. This involves spiritual discipline and community support.

5. Christ Living with Us: Jesus desires to live in every part of our lives, even the hidden and messy areas. By surrendering control to Him, we allow Him to purify and transform us, making us more like Him each day. This ongoing relationship is the essence of our spiritual journey.

### [32:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[27:51] - Introduction to 1 John 3:1-3
[29:23] - The Spiritual House Analogy
[30:54] - The Basement: God's Astonishing Love
[32:46] - The Foreign Ship of God's Love
[34:50] - The Second Story: Future Glorification
[35:42] - Seeing Jesus Face to Face
[37:12] - The Inheritance We Await
[39:03] - The Story of Natalie Cole
[40:41] - Being Transformed into His Likeness
[42:48] - The Main Floor: Living in Hope
[44:02] - Fighting for Hope
[45:19] - The Tragic Story of a Pastor's Daughter
[47:06] - Encouraging One Another
[48:30] - Purifying Ourselves
[49:05] - Holiness as a Response to Identity
[51:54] - Christ Living in Our Home
[54:18] - The Gospel Gives Us Wings
[54:57] - Live in the Whole House
[55:45] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does John mean when he says, "See what kind of love the Father has given to us" in 1 John 3:1? How is this love described in the sermon? [32:46]
According to 1 John 3:2, what is promised to us when Jesus appears? How does this future hope affect our current lives? [35:42]
In 1 John 3:3, what does John say everyone who hopes in Christ should do? How is this concept explained in the sermon? [49:05]
How does the analogy of the house help us understand our spiritual journey as described in the sermon? [29:23]

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of God's love being "foreign" or "astonishing" impact our understanding of our identity as children of God? [32:46]
What does it mean to be transformed into the likeness of Christ when we see Him face to face? How does this future transformation influence our present behavior? [35:42]
Why is it important to actively purify ourselves as we hope in Christ? How does this relate to our assurance of salvation? [49:05]
How does the sermon illustrate the importance of community support in our spiritual journey? What role does the spiritual family play in encouraging and strengthening each other? [48:04]

Application Questions

Reflect on the idea of God's love being like a foreign ship arriving at a familiar port. How can you daily remind yourself of this astonishing love and let it transform you? [32:46]
The sermon mentions that our future hope is like seeing through a dim mirror now but will be clear when we see Jesus face to face. How can you keep this future hope alive in your daily life, especially during challenging times? [35:42]
John urges us to purify ourselves as we hope in Christ. What specific spiritual disciplines can you incorporate into your life to pursue holiness? How can your small group support you in this journey? [49:05]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of fighting for hope, especially in times of discouragement. Can you identify a recent situation where you struggled to maintain hope? How did you handle it, and what could you do differently next time? [44:02]
Jesus desires to live in every part of our lives, even the hidden and messy areas. Is there a specific area of your life that you have not fully surrendered to Christ? What steps can you take to allow Him to purify and transform that area? [51:54]
The analogy of the house includes the main floor where we live our daily lives. How can you practically live out your faith in your everyday interactions at home, work, or school? [43:22]
The sermon highlights the role of community in our spiritual journey. How can you be more intentional in encouraging and supporting others in your small group or church community? [48:04]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for outreach

1. "See what kind of love the Father has given to us. It's the foundation for our spiritual lives as Christians. And John relates it with another analogy. It's an adoptive love. If you consider, if you've adopted a child or you probably know someone who has, it's important. It's important in that relationship, especially if the child has come from a difficult situation, to express love to that child. To establish genuine love. To excite affection by showing affection." [33:30] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Christian, you are who you are, child of God, because of God's love for you in Christ. And that's the first thing that John wants to emphasize. And that's the foundation of what he's trying to say here." [34:12] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "God's done the same for us in Christ, hasn't he? He's left us something. We have an inheritance. We haven't come into it yet. But we will one day. And it's guaranteed. And Scripture describes it as something that's imperishable, undefiled, kept in heaven for us." [39:40] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The gospel allows us. Enables us. And calls us to hope. Notice what he says there. It's far easier to shut hope down. It's far easier to not hope. Than be disappointed. Because what you're praying for. Isn't necessarily what God wants. But what God wants is always the best. Isn't it? And God delights to do us good. With all his heart and soul. But we don't always know what that is." [47:06] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Run, John, run. The law commands. But gives me neither feet nor hands. Better news the gospel brings. It bids me fly and gives me wings. The laws in scripture are things we try to do. But we can't do them on our own. We'll never be perfect. But the gospel gives me wings. It enables me to fly and to live and to follow him. Because I'm trusting in him." [54:18] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for members

1. "And John says it this way in verse one, So John first invites us to consider who we are because of God's love. Who we are because of God's love. And he says here, see it, notice it, look at it, consider what kind of love, what type of love, what God has done for us." [30:54] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "And John is using that to say, what's God bringing to us with his love? It's foreign to us. It's a ship that we don't recognize. We could say it's an alien love, meaning it's not from this world. It's nothing that we recognize. See what kind of love the Father has given to us. The same word is used when the disciples were with Jesus in the boat. And he calmed the storm. And they said, what kind of man is this? It's that same amazement. It's that same excitement as John has here. What kind of love is this? Where is this incredible love coming from? The word always implies astonishment." [32:00] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "And John emphasizes that again in the second verse. And he says this love is fixed. It's immovable. But we're also destined for something certain. Even though it hasn't appeared. Even though it hasn't been manifested to us yet. When he appears, we'll receive that. We will be glorified when we see him." [36:24] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "And we see this surprise at seeing God in scripture or seeing glimpses of him. We see it with Moses in the Old Testament. Moses asked God, show me your glory. And God said, you can't handle it. I'll show you my goodness. I'll turn my back to you and protect you and pass before you. But you can't see me and live. The disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration couldn't stand the magnificence. of his glory when Jesus was transfigured before him. Paul, when he was on the road to Damascus and Jesus appeared to him. He was blinded by that. He couldn't handle that as well. Only God's children in heaven will be able to see him face to face. Because we'll be completely purified. We'll be completely holy." [41:32] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "And the gospel calls us and enables us to hope. One person has said this. And it stuck with me all along. The Bible, this book, is not a job description. It's not something that we have to fulfill in order to earn our place. It's a doctor's prescription. And we go to the doctor because we need help. And the great physician gives us a prescription. Things we're to do. Things we're to think. Things we're to say. But he's with us in that. All along helping us to do that." [51:08] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?