John’s letter to the early church in Ephesus is filled with terms of endearment—he calls us “children” again and again, inviting us to remember the wonder, hope, and trust we once had as kids. As adults, we often lose that childlike spirit, weighed down by the brokenness of the world and our own experiences. Yet, John’s words call us back to a foundational truth: our identity is not in what we do, where we’re from, or even our personalities, but in who we are in Christ. We are children of God, not by our own merit, but because of the great love the Father has lavished on us through Jesus.
This identity shapes everything. Knowing who we are—and whose we are—determines how we live. As children of God, we are called to live with confidence, hope, and righteousness, not rooted in our own achievements, but in Christ’s finished work. Confidence comes from abiding in Jesus, knowing that when He returns, we can stand before Him unashamed, not because we are perfect, but because we are covered by His love and grace. Shame, which entered the world through sin, no longer has the final word. God does not leave us in our shame; He pursues us, forgives us, and restores us, just as a loving parent does for their child.
Hope is another mark of God’s children. Our hope is not in the fleeting things of this world, but in the promise of Christ’s return and the restoration of all things. Cynicism, which often masquerades as realism, is the enemy of hope. It keeps us from dreaming, trusting, and praying with childlike faith. But Jesus invites us to lay down our cynicism and trust in His sovereign goodness, to hope again in the future He has secured for us.
Finally, as children of God, we are called to righteousness—not as a way to earn God’s love, but as a response to it. We don’t pursue righteousness to become God’s children; we pursue it because we already are. The enemy here is self-righteousness, the belief that we can earn God’s favor through our own performance. But the gospel tells us that Christ’s righteousness has been given to us. When God looks at us, He sees the righteousness of Jesus, not our failures or successes.
So, live into the reality of who you are: a beloved child of God, confident, hopeful, and righteous in Christ. Let go of shame, cynicism, and self-righteousness, and see the great love the Father has for you.
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Key Takeaways
- 1. Identity in Christ as Children of God True identity is not found in our jobs, personalities, or backgrounds, but in being children of God through Jesus. This identity is foundational and unchanging, shaping how we see ourselves and how we live. When we root ourselves in who God says we are, we gain a security that the world cannot offer. Our worth is not earned, but received as a gift of grace. [06:42]
- 2. Confidence Over Shame Confidence in Christ means we can stand before God unashamed, not because of our own righteousness, but because of His love and forgiveness. Shame drives us to hide, cover up, and blame, but God pursues us in our brokenness, offering restoration and acceptance. We are invited to move from cowering in shame to standing boldly as beloved children, knowing that nothing can separate us from His love. [18:00]
- 3. Hope That Transcends Cynicism The hope we have as God’s children is anchored in the certainty of Christ’s return and the restoration of all things. Cynicism, often a shield against disappointment, kills hope and stifles prayer and wonder. Jesus calls us to reclaim a childlike hope, trusting that God’s plans are good and that our future is secure in Him, no matter how broken the world may seem. [26:59]
- 4. Righteousness as a Response, Not a Requirement Pursuing righteousness is not about earning God’s favor, but about living out the reality of who we already are in Christ. The Holy Spirit empowers us to turn from sin and lawlessness, not by our own strength, but because we have been made new. Self-righteousness and performance-driven living are traps that keep us from resting in the finished work of Jesus, who has already declared us righteous. [38:12]
- 5. Living Loved and Letting Go of Performance God’s love is not based on our ability to measure up or perform; it is freely given. Like a loving parent, God enters into our places of shame and failure, offering forgiveness and embracing us as His own. Our past, our failures, and even our successes do not define us—the finished work of Jesus does. We are called to live from this place of belovedness, letting go of the need to earn what has already been given. [45:53]
Youtube Chapters
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:32] - Introduction to 1 John and Terms of Endearment
- [01:48] - Childhood Dreams and Childlike Wonder
- [05:30] - Losing Wonder: The Weight of Adulthood
- [06:42] - Identity: Who Are You?
- [08:35] - Living as Children of God
- [09:47] - Jesus’ Call to Childlike Faith
- [11:38] - Confidence in Christ: Abiding and Remaining
- [14:47] - The Enemy of Confidence: Shame
- [18:00] - God’s Love and Our True Identity
- [23:48] - Hope in Christ and the Enemy of Hope: Cynicism
- [26:59] - Moving from Cynicism to Hopefulness
- [31:38] - Righteousness in Christ: Living Out Our Identity
- [38:12] - The Trap of Self-Righteousness
- [45:53] - Living Loved: Letting Go of Performance
- [47:27] - Final Encouragement: See the Father’s Great Love
