THE FAMILY RESEMBLANCE

How We Know We Belong to God: Part 2

1 John 2:28–3:10 (ESV)

What is wrong?—Practicing sin only

makes a lack of assurance worse.

What is true?—God has made us His children

and will make us like His Son.

What to do—We must practice righteousness.

How? By embracing three practices:

I. Abiding in Christ, Which Gives Us Confidence (1 John 2:28-29)

1. We May Be Confident in Where We Are Going (2:28)

2:28 ’And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.’

2. We May Be Confident in Where We Have Come From (2:29)

2:29 ’If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of God.’

II. Hoping in Christ, Which Keeps Us Pure (1 John 3:1-3)

2 ‘Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him…. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.’

III. Reflecting Christ, Which Proves Who We Are (1 John 3:4-10)

1. The Penalty of Sin Is Removed (3:4-6)

3:5a ’You know that he appeared to take away sins…’

2. The Effects of Sin Are Removed (3:7-8)

3:8b ’The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.’

3. The Power of Sin Is Removed (3:9-10)

39a ‘No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him…’