Lesson for July 17, 2024

The Book of I John

I John 3:1-3

Verse 1

“See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God; and in fact, we are. For this reason, the world does not know us: because it did not know Him.”

The Greek word for given is “didomi,” and means to freely give (no strings attached). The emphasis in this verse is the amazing, incomprehensible love of God in making believers members of His Royal Family. As “mere mortals,” we cannot understand this kind of love. God making a rebellious sinner part of His royal family is not easily comprehended. However, this is exactly what God does for a person at salvation.

The Greek word for love is “agape,” referring to God’s constant, non-emotional, and unconditional love for the entire human race. However, human emotions are often ascribed to God in the Bible, in order to assist us in our understanding of His policies. Divine agape love is not based on the excellence of its object. Divine agape love is based on God’s integrity (complete, honest, pure love, based on truth) and His virtue (strength of character). 

Divine agape love expresses the love and interest of a perfect God toward imperfect, and therefore unworthy objects (unbelieving mankind). Upon faith in Christ, God’s love has the potential of producing in believers, who are now perfect and worthy by means of positional sanctification, love toward God and love toward others. Virtue-love is love for God and love for others developed in believers through spiritual growth. (I John 4:18-21) 

That we would be called children of God; and in fact, we are. What a unique privilege we have as believers to be children of God and related to Jesus Christ as joint heirs. This means that we share in His inheritance, which is going to be fantastic. Because of this unique relationship with our Savior, every believer will enjoy an inheritance beyond imagination. For those who reach spiritual maturity, the rewards will be even greater.

For this reason, the world does not know us: because it did not know Him.

The Greek word for know is “ginosko,” meaning to understand. It is the family relationship between God and believers that the world does not understand. It can only be understood by believing in Christ as Savior and knowing His Word. If the world did not understand Jesus Christ, it should not surprise us that it will not understand us. 

Verse 2

 ^“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”

John had seen Christ in His resurrection body and could write with authority about the resurrection body (we will be like Him). Believers, who have died during the Church Age, will be resurrected at the Rapture of the Church. Those who are alive at the time of the Rapture will be caught up in the air to meet the Lord. Both will receive glorified bodies like Christ’s.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ guarantees believers eternal life and a glorified resurrection body. For those Church Age believers who die before the Rapture occurs, their soul and spirit go into the presence of the Lord in Heaven. At the Rapture, their soul and spirit are united with their glorified body. (I Corinthians 15:51-57; II Corinthians 5:1-8; Philippians 3:20-21;

I Thessalonians 4:13-18)

We can get a glimpse of what our glorified body will be like by looking at Christ’s glorified body. First, we will be recognizable. (Luke 24; John 20:26-29) Christ’s body could be touched (as Thomas did) because His body had flesh and bones. (Luke 24:39-40)

Jesus breathed and carried on conversations with a recognizable voice. (Luke 24; John 20:26) Jesus ate food while in His resurrection body. (Luke 24:30,43) However, His body was unique in that He could walk through closed doors, He was able to disappear and appear, and He could move vertically and horizontally. (Psalms 22:16; Zechariah 12:10; Matthew 28:9-10; Luke 24:17-40; John 20:16-29; Acts 1:9-10)

Verse 3

^“And everyone who has this hope set on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

By following the example given to us by Jesus Christ, we can live within God’s power system and bring honor and glory to our Savior. The word in Greek for hope is “elpis,” meaning confident expectation. Our hope is in Christ, which guarantees us a resurrection body like Christ’s. With this hope (confident expectation) in mind, we are to purify ourselves.

The Greek word for purifies is “hagnizo,” meaning to cleanse from defilement. What is it that defiles a believer? We could mention many things specifically, but suffice it to say, we are defiled by Satan’s world system with its human viewpoint thinking and false doctrine. It is this defilement that Jesus was able to avoid throughout His life on earth (just as He is pure). He also recognized the false doctrine of Satan and counteracted it with accurate doctrine by quoting Scripture. Even though we cannot live sinless lives, we can learn to “sin less” by thinking divine viewpoint and using the Rebound Technique consistently, which will greatly reduce the effects of the contamination of Satan’s world system.

Satan wants to control what we think. Avoiding this can be done only by using our two power options, the filling of the Holy Spirit and Bible doctrine stored in our souls. Jesus Christ was continually empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit and constantly applied Bible doctrine, which enabled Him to live in sinless perfection for 33 years. No one can truly study the Bible without realizing that Satan’s primary goal for believers is to control their thinking. However, our personal volition makes the final decision as to what we think and who controls our souls. (Galatians 5:16-18; Romans 12:1-2)