On the sixth day of creation, God said:

"'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." (Genesis 1:26–27).

We were created to have dominion, God said. The idea was beautiful and simple. By His sovereign will, God created. He spoke things into existence. His Word divided water and land, the atmosphere and outer space, and the species. On the first six days of creation, God expressed His dominion and will.

Then, at the end of the sixth day, after creating land animals, He created the first man and woman. God's intention for them and their offspring was that they'd express His likeness by practicing dominion. With love, self-control, and faithfulness, they were to steward all God had created. They were to be in, not out, of control.

Unfortunately, when Adam sinned, chaos was unleashed on the earth. Because of sin, humanity's new way of living is this: not in dominion, but under it. We are born allegiant to the world system, the prince of this age, and our sinful impulses. And as life goes on, we become further enslaved to this manner of life.

But Jesus came along, offering a way of escape. Through faith in Him, we can become fundamentally new. He brings us back to glory (Hebrews 2:10). Once again, we can have dominion. We have been set free from the world system, the pull of Satan, and the demands of our sinful desires. The victory was His, so it is ours.

In John's day, however, it seems some were confused. They misunderstood Jesus, and in our last study together, John straightened out their erroneous views about Him. Jesus is God the Son, who died for our sins.

But they also misunderstood sin. Some of them thought it no big deal, something they could habitually engage in while claiming to belong to Christ. John loathed the idea, so he wrote.

In our passage, one we will study over the next few weeks, John will teach us:

1. Who we are (2:28-3:1)
2. Who we'll become (3:2-6)
3. Who we aren't (3:7-10)

Each section, dense with content, will urge us to a life of right living, a restored version of the dominion Adam and Eve should've had. Jesus brings us back to and beyond God's original desire for humanity. In fact, in John's mind, anything less is impossible for God's people. If we have confessed Christ, we have been fundamentally changed, and our behavior will follow the radical shift within. Dominion can be ours again.

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. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.

Abiding: An Expanded Definition

Now, over the past few weeks, we've heard quite a bit about this concept of abiding. A few weeks ago, Pastor Josh taught us about abiding in Jesus like the branches abide in the vine (John 15:1-11). There, the focus of abiding was on continuing in an obedient relationship to Jesus.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, John told us to let what we heard from the beginning abide in us (1 John 2:24) and to abide in Him (1 John 2:27). There, the focus was on continuing in a proper confession of Jesus Christ as the Son of God who came to die for the sin of the world. We should continue to acknowledge Jesus as the incarnate Son.

Here though, John tells us to abide in Him (28) in a way that results in practicing righteousness (29). It seems he's shifted to the John 15 definition of abiding, a personal and ongoing relationship with and experience of Christ, which leads to wholesome moral consequences. In other words, walk with Jesus so you can live more like Jesus!

Taken together, we can see the biblical pattern.

• We first abide in the truth of who Jesus is, trusting in His atoning work on the cross.
• This confession leads us to be born of Him (29). We are given a new nature in Christ, born again into His family.
• Finally, we then abide in Him (28) by enjoying a daily relationship with Him, drawing on His strength, and living out the newness He's given to us by practicing righteousness (29).

Remember the order:

Belief and new birth, then righteous living.

Result: Confidence in Christ's Coming

And it's this righteous living John seeks to emphasize here. In his mind, such a life leads to confidence when Jesus returns. He says, So that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at His coming (28).

The Greek word John uses is parousia, which was used in that era to describe the visit of a King or Emporer. Even today, when a president or significant leader comes to a community, there is preparation for their arrival.

John had a vision of King Jesus returning for His bride. And not long after writing this letter, John would receive the Revelation of Jesus Christ, where God would show him a vision of the future coming of Christ (see Revelation 19:11-16).

The King of Kings is coming! So, with the firm belief that Jesus will return, John urged us on towards lives that lead to confidence, rather than shame, at His coming.

It's not hard to imagine how easily we could beat ourselves up at this point. I don't know any Christians who feel they've obeyed Jesus without error. We often see ourselves as failures in our attempts to follow Christ.

We might imagine His return as a time to report all our deeds. Some deeds will shame us, others will give us confidence (28), but every work will be revealed on that day. To many of us, this sounds like a terrible event. Sins of omission and commission litter our lives, and we all wish we'd done more for Jesus. I, for one, have never felt I've done enough to ready myself for Christ's return.

But if this is all we see, we've missed the point of John's appeal. The thing he says will give us confidence on the day our King returns is a history of abiding in Him. And to abide is part obedience, but also part holding fast to our original confession and enjoying an ongoing relationship with Him.

If Jesus is only a returning King or conquering general, it would be easy to think He's only looking for allegiance. But He is also our brother, our Savior, the champion of our souls, and the gracious husband of the church who laid down His life for us. And His return marks a major step in His massive goal of bringing His people back to glory (Hebrews 2:10). He is gracious and merciful. He delights when we abide in Him. He is pleased to have us continue to believe in His work on the cross and enjoy a personal relationship with Him.

That said, John makes it clear: some will shrink from Him in shame at His coming (28). This shame could come from an apostate denial of Christ, a lack of personal engagement with Jesus, or ongoing disobedience. Though the levels of shame might be different for each, it is shame nonetheless.

John's Confidence

But John isn't too worried about such a possibility for God's people. John seems to think the practice of righteousness (29) will flow from who we are. At conversion, he says, we are born of Him (29). Since God is righteous (29), and believers are in His family, John expects our new birth to lead to the practice of right living.

To him, righteous conduct is not a condition for rebirth, but a consequence of it.

For better or worse, we receive attributes from our parents. For example, I know I sound like my dad. He's not a tenor, and neither am I. He passed the bass on to me. Some have told me they could close their eyes, and it feels like they are listening to a teaching from Pastor Bill.

And just as we pass on our genetics from one generation to another, God passes on His nature to His children. So John isn't surprised God's kids would practice righteousness like their righteous Father in heaven.

This point, by the way, was critical in John's day. The false teachers thought 'secret knowledge' was the principal mark of regeneration. But John plainly shows us a significant mark of conversion is not secret knowledge, but public obedience.

3:1 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.

The Magnitude of God's Love

The fact of the new birth leads John to pause in celebration for the kind of love the Father has given to us (1). He was amazed that we should be called children of God (1). Then, as if he stopped and looked into his own soul for a moment, he said, and so we are (1).

What is happening here? John was moved by the love of God. This aged and mature believer, more experienced in God than any of us today, was overwhelmed by God's love.

Isn't this the way it often is for us? I get a front-row seat to this all the time. People will share with me a significant truth God has shown them. "Pastor," they say, "God has been teaching me some amazing things lately." I wait for the details. I wonder if they've gotten some sophisticated biblical insight. Perhaps they've discovered who wrote Hebrews, or think they know the identity of the Antichrist, or have memorized Romans. Then they say something like, "God is showing me how much He loves me."

Why is this a common occurrence? This basic truth is also the biggest truth and the best truth. Unfortunately, it is also the one we so often forget, partly because the enemy of our souls wants to convince us it isn't true.

And the part of God's love John was amazed at was that we should be called children of God (1). John says we must see this love (1). He also says God has given -- past tense -- this love to us already (1). He has loved us so much He made us into His children.

And so we are (1). Right now, immediately at conversion, we become God's kids. He becomes our Father. Not the kind who shames or discourages or abandons us. Not the type who wounds or abuses or belittles us. But the kind who builds up His children. He encourages and protects and teaches us. He loves and guides and, when needed, disciplines us towards holiness. He is our good Father.

Look, we must understand God is our loving Father. And we are His sons and daughters. He loves and cares for us.

Sometimes I meet people who only ever hear conviction from their Father in heaven. As for myself, I have gone through many phases like this. Where the only word I ever get from God is one where I see things I want to work on, areas I'd like to gain victory.

And you should hear words of conviction, by the Spirit, from your Father in heaven. Not vague condemnation or a nebulous sense of guilt, but specific areas of conviction (Romans 8;1). Still, if you only ever hear convicting things from God, you probably aren't hearing everything your Father is trying to say. He wants you to hear His delight as well.

An Incompatibility

John was also sure to mention another side effect of becoming a child of God. If the first was the inevitable practice of righteousness (29), the second is the inevitable inability of the world to know them (1). The world does not know God, so they won't know God's children (1).

But how is this helpful for us to realize? Well, God's children need to know they are incompatible with the world. We have already discovered how the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life are of the world and not of the Father (2:15-17).

For the believer, the approval of the world is something to be feared, not desired.

So, believers of all ages need to know who they are. We are God's sons and daughters. He has caused all believers in Jesus Christ to be born of Him. We are new. And our relationship with Him is new. God is our loving and benevolent and grace-filled Father. We are His. This is who we are.

But who will we become? Next week, in the next verses, John will answer that question.