The Child Considers Jesus' Second Coming

1. Who are the "children of God?"

"Yet to all who received [Jesus Christ], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." (John 1:12-13, NIV)

2. Read 1 John 2:28-3:3. Jesus will come again (personally, visibly, physically) to judge the world, complete his redeeming/saving work, and establish his kingdom. As we consider Jesus' future return, how should it affect our attitudes and actions today? How should being a "child of God" affect our attitudes and actions?

Purpose. The "new self" was "created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:24). The child of God is "predestined to be conformed to the image of [God's] Son" (Romans 8:29).

Process. "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:18, NIV).

Perfection. When we meet the Lord, he will "transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body" (Philippians 3:21).

Reflection/Application
† Are you a child of God? Are you prepared for the Lord's second coming? (Consider Matthew 24:36-25:46.) Are you looking toward his coming? (2 Timothy 4:8; Titus 2:11-14) How does his promised coming affect your daily attitudes and actions?

The Child Considers Jesus' First Coming
Read 1 John 3:4-6. In general, both "lawlessness" and "sin" refer to the rejection of the will of God, or opposition to the will of God. The person who "practices sin" is rebelling against (or opposing) God himself. However, Jesus Christ (the only human without sin) came to take away our sins, which provided the way to be united with him. Those who have been truly united with him through faith (thus brought into a relationship with God) will not continue to "practice sin."

"Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29, NIV) "He committed no sin … He himself bore our sins …" (1 Peter 2:22, 24). "so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people …" (Hebrews 9:28).

Child of Whom?

3. Read 1 John 3:7-10. John talks about two categories of people: (1) the children of God, and (2) the children of the devil. What are differences between the people in these categories?

4. How is a person "born of God?"

5. Verse 9 says, "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God." How does "God's seed" keep a person from continuing to sin? How does God's seed "grow?"

Reflection/Application
† If you had to put yourself in one of the two categories shown above (and the Bible provides only two), which one would it be? Do you need to become a "child of God?"

† If you consider yourself a "child of God," is it evident in your attitudes and actions? Make a specific commitment to cultivate (help to grow) God's seed in you, according to His grace.