“The child of God works not for life, but from life; he does not work to be saved, but works because he is saved”
~ Charles Spurgeon
Prayers (back to school)
New DNA
1 John 3:1-3
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. 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, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
What is this picture of? (See slide)
DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in nearly all living organisms. It carries the genetic instructions essential for the development, functioning, growth, and reproduction of organisms.
The slide shows the structure…
- Double Helix: DNA consists of two long strands that coil around each other, forming a structure known as a double helix.
- Genetic Information: It’s a sequence that encodes genetic information, similar to how letters form words.
Importance of DNA
- Genetic Variation: While 99.9% of DNA is identical among humans, the remaining 0.1% accounts for individual differences.
DNA plays a crucial role in defining who you are by serving as the blueprint for your biological makeup. Here’s how it influences your identity:
🧬 Genetic Blueprint
Your DNA contains genes, which are segments that code for proteins. These proteins are essential for the development and functioning of your body, influencing traits such as eye color, height, and even certain behaviors.
🌱 Inheritance
You inherit half of your DNA from each parent, which means that your genetic traits are a combination of both. This inheritance shapes not only physical characteristics but also predispositions to certain health conditions and personality traits.
🧠 Biological Processes
DNA regulates various biological processes, including metabolism, growth, and response to the environment. These processes contribute to your overall health and well-being, affecting how you feel and interact with the world.
🌍 Environmental Interaction
While DNA sets the foundation, your environment also plays a significant role in shaping who you are. Factors like nutrition, lifestyle, and experiences can influence how your genes are expressed, leading to variations in traits and behaviors.
In summary, your DNA is a fundamental part of your identity, influencing both your physical characteristics and biological functions, while also interacting with environmental factors to shape your unique self.
DNA makes you who you are.
1 John 2:28-29
Children of God
[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.
1 John 3:1-10
[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. [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, because we shall see him as he is. [3] And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
[4] Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. [5] You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. [6] No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. [7] Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. [8] Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. [9] No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. [10] By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
Scripture tells us the story of us. Now the main player, the hero, the main subject is God and there is no debate about that, but our passage provides us insight today on an important topic. You.
- DNA makes you who you are physically.
- The Fall makes you who you are spiritually. (Gen 3)
Romans 5:12-18
[12] Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—[13] for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. [14] Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
Romans 3:23
[23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Bleak story right there. You see how the world acts. You understand sin in the world. If unsaved, that is humanity, past, present, and future. That sets our stage.
Now, back to where I told you this passage helps us with our story. “What you are!”
- What you are – if saved, a child of God
- What you shall be – if saved, we shall be like Him
- What you should be – if saved, practicing righteousness and not sin
That’s a much better view of past, present and future, right?
So……How did it come about that we gained entrance into God’s family? John tells us in verse 1 it is because of God’s love for us:
1 John 3:1
[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.
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us.” John places the word “Father” in a key position to emphasize the family relationship. God himself is the source of this love to us, and what a marvelous love it is! Had you lived in the first century in a Greek seaport town, you might one day be about your business, and suddenly there would be a rustle among the people down on the docks, and word would spread through the town that a ship was coming. People would move down toward the docks and look out on the horizon at the approaching ship. By the sail configuration they could tell whether the ship was from their own country or a foreign nation. You would hear people asking in Greek, “Potapēn?” which literally means, “Of what country?” “What new people are coming to visit us? What new things are we going to learn?” This is the word translated “what kind of” in 3:1. This is a very unusual word that only occurs six times in the whole New Testament, and it bristles with surprise, astonishment, urgency, and excitement. “. . . what kind of love the Father has given to us . . .” This is the word the astonished disciples uttered when Jesus calmed the sea: “What manner of man is this? Where is he from that even the wind and the sea obey him
This love, John says, “has [been] given to us, that we should be called children of God.” The meaning of this structure that John uses suggests that this gift cannot be earned, bought, or withdrawn. This is not a love that you and I deserve. This love is a gift. God reaches down to us, unlovely though we are in the midst of our sins. Jesus died for our sins on the cross. God has “given” this love to us and has “called” each of us his child. These words describe titles of honor. God has given us the honor of bearing his name! Perhaps you bear a family name given to you in honor of a father or grandfather or other family member. God bestows an undeserved honor on us when his love for us causes him to adopt us into his family.
Again:
- What you are – if saved, a child of God
1 John 3:1
[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.
We are part of the family and should act like it!
Our acceptance of Jesus’ sacrificial death and our repenting and turning to Him as Lord and Savior (New DNA)
2 Corinthians 5:17
[17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
- What you shall be – if saved, we shall be like Him
1 John 3:2
[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, because we shall see him as he is.
“Billy Graham has written: “Heaven will be a place in which its inhabitants will be freed from the fears and insecurities that plague and haunt us in the present life. No energy crisis there … Free from the economic and financial pressures that burden us down here. Free from the fear of personal and physical harm … No fear of personal failure … Our relationship with Him will be intimate and direct. I’m looking forward to that glorious day of going to Heaven.
“Heaven will be what we have always longed for. It will be the new social order that men dream of. All the things that have made earth unlovely and tragic will be absent in Heaven. There will be no night, no death, no disease, no sorrow, no tears, no ignorance, no disappointment, no war. It will be filled with happiness, worship, love, and perfection.
Heaven will be a place to challenge the creative genius of the unfettered mind of redeemed man.” Revelation 21:4 says, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
- What you should be – if saved, practicing righteousness and not sin
1 John 3:9
[9] No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
“The man who hears the word of God, and does it, is the true Christian. He hears the call of God to repent and be converted, and he obeys it. He ceases to do evil, and learns to do well. He puts off the old man, and puts on the new. He hears the call of God to believe on Jesus Christ for justification, and he obeys it. He forsakes his own righteousness, and confesses his need of a Savior. He receives Christ crucified as his only hope, and counts all things loss for the knowledge of Him. He hears the call of God to be holy, and he obeys it. He strives to mortify the deeds of his body, and to walk after the Spirit. He labors to lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily besets him. This is true vital Christianity. All men and women who are of this character are true Christians.” ~ J.C. Ryle
How to know it’s fixed? – our ongoing journey in righteousness, we don’t live and wallow in sin.
1 John 3:9-10
[9] No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. [10] By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
That is the timeline for a child of God. We have a new DNA
Augustine of Hippo, a famous African theologian, lived a life of reckless indulgence until a divine encounter turned his world upside down. Before his conversion, he was known to visit brothels. However, God called him, leading to his heart being opened to the gospel, and he became a new person.
A story is given that recounts an incident where, after his conversion, Augustine was walking in town one afternoon and was recognized by a prostitute from his past. She called out his name, but he continued walking quickly, with his eyes fixed forward and not turning back to look at her. This lady pursued Augustine, repeatedly calling his name. Finally, with some great frustration she exclaimed, “Augustine, it is I.” To this, Augustine responded, “Yes, I know, but it is no longer I.”
