Glory Fulfilled – 1 John 3:1-3

This is the final sermon from our Advent series titled “God’s Glory Revealed.” To recap, we began with ‘Glory Promised,’ where we were reminded that it all started with a promise in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve sinned against
God and were separated from Him, He promised to restore the broken relationship. In our sermon ‘Glory Anticipated,’ we discussed the waiting period and the reminders from God through prophecies. And in our last sermon, ‘Glory Witnessed,’
we witnessed the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, who came to give us joy and peace. In today’s sermon, ‘Glory Fulfilled,’ we will explore the following:

1.What did God accomplish through the sacrifice of His Son?
2.How does this change and impact the lives of believers?
3.What should be our response to Him?
The passage we are looking at is 1 John 3:1-3
The answer to the first question “What did God accomplish through the sacrifice of
His Son?” is

1. He Established his unfathomable love for us by inviting us into his family (1 John 3:1)

1 John 3:1 (ESV)
“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.”
This grace and favor showcases God’s glory in His benevolence, mercy, and love. The transformation of believers into children of God is a powerful testament to His redemptive work and His desire for a relationship with humanity.
Romans 5:8 (ESV)
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Glory Fulfilled – 1 John 3:1-3 2
This verse from Romans 5:8 highlights God’s love for us. Even while we were still sinners, separated from God, He demonstrated His love by sending His Son, Jesus, to die for us. This act of sacrificial love is a powerful testament to God’s grace and mercy.
Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV)
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses,
made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—”
This passage from Ephesians 2:4-5 emphasizes God’s mercy and love towards us. Despite our sinful state, God, in His great love, made us alive together with Christ
and saved us by His grace.
“God’s glory is seen in His willingness to bridge the gap between the divine and the human.”
Imagine reconciling with your worst enemy, someone who may hate you deeply. Imagine approaching that person willingly, even though you are blameless and have never done anything wrong. Picture yourself offering them your best gift, embracing them, and pleading for reconciliation. Furthermore, envision yourself welcoming them back into your life with open arms. Isn’t it difficult to imagine doing such a thing for our earthly enemies? However, this is precisely what God did for us. We were His enemies, yet He offered His best gift, His son, as a sacrifice to reconcile with us.
Galatians 4:4-7 (ESV)
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

This passage from Galatians 4:4-7 highlights the purpose and significance of Jesus’ birth. It emphasizes that God sent His Son into the world at the appointed time to redeem those under the law and to grant them adoption as sons. Through this adoption, believers become heirs of God and have a close relationship with Him, calling Him “Abba! Father!” This is another powerful testament to God’s love, grace, and the transformation that takes place in the lives of believers. The fulfillment of God’s glory through Jesus’ sacrifice and the establishment of believers as children of God is a remarkable demonstration of His love, grace, and desire for a restored relationship with humanity.
And this is how it’s now impacting our lives

2. He is now transforming us into the image of his son Jesus (1 John 3:2)
   1 John 3:2 (ESV)
   “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.” The promise that believers will be like Christ when He appears again points to the
   ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan for humanity. This transformation and the realization of this hope reflect God’s glory, demonstrating His power to change lives and fulfill His promises. The eventual revelation of believers in their glorified state is a testament to God’s victorious and transformative power.

“God is glorified not only when we are justified by faith in Christ, but also in the transformative journeys of his children.”

Similar to a parent who not only celebrates the birth of their child but also continues to rejoice as they witness their child’s growth and maturity, God also takes pride and glory in observing the transformative journeys of His children. Here are how God transforms us into the image of his son Jesus Regeneration & renewal through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Titus 3:5 (ESV)

“He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration
and renewal of the Holy Spirit,”

This verse from Titus 3:5 emphasizes that our salvation is not based on our righteous works but is a result of God’s mercy. It highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in the process of regeneration and renewal, which is essential for our transformation into the image of Jesus.

Renewal of the mind
Romans 12:2 (ESV)
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the
will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

This verse from Romans 12:2 emphasizes the importance of renewing our minds and not conforming to the patterns of this world. Through the transformation of our minds, we can discern and understand God’s will. This renewal is an ongoing process in our faith journey, allowing us to align our thoughts and actions with what is good, acceptable, and perfect in God’s eyes.

By Engaging us in Spiritual disciplines
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that
the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
This passage from 2 Timothy 3:16-17 emphasizes the importance and usefulness of Scripture in the life of a believer. It states that all Scripture is God-breathed and serves various purposes such as teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. By engaging with the Scriptures, believers can be equipped and prepared for every good work, enabling them to grow in their faith and reflect the
image of Jesus.

Through trials and testing

James 1:2-4 (ESV)
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces
steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
This passage from James 1:2-4 encourages believers to consider it a joy when they face trials of various kinds. The testing of their faith produces steadfastness, leading to maturity and completeness. It highlights the transformative nature of trials and the growth that can occur through them, ultimately shaping believers into the image of
Jesus.

Community & Accountability

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some,
but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

This passage from Hebrews 10:24-25 emphasizes the importance of community and accountability among believers. It encourages them to consider how they can spur others toward love and good works. Meeting together and encouraging one another is vital, primarily as the return of Christ draws near. Through community and accountability, believers can support and challenge each other in their faith journeys,
contributing to their transformation into the image of Jesus.

nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

This passage from John 13:14-17 highlights the importance of humility, servanthood, and obedience in the lives of believers. Jesus, as their Lord and Teacher, demonstrated humility by washing the feet of His disciples and set an example for them to follow. He emphasized that they should also serve one another in the same manner. Jesus taught that a servant is not greater than his master and that obedience to His teachings brings blessings. By practicing humility, servanthood, and obedience, believers reflect the character of Jesus and bring glory to God.
To conclude, God is glorified when his children embark on transformative journeys and align themselves with his Spirit, allowing him to work deeply in their hearts. Our response should be to …

3. Pursue purity on account of our new identity in
   Christ

The encouragement for believers to purify themselves, just as Christ is pure, reflects God’s glory in moral and spiritual terms. Believers strive to live in purity and righteousness, reflecting God’s character and bringing glory to Him. The process of sanctification, where believers grow to be more like Christ, is a personal journey and a demonstration of God’s work in the world. To do so, we have to grow in dependence on God.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV):
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
This verse from 2 Corinthians 3:18 highlights the ongoing transformation that believers experience as they behold the glory of the Lord. As they fix their eyes on Him, they are being transformed into His image, growing from one degree of glory to another. This transformation results from the work of the Lord, who is the Spirit. It further emphasizes the Holy Spirit’s role in sanctification and the continuous growth of believers.

Conclusion

In light of what we heard today, here are a couple of New Year’s resolutions I recommend as we approach the new year. By keeping these resolutions in mind, we allow God to transform us into his son Jesus’s image and bring him glory.

1. Daily Devotion – Prayer / Bible reading
2. Stay connected with other believers – Community, Church, DNA meets
3. Find opportunities to serve
4. Share your faith with others