Resource Detail

2026 1 John Lesson 4

WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD

1 John 2:28-3:10

Key Verse: 3:2

1. How can we have confidence and not be ashamed when Jesus returns (2:28)? What does righteous living reveal about our relationship with God (29)? What motivated God to make us His children (3:1)?
2. What does it mean that now we are children of God (2a)? What future hope do God’s children have when Christ appears (2b)? How does the hope in Jesus motivate God’s children to pursue purity today (3)?
3. How does John define sin (4)? Why did Jesus appear in the world (5; Hebrews 9:26)? What characterizes those who live in Jesus (6)?
4. What warning does John give (7)? How can we distinguish between the children of God and the children of the devil (8-10)? What was the purpose of Jesus’ coming?

2026 1 John Message June 7, 2026

WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD

1 John 2:28-3:10

Key Verse 3:1a

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

One of the most important questions in life is, “Who am I?” Finding our true identity is essential. If someone asked you, “Who are you?” or “Can you introduce yourself?” How would you answer? I usually say, “I served as a missionary in Venezuela for 17 years, and now I am a pastor in the United States.” In other words, I introduce myself as a missionary and a pastor. While those are meaningful identities, they describe what I do rather than who I am.

From the age of 25 to 42, while living in Venezuela, I considered myself Venezuelan. I rarely met Koreans and spent most of my time with local people. I hardly ate Korean food, including kimchi. Instead, I ate local food such as arepas, corn bread, and spaghetti. For breakfast, I usually had coffee and bread. Eating rice in the morning became something strange to me. I tried to speak, think, and behave like a Venezuelan. Whenever members of the church told me, “You seem just like a Venezuelan,” I felt very happy.

Then, in 2013, I came to the United States to study theology. One day, a professor asked me about my identity. “Are you Korean or Venezuelan?” Without hesitation, I answered, “I am Venezuelan.” He looked at me and said firmly, “No, you are Korean.” His response forced me to think seriously about my identity. I realized that no matter how hard I had tried to become Venezuelan, I was still Korean. Ironically, when I came to Los Angeles, Korean food was everywhere, just like in Flushing, New York. There were many Korean restaurants. Naturally, I began enjoying Korean food again. Little by little, I began to accept that I was Korean.

Several years later, I visited Korea and met a UBF shepherd. He asked me about the topic of my Ph.D. dissertation. I told him that I wanted to explore Korean theology from the perspective of Latin American philosophy. His response took me by surprise. “You’re not really Korean. Why are you trying to explore Korean theology?” I was shocked and thought to myself: ‘What do you mean I’m not Korean? I was born in Korea!’ What he meant was that I had lived outside Korea for so long that I was no longer a typical Korean in the traditional sense. At that moment, I realized something surprising. I wasn’t fully Korean. I wasn’t fully Venezuelan. And I certainly wasn’t American. For a while, I experienced a real identity crisis. I found myself asking, “Then who am I?”

Eventually, I came to understand that I am a diaspora person—someone living at the intersection of Korea, Latin America, and the United States. More importantly, I came to see myself as a pilgrim, someone who does not fully belong to any earthly nation but is journeying toward the Kingdom of God. That became a true identity I could claim.

Many of you here have probably wrestled with questions about your identity. You’ve likely spent time thinking about your ethnic identity, cultural identity, professional identity, social identity, relational identity, generational identity, and perhaps many other aspects of who you are. Today, I would like to share with you an important topic: What is our identity in relation to God? More specifically, I want us to explore who we are in our relationship with Him.

Let’s read 1 John 3:1a together: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” Can you hear the excitement of the Apostle John? As he reflects on God’s love, he can hardly contain himself. He bursts out in amazement: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” The word “see” here means, “Look at this!” or “Take a moment and really think about it!” So I want to invite you to consider how great God’s love is for you. What was our life like before we came to know God’s love? We lived in darkness. Life was difficult, and we had little hope. We suffered under the power and consequences of sin. Spiritually speaking, we were like orphans. But because of God’s amazing love, everything changed. God reached out to us, saved us, and made us His children. Now, instead of being children of darkness, we have become children of God. What a beautiful expression of the Father’s love!

Before I came to know God’s love, I was a pessimist. I believed that there was no real love in this world. I often walked alone through the dark streets of Seoul. Life seemed sad and lonely to me. I carried a heavy burden on my shoulders as I struggled to succeed in this world. But when I came to know the love of God, everything changed. The heavy burdens in my heart were lifted, and I found peace and joy. I discovered meaning and purpose in life, and I found hope. The darkness in my heart was replaced with light, and even my face began to brighten. That is what God’s love does. It transforms our lives. I believe many of us have experienced God’s amazing love. Because of God’s love, your life has been changed in a remarkable way. And through that love, we have become children of God. This means that our very being has been transformed. Our status has changed. We now belong to God’s family as His sons and daughters. What an amazing and glorious reality! So the Apostle John emphasizes it once again: “And that is what we are!” Yes, we are children of God! This is our identity in relation to God.

It is very important for us to know our identity clearly, because identity changes everything. Our identity shapes our sense of worth and dignity. It influences how we see ourselves and how we live. Many people find their identity in what they achieve in this world. Some say, “I graduated from an Ivy League school.” Others find their identity in their profession: “I’m a doctor. I’m a physician assistant. I’m a nurse. I’m a software engineer. I’m a teacher.” Some people find their identity in financial success. They say, “I make $200,000 a year,” or “I’m the owner of a company.” Others find their identity in their appearance. They say, “I was Miss USA,” or “I’m handsome.” And they work out to get in shape. The problem is that these are all identities based on achievement, status, or circumstances. And anything we gain can also be lost. A person earning $200,000 a year can lose a job overnight and face financial hardship. A beauty queen eventually grows older. Physical beauty fades. Someone who appears successful today can experience failure tomorrow. But our identity as children of God is different. It does not change with our circumstances. It is not based on our achievements. It is not something we earn, and therefore it is not something we can lose. When we fall short of God’s will, we do not lose our standing as His sons and daughters. Why? Because God never abandons those whom He has adopted into His family. Our relationship with Him is grounded not in our performance but in His faithfulness. God is faithful, and He does not change His mind about His children. Therefore, our identity as children of God is secure. It is permanent. It is a status that can never be taken away from us.

Many of the struggles we face in our Christian lives stem from not fully understanding or embracing who we are as God’s children. One reason we so often fall into sin and temptation is that we forget who we are. One reason we live seeking the approval of others and longing for their acceptance is that we have not fully grasped our identity as God’s beloved children. One reason we experience conflict, jealousy, and division in our relationships is that we forget that we are members of the same family of God. One reason we are overwhelmed by fear and anxiety about the future is that we do not fully trust or remember that we are children of our heavenly Father. But when our identity as God’s children becomes firmly rooted in our hearts, we can overcome these struggles. We can resist temptation. We can stop looking to the world for our worth. We can love others with grace and humility. We can face the future with confidence rather than fear. When we deeply know who we are, we are able to live by faith in this world as God’s beloved sons and daughters.

So how did we become children of God? 1 John 3:1 gives us a clear answer: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” We became children of God because of the Father’s great love. It is because His love has been lavished upon us that we are now called His children. But how was God’s love revealed to us? Romans 5:8 says: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” While we were still sinners, God sent His one and only Son into the world. Jesus came and preached the good news to the poor. He healed the sick and proclaimed freedom for those who were in bondage. Then, in obedience to the Father’s will, He suffered for our sins and died on the cross. Even while hanging on the cross, Jesus prayed for us: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Jesus took all of our sins upon Himself. He died on the cross and rose again on the third day. Through His death and resurrection, a way of salvation was opened for us. As the Gospel of John 3:16 declares: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” When we believe in Jesus Christ and confess Him as Lord, we receive God’s gift of salvation. We are forgiven, reconciled to God, and welcomed into His family. In other words, we did not become children of God because of our goodness, our achievements, or our efforts. We became children of God because God loved us first.

And through the work of the Holy Spirit, we repented of our sins and were born again. What does it mean to be born again? It means receiving new life from God. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, our spiritual eyes are opened. We begin to see spiritual realities, and we enter into a deep and personal relationship with God. In a sense, it is like a caterpillar being transformed into a butterfly and flying freely through a beautiful garden. Being born again means moving from a merely physical existence into a spiritual life with God. This is not something that can be fully understood through human reasoning alone. It is something we come to know through the experience of God’s Spirit at work in our lives. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, leads us to repentance, and enables us to receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord. And when we are spiritually born again, we become children of God. That is why 1 John 2:29 says that we have been “born of Him”—that is, born of God. Our identity as children of God is a new life that God gives us through His grace and through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:15 says: “The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” Some people do not particularly like the idea of adoption. They feel that being born as God’s children sounds more intimate and gracious than being adopted. But in reality, God’s adoption of us is an incredible expression of His grace. In the Roman world, an adopted child received full legal rights within the family. An adopted son fully belonged to the household and was treated no differently from a biological child. He enjoyed the same privileges, inheritance, and status. Now think about what that means for us. We were sinners, separated from God. Spiritually speaking, we were like orphans. We were destined to live under the power of sin. But God, in His great love and mercy, chose us and welcomed us into His family. He adopted us as His sons and daughters. As a result, we became God’s children and gained full access to all the privileges and blessings of belonging to God’s family. What amazing grace! And now, through the Holy Spirit, we can come to God and cry out, “Abba, Father.”

As children of God, we have so many privileges that it would be impossible to count them all. I would like to mention just three of them.

First, as children of God, we receive our Father’s special care and provision. How much does a father love his children! How hard does he work to protect them and provide for their needs! When children ask their father for something, it is often difficult for him to say no. Let me give you an example. When my daughter Ana was in college in Philadelphia, she did not call me very often. But every once in a while, I would receive a call from her. Why do you think she contacted me? That’s right. Usually, she needed something. Sometimes she needed money. Sometimes she needed help. Now, as a father, was I offended by that? Not at all. No matter the reason, I was always happy to hear from her. Even when my financial situation was not good, I gladly did what I could to help. Why? Because I love my daughter. I want to provide what she needs. That is a father’s heart.

In the same way, our Heavenly Father delights in caring for His children. He desires to provide for our needs. He faithfully gives us our daily bread and watches over our lives. And unlike earthly fathers, God never lacks resources. Nothing is impossible for Him. At the same time, God does not always give us what we ask for immediately. Sometimes He asks us to wait because He intends to give us something better, or because He knows the right timing. As loving children trust their father’s heart, we can trust our Heavenly Father.

Second, as children of God, we enjoy His protection and guidance. Think about how much evil there is in this world. Think about how many temptations constantly try to lead us down the wrong path. We are weak. We often fall into sin. Like sheep that wander away from the flock, we sometimes lose our direction and find ourselves confused and discouraged. There are moments when the road ahead seems uncertain. We do not know which decision to make or which path to take. We may feel completely lost. At those times, our Heavenly Father protects us and guides us along the right path. We simply need to entrust our lives to Him, seek His will, and ask Him to show us the way. “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing” (Psalm 23:1). As children of God, we never walk alone. Our Heavenly Father is always watching over us, protecting us, and guiding us step by step according to His good and perfect will.

Third, as children of God, we live with the hope of being like him. 1 John 3:2 says, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” “When Christ appears” refers to the second coming of Jesus at the end of the world. The world we live in now is not our final home. We are pilgrims journeying toward the Kingdom of God. One day, Christ will return. What will happen to us then? John tells us that we will be like Christ because we will see Him as He is. It means that we will be transformed into the likeness of Christ. We will reflect His holiness, His love, His gentleness, His purity, and His righteousness perfectly. Today, we still struggle with sin, weakness, and brokenness. But when Christ returns, those struggles will come to an end. We will be completely renewed and transformed. We will no longer wrestle with sinful desires. We will no longer experience fear, guilt, shame, pain, or death. We will become the people God originally intended us to be. What a glorious hope that is!

So then, how should we live as children of God? We should live a life that turns away from sin. What is sin? John defines sin as lawlessness. The Greek word used here is anomia, which refers to active and deliberate rebellion against God. It is not merely breaking a rule; it is refusing to submit to His authority. Before we came to know God, we resisted God, ignored His will, and lived according to our own desires. In that sense, we lived under the influence of the devil. But Jesus came to destroy the work of the devil and to take away our sins. Through faith in Christ, we have been forgiven, born again, and welcomed into God’s family. Therefore, we can no longer live in sin. John says that those who are born of God do not continue in sin. He is not saying that Christians never sin. We all stumble and fall at times. Rather, he is talking about a lifestyle of habitual, unrepentant sin—a pattern of remaining in sin without resistance or repentance. Why is this no longer possible for God’s children? Because God’s seed remains in us. This can be understood as the new life that God has given us through the Holy Spirit. When we were born again, God placed His life within us. The Holy Spirit now dwells in us and works to transform us from the inside out. As children of God, we have a new nature and new desires. Therefore, we cannot comfortably remain in sin as we once did. When we sin, the Holy Spirit convicts us, calls us to repentance, and leads us back to our Heavenly Father. As God’s children, we should actively pursue what is right, just as our Heavenly Father is righteous. Of course, this is not something we can accomplish by our own strength. If we rely on ourselves, we will fail. But through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, we can resist sin and grow in holiness.

In conclusion, who are we? We are children of God. By God’s amazing love, we have come to believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, and through Him we have become God’s children. This is an incredible privilege and a wonderful gift of grace. Therefore, let us live in a way that reflects who we truly are. As children of God, may we turn away from sin and pursue a life that honors our Heavenly Father. May we rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to grow in holiness and righteousness. Amen.