Scripture not only tells us how we are to think and live, but also gives us the motivation we need to live a god-honoring life. In 1 John 3, John not only informs the reader that followers of Christ are to be obedient, but also explains why one would want to live for God on His terms.Two Motivators for Obedience
I. BECAUSE OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE (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.
John says the love of the father is so great that we, who were once considered enemies of God (Rom. 5:10; Eph. 2:3; Col. 1:21), are now "children of God." In a day that emphasizes status, Christians need to be reminded that they have the greatest status imaginable.
When we talk about salvation, we often talk about the fact that we are forgiven of sin, spared from God’s judgment, declared right with God, but it cuts even deeper than that. We are Children of God. Being a child of God is the highest privilege that the Gospel offers even higher than justification. Now this does not mean that justification-being made right with God- is not important. Justification is the most important blessing, but adoption is the highest privilege because it gives us a richer relationship with God. With adoption, God takes us into His family and fellowship.
I’m afraid that somehow, like the Christians in John’s day, we have lost our understanding of how special it is to be “a child of God.” Don't take this for granted. God could have chosen not to save us. He could have said, "Enemies don't deserve saving, and that's that." Instead he went beyond redeeming, forgiving and rescuing to this extreme—to an adopting love. He has made us a member of his family. Ask yourself today, “Do I understand the great privilege of being a child of God and if so, is my life accurately reflecting that I consider this a great privilege?”
II. BECAUSE OF WHAT GOD IS GOING TO DO (3:2-3)
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. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
John says with 100% certainty that we will be made complete in Christ when He appears and we see Him like He is. He also says that the reality of Christ’s return should affect our behavior as Christians. He says, "And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure." Basically John is saying that if you understand that you are presently a child of God and that when Jesus comes, you will be like Him, then your response should be that you live for Him. Do you believe that Christ’s return is certain? If so, what are you doing to prepare? 1 Tim. 4:7 is clear that believers are not to wait on godliness, but pursue it.
CONCLUSION
Examine your life for a moment. Do you understand the great privilege of being a child of God? If you do, let the fact that you are personally loved and cared for by God be your motivation for obedience.
Do you eagerly await the return of Christ? If you do, are you pursuing godliness now with confidence that when He returns you will be made complete in Him? The grace of God is meant to produce a response in us. The writer of Hebrews 12 said, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith” (Heb. 12:1-2). Even though it is Jesus who is the beginning and the end of our faith, we as Christians are called to run the race that is set before us—fixing our eyes upon Jesus.
