Becoming what I already am . . .

 

READ 1 John 1–5

This fall I was elected by a non-profit organization to the position of governance. I knew nothing about what that job entailed but was assured that it was not beyond my ability to learn and do. I’m still on that learning curve and realize it is much like being enlisted in the army. Most new solders bear the label — “You are a soldier” — but must train for the task. Boot camp and years of experience happen before the label fits.

It is the same for Christians. We are saved, then spend the rest of our lives learning how to be what we are, mostly by enlightenment from the Holy Spirit and the example and teaching of those who came before us. According to much of the NT, if that is not happening, then we were not enlisted in the first place. John is a favorite instructor. He says:

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that your joy may be complete. (1 John 1:1–4)

Of course joy is not the only result of walking with Jesus, but a good teacher puts emphasis on the positive. John has more to say about what happens when a person truly becomes a Christian. For instance, “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” and “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1:7; 9)

He also says, “Whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked” and “Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.” (2:5-6; 10) These are identification marks of a genuine Christian. There are fakes though . . .

John warns about antichrist who denies the divine identity of Christ, and those who keep on sinning. Neither can claim to be a child of God. This is not how true salvation works. Instead, becoming a child of God changes our attitude toward sin and toward others. We are able to love on another, even though the world may hate us.

God also answers our prayers, gives us insight into the spiritual realm, and the ability to discern truth from error. The greatest change is loving one another, confessing Jesus as the Son of God, and an ability to overcome the world (fleshy desires and pride). John says this is all true because:

. . . . God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. (5:11–13)

This is an amazing thing — to just “know that we are from God . . . . and also understand that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” but also that “the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” (5:19–20)

This is what faith is: just knowing. It is not assumption or wishful thinking. When a soldier puts on that uniform, he knows he is a soldier, yet he may not know much about how to act like one and will learn many lessons about this new life. Belonging to Jesus is like that, yet greater and permanent. John writes in this short but beautiful letter:

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. (3:2–3)

For me, this is joyful assurance and heart-settling. I am God’s child. I’m not yet all that I will be, but have His assurance that one day I will be like Jesus. Praise His name!