God's Children Now Live With the Hope of Becoming Like Jesus

Being called a child can feel like an insult. It can feel like someone is saying you are immature, needy, or dependent. But for those who are in Christ, being called a child of God is not a loss of dignity. It is the greatest privilege you could ever receive.

This truth comes from 1 John 3, written by the apostle John to a Christian community He deeply loved. His message is simple and powerful: God's children now live with the hope of becoming like Jesus.

Why Do We Resist Being Called Children?

From a young age, most people push back against being called a kid. The reaction is almost instinctive. Being called a child can feel like being dismissed or disrespected.

But Jesus said in Mark 10:15, "Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." There is something about childlike dependence that God honors, not resists.

We resist the title because it confronts our pride, our desire for control, and our fear of needing someone else. But in Christ, that dependence is not weakness. It is the very posture that opens us up to receive everything God has for us.

How Do We Become Children of God?

Becoming a child of God is not about personal effort or cleaning yourself up. It is about believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

John makes this clear in his Gospel: "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." - John 1:12-13

John also reminds us in 1 John 2:28-29 that God's children are marked by two things: they abide in Christ, and they practice righteousness. These are not conditions for earning the title. They are the natural fruit of belonging to the Father.

What Kind of Love Does God Have for His Children?

In 1 John 3:1, John does not simply state a fact. He calls us to stop and marvel at it.

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are." - 1 John 3:1

The word "see" here is an invitation to behold, to stand in awe, to let the truth sink deep. This is the same kind of wonder the disciples felt when Jesus calmed the storm and they asked, "What sort of man is this that even the winds and seas obey Him?"

This love is not like any love found on earth. It is a heavenly and divine love. It is a love from another world entirely. And because of it, you are called a child of God right now, not someday, not once you get your act together, but right now.

What If I Still Doubt That God Loves Me?

Because of sin, we are often suspicious of love. We can even be suspicious of God's love for us. We tie our status before God to our feelings and behaviors. When things are going well, we feel like children of God. When we fall into sin, we wonder if He still loves us.

But God's love for you is rooted in the eternal love He has for His Son, Jesus. In John 17, Jesus prayed that the same love the Father had for the Son before the foundation of the world would be in those who believe in Him. That love does not fluctuate based on your performance.

Satan will accuse you. He will lie to you and tempt you to stay away from the Father when you need Him most. But in Christ, you have the right to come to the Father. That right does not expire.

What Will God's Children Become?

John does not stop at the present reality. He points us forward to a future promise.

"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." - 1 John 3:2

One day, when Jesus appears, those who belong to Him will have glorified, resurrected bodies. There will be no more death, no more sin, no more pain, no more sickness, no more anxiety, no more sleepless nights. We will be fully human, fully alive, and fully at rest in Christ.

The more we set our gaze on Christ and think about what is to come, the more we begin to long for it. And that longing is not passive. It shapes how we live today.

How Does the Holy Spirit Help Us Grow?

God has given His children the Holy Spirit to help them become more like Jesus now, not just in eternity.

"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the Spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit Himself bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of God." - Romans 8:14-16

By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are being conformed into the image of Christ, one degree of glory at a time. We are growing in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It is a process, not a destination we reach overnight.

What Does It Mean to Purify Yourself as a Child of God?

John connects our future hope to how we live today.

"And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure." - 1 John 3:3

This is not a call to sinless perfection. John already addressed that in chapter one: "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:8-9

The call to purity is a call to direction, not perfection. We are trending toward Christlikeness. We do not wait until next week to start imitating Jesus. We begin today, not to earn our status as children of God, but because we already are His children.

God already sees His children clothed in the righteous robes of Jesus. If you are in Christ, God sees you covered in His righteousness. That truth should bring overwhelming comfort, hope, and joy.

A Loved Child Does Not Have to Earn Approval

A loved child can face Tuesday without having to earn Monday's approval.

All week long, we take hold of the right we have been given. We believe the promise with our whole hearts. We are children of God now, and one day we will be like Him. That identity is what empowers us to have hard conversations, reach out to those who are drifting, ask for help, extend forgiveness, and do the things we would rather avoid.

We do not do those things to prove we are children of God. We do them precisely because we are. That is supernatural love working in us.

Application

This week, identify one moment you are tempted to avoid. Maybe it is a hard conversation, reaching out to someone who has drifted, asking for forgiveness, or extending it to someone else. Instead of walking into that moment to prove something, walk into it because you are a child of God. Let that identity be the reason, not the reward.

Ask yourself these questions as you reflect on this message:

• Do I truly believe that I am a child of God right now, not someday after I get things together?
• Am I tying my sense of God's love to my performance, and how can I begin to rest in what Christ has already done?
• What would it look like this week to live as though I am in the presence of Jesus?
• Is there someone in my life who is drifting that I need to reach out to and encourage?

Being called a child of God is not a title that diminishes you. It is the greatest privilege imaginable. You belong to the Father. You are loved by Him, being made more like Jesus, and called to live a pure and holy life that is pleasing to Him. Stand amazed at that truth. Take hold of it. And let it change how you walk into this week.