Children of God

Aug. 16, 2026

Background:

Saint John wrote this text
Why do we want to hear as a child of God what John has to say? Is he credible?
John walked with Jesus and He spent time with Jesus (1 John 1:1-2)
People can claim to know us, but do they really know you if they do not hang out with you?
We can hear what John says but eventually we will have to talk about our own walk
In the Old testament the word was there but in the New testament it goes to here because he is present with us
It can be argued that John was closest to Jesus
Four areas that we will transfer to this year:
Children of God and their family
Children of God must understand lawlessness
Two families at odds
Children of God have an imperative to love
The Lord allows us to see and go through stuff so we can help someone else
The Lord already sees it all so he knows what we need however we do not want to do what it takes to get there
If we are not in the game we will not be acclimated

Key Sermon Points:

1. Children of God and their family (vs 1-3)

There are special people around us that we will consider to be our family that is not our blood related family but our spiritual family
Regardless of our atmosphere is the word being proclaimed
We are a child of God because he adopted us and he didn't have to
It is a privilege to be a child of God
Whatever God says to do it we should do and we will continue to grow
He has a great love for us; That is grace
We must become more pure
We come every Sunday because we are not righteous and we are trying to
Righteousness comes from we understand it and we will do it
If we start thinking it is "me" we will fall on our face; That is why we say "Lord Willing" because it is up to him
To be personified means to not just talk about it but to live it
This discipleship is about always having a baton moving (1 John 2:10-13)

2. Children of God must understand lawlessness (vs 4-5)

Even before the law, there was still an understanding of lawlessness; From Adam to Moses the law was not given yet
In a household a child should see how parents move and what to expect, even if they do not say anything
When people are not following the Lord they start to go missing
Sin is a transgression of the law but beyond that is is willful disobedience
Poayeo- someone who is habitually in sin; to do or make more habitually
If we do not say anything then we have taken part of sin as well and we do not love them
Jesus was manifested to take away our sin and in Him there is no sin
We should not be in sin

3. Two families at odds (vs.6-8)

Two families in the world that are battling each other (John 8:44):
- A family of God
- A family of Satan (flesh)
Which family are we in?
If we have not embraced Jesus and was born again then we are not in his family
If God is in the center change happens
There are some imposters that have no righteousness about them
We are a family and should work together
On communion Sunday we are to examine ourselves or God will deal with us

4. Children of God have an imperative to love (vs.9-10)