1 John 3

August 11, 2025

Believe in Jesus, Love One Another

1 John 3:13-24

As children of God, we will be hated by the world just as Jesus was. And with that hatred will come suffering and persecution. But let us not lose heart. Because of our faith in Jesus, we have passed out of death into life. And just like Jesus, we are called to love.

Love is an action word. Love motivates us to do something. When we see a need, to meet the need. To go beyond words to works. Bringing the full weight of the resources that the LORD has entrusted to us to bear in serving others. Helping them in practical ways.

By believing in Jesus, which shows our love for God, and loving one another, then, we keep the LORD’s commandments. And when we keep His commandments, we remain in Him. Remember, we are children of God. We have a new identity. We are not who we used to be. Our sins have been completely forgiven. We now have fellowship with the Father and the Son. The Spirit dwells within us. So, our believing and loving come out of our new identity. Will we do it perfectly? No. But definitely something we are striving for and growing in.

That assumes, of course, that you’ve trusted in Jesus. That’s the only way to be a child of God. It’s the only way to have your sins forgiven. It’s the only way that you can have fellowship with the Father.

If you haven’t trusted in Jesus yet, you can do that today. You, too, can become a child of God. It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Believing that Jesus is the Savior that God promised. He lived a perfect life, He died a sacrificial death, and He was raised to life on the third day, conquering death so that your sins can be forgiven, that you can have eternal life, and that you can become a child of God.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our 1 John series, “Unshakeable.” Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X or Threads: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.

August 9, 2025

Children of God

1 John 3:1-12

John reminds his readers that they are children of God who will one day see Him face to face. And so he encourages them to live their lives in light of that truth.

John once again draws a line in the sand and presents two sides. The children of God and the children of the devil. The doers of righteousness and the doers of sin. There is no middle ground. You are on one side or the other. If you have trusted in Jesus, you are a child of God, a doer of righteousness. How does that work? Because your sins have been completely erased. You have been made pure just as He is pure.

John’s still encouraging his readers to listen to him. John and the Apostles are children of God, doers of righteousness who walk in the light and have fellowship with the Father and the Son. The antagonists are children of the devil, doers of sin who walk in the darkness. Who should you be listening to?

If you have not yet trusted in Jesus, then like the antagonists, you are a child of the devil, a doer of sin. That sounds incredibly harsh, and yet that’s the truth of where you are right now because your sin remains.

But the good news is…you can become a child of God today. It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Believing that Jesus is the Savior that God promised. He lived a perfect life…He Himself walked in the light…He died a sacrificial death to pay the penalty for sin, and He was raised to life on the third day, conquering death so you could have eternal life and become a child of God. Then you, too, can walk in the light and have fellowship with the Father and the Son.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our 1 John series, “Unshakeable.” Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X or Threads: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.

December 11, 2023

Eternal Father (Love)

1 John 3.1-3

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3.16). “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5.6-8).

Eternal Father the kind of love that Jesus would have for us…the love of a Father…the love of the Father. A love that would save us from our sins. That’s how God has shown His unconditional, never-ending love for us…by saving us. By sending Jesus to die for us. The greatest sacrifice of all to demonstrate the greatest love of all. This is what God has done.

God is fulfilling His promise of a King…a King to rescue us. A King to save us. God keeps His word. We can trust Him to keep His promises still today. Promises of the forgiveness of sins and a new heart, His Spirit dwelling within us, His presence with us, everlasting life and an eternal kingdom. This is what God will do.

For some of you, Love this Christmas starts with realizing God’s love for you. Faith comes before obedience. God has gone to the greatest links to prove His love for us by sending His Son Jesus to die for our sins. He lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death on our behalf, and was raised the third day, so that by believing in Him we could have forgiveness of sins and eternal life, becoming a son or daughter of the King. [Trust]

For others of you, Love this Christmas starts with loving God more. Purifying ourselves just as He is pure. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14.15). Obedience is active love. It’s the way we show our love for God and for others. If we believe that not only is God all-powerful and all-knowing, but that He also loves us in a way that only He can and that He desires our good, then we are fools when we refuse to obey…to do what He calls us to do. The good news…we don’t have to forge ahead on our own. The Spirit is the One who transforms us to live and love like Jesus…He’s the One who gives us the ability to do what God says to do. [Trust and obey]

For the rest, Love this Christmas looks like loving others the same way God loves us. Being just like our heavenly Father. Loving others in active and practical ways. The Christian life is not a solo journey…it’s a group adventure. It’s something we do together. And it’s one of the best ways we express love.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Advent series: He Shall Be Called. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.