TITLE: The Blessings of Being a Child of God
TEXT: 1 John 1:1-3

PROPOSITION: God expects us to count our blessings.

INTRODUCTION:

1. Read text.

2. About the Text:

   1. The book of 1 John was written to encourage faithful Christians to remain true to Christ in the face of the false teaching of gnosticism.

   2. The book encourages Christians to keep God's commandments.

   3. The book encourages Christians to properly love one another.

   4. The book encourages Christians to be faithful to the Lord.

   5. In encouraging the faithful, John cannot help be exclaim what a wonderful blessing it is to be a child of God.

   6. It is, in fact, a great demonstration of God's love that we are called God's children.

   7. As a result of this wonderful relationship the Christian has great blessings.

To be a child of God is to have the blessing of - -

Forgiveness

1. One of the most important things that our Father does for us is forgiveness.

2. Our Father in heaven is a good Father.

   1. James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

   2. Matthew 7:11 “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

3. How much more will he practice forgiveness toward His children?

   1. Psalm 86:5 “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.”

   2. Daniel 9:9 “To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;”

   3. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

   4. Read Psalm 103:8-14

4. What a blessing to be children of God and have forgiveness of sins.

Family

1. God's family today is the church.

   1. 1 Timothy 3:15 “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

   2. Hebrews 3:6 “But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.”

2. God has been faithful to His family, the church.

   1. It is the place of the saved: Acts 2:47 “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

   2. He provides for the church: Acts 20:28 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

   3. He gives her direction through Christ: Ephesians 1:22 “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,”

   4. He desires to keep her pure: Ephesians 5:27 “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

   5. He nourishes and cherishes His family: Ephesians 5:29 “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:”

3. What a great blessing to be part of God's family.

A Father

1. It is truly a blessing to have God as our Father.

   1. Romans 8:15 “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.2 Corinthians 6:18 “And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

   2. Prayer – Matthew 6:9 “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”

   3. Knows – Matthew 6:32 “for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”

   4. Mercy – Luke 6:36 “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”

   5. Worship – John 4:23 “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.”

   6. Teaches – John 6:32 “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.”

   7. Protects: John 10:29 “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father‘s hand.”

   8. Disciplines: Hebrews 12:6-7 “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?”

   9. We show Gratitude: Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

2. What a blessing it is to know God is our Father.

Joy, Happiness

1. God, our heavenly Father, has certainly provided for our happiness.

   1. John 15:10-11 “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

   2. Salvation: He wants us to be saved and thus have happiness here and in eternity.

   3. Citizenship: Luke 12:32 “ Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father‘s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

   4. Resurrection: “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.”

   5. Heaven: John 14:2 “In my Father‘s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

2. What a blessing to know that our Father desires our happiness.

Adapted from outline by Kevin Cauley