Day 8

Bible Passage: 1 John 3:1–3 (ESVUK)

1See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2Beloved, 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. 3And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Thinking about the new creation and prayer

What does John say it means to be a child of God? What do these verses tell us about what we will be like in the new creation?

In 1 John, John speaks about a day when we will be made like Jesus. This includes being like Jesus and not sinning. Although we are already forgiven by God for our rebellion against him, one day God’s transforming work in us will be completed. We will be like Jesus and will no longer sin. We will be in perfect relationship with Jesus and we will be able to perfectly obey him. This is a promise we saw God make in Jeremiah 31 of new, obedient hearts.

  • Think: reflect on all the ways you have disobeyed God this week. How does your sin frustrate you?
  • Pray: John says in 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.” Confess your sin from this last week to God. If this isn’t something you regularly do, why not try to do it more often? Ask God to forgive your sins, and give thanks that there is a day coming when God will enable you to perfectly obey him. We can have the assurance of the forgiveness of our sins and our future in the new creation, where we will obey Jesus.

Today

Imagine what the day when we will perfectly obey Jesus will look like and feel like—wanting to and being able to perfectly obey Jesus eg: consider, what won’t you do, say or think in the new creation.

Thinking further

You could re-read Jeremiah 31 and Hebrews 8. Give thanks to God that these new covenant promises are fulfilled in the new creation, through the cross of Jesus.

Reflect on 1 John 2:1–2 and the assurance they give us of the forgiveness of our sins.