If God Calls You His Child — Live Like It
- Thad DeBuhr
- Jun 9
- 9 min read
Study Guide: 1 John 2:28 - 3:3
Imagine a child who spends years in foster care.
He moves from house to house. He never knows if he really belongs. He learns to keep his guard up because everything feels temporary.
Then one day a family adopts him. The papers are signed. The judge makes it official. He now has a permanent family. But imagine if that child continued living as if nothing had changed. Imagine if he still introduced himself as someone who didn't belong. Imagine if he still acted as if he had no family and no future.
Most people would say:
"Someone needs to remind him who he is."
That is very close to what John is doing in this passage.
The churches John was writing to had been shaken by false teachers (1 John 2:18-27). Some people had left the church. Others were questioning what was true. So before John moves forward, he reminds believers of something foundational:
You are God's children.
You belong to Him.
You have a future.
And if that is true, it should shape how you live today.
As you go through the study guide, I would suggest reading or listening to the Bible passages in two different bible translations from this list: NIV, NLT, NASB, ESV, NKJV
Learn more about our exciting out-of-the-box ministry here
Setting the scene:
Where Are We in 1 John? John is writing near the end of the first century, likely around AD 85-95. Most scholars believe he is writing from the region of Ephesus in western Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Ephesus was one of the largest and most influential cities in the Roman Empire.
It was:
Wealthy
Educated
Commercially successful
Filled with competing religious ideas
Home to the massive Temple of Artemis
People were surrounded by voices claiming to offer truth, purpose, identity, and spiritual insight.
Sound familiar?
John's readers faced many of the same challenges we face today.
Instead of social media influencers, podcasts, YouTube personalities, and self-help gurus, they had philosophers, traveling teachers, mystery religions, and false spiritual leaders.
The pressure was the same:
"Who should I listen to?"
"Who am I?"
"What future am I building toward?"
What Just Happened Before This Passage?
In 1 John 2:18-27, John warned about false teachers. Some people had left the Christian community and were promoting a different understanding of Jesus.
John told believers:
Stay rooted in the original message.
Don't chase new spiritual trends.
Trust the work of God's Spirit.
Remain in Christ.
Now John moves from warning to encouragement. Instead of focusing on false teachers, he focuses on the believer's identity.
His message becomes:
"Remember who you are."
A Strong Family Theme
One thing many Western readers miss is how family-centered the Bible is.
Modern Western culture tends to focus on individual identity:
My goals
My dreams
My success
My personal fulfillment
The biblical world was different. Identity came primarily from family.
People thought in terms of:
Whose son are you?
Which family do you belong to?
Whose name do you carry?
When John says believers are "children of God" (3:1), this is not merely a nice religious phrase.
It is a statement about identity, belonging, inheritance, loyalty, and future hope.
Summary of the Main Teaching
Why This Section Matters
Many people build their identity around temporary things.
Career.
Money.
Politics.
Relationships.
Success.
Failure.
John points believers toward something deeper and more permanent:
God has adopted you into His family.
That changes everything.
1. Remain in Christ
1 John 2:28
"And now, dear children, continue in him..."
John's first instruction is simple:
Stay connected to Jesus.
The word translated "continue" or "abide" appears repeatedly throughout John's writings.
It means:
Remain
Stay
Dwell
Continue living in
John is not talking about occasionally thinking about Jesus. He is describing an ongoing relationship. Why? Because Jesus is coming again. John wants believers to look forward to Christ's return with confidence, not fear.
Notice what he does not say:
He does not tell them to obsess over signs.
He does not tell them to predict dates.
He does not tell them to speculate about world events.
Instead he says:
Stay close to Jesus.
That is how you prepare.
See also:
John 15:4-5
1 John 2:24
Philippians 1:6
2. Children Often Resemble Their Father
1 John 2:29
John introduces a major theme:
"Everyone who does what is right has been born of him."
Children often resemble their parents. Not perfectly. But over time family resemblance becomes noticeable. John is not teaching salvation by good behavior.
He is teaching evidence.
The fruit does not create the tree.
The fruit reveals the tree.
In the same way, righteous living does not make someone God's child.
It reveals God's work already happening within them.
3. Never Get Over God's Love
1 John 3:1
This may be one of the most beautiful verses in the entire letter.
"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!"
The phrase "See what great love" carries the sense of:
"Look at this!"
"Pay attention!"
"This should amaze you!"
John is stunned by God's love.
Not because God gives believers stuff.
Not because God solves every problem.
But because God adopts sinners into His family.
In Roman culture, adoption was incredibly significant.
An adopted child gained:
Family identity
Legal standing
Inheritance rights
Full family membership
John is saying:
God did not simply forgive you.
He welcomed you.
4. The World Doesn't Always Understand God's Children
1 John 3:1
John says:
"The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."
The "world" here refers to humanity organized apart from God. The same system that misunderstood Jesus often misunderstands His followers. This does not mean Christians should seek conflict. It simply means faithfulness may not always be understood.
Jesus experienced rejection.
His followers should not be surprised when the same happens.
See:
John 15:18-21
John 17:14-16
5. Your Future Should Shape Your Present
1 John 3:2-3
John points believers toward hope.
"What we will be has not yet been made known."
There is mystery here. John admits we do not know everything about the future.
But we know enough. Jesus will return. Believers will see Him. Believers will be transformed.
That future hope changes how we live today.
A student studies differently when graduation is approaching.
An athlete trains differently when the championship is coming.
Likewise, believers live differently when eternity is in view.
Hope fuels transformation.
Will you partner with us to help more people understand the Bible, grow in community, and follow Jesus?
Learn more about supporting this ministry here.
Why We Look at "Wrong" and "Right" Applications
This passage is filled with beautiful promises.
Because of that, it is easy for people to read things into it that John never intended.
Some use it to create fear.
Others use it to eliminate responsibility.
Others use it to support ideas that are completely disconnected from John's message.
Good Bible study asks:
"What was John actually saying to his original audience?"
Only then can we properly apply it today.
❌ APPLYING IT WRONG
Wrong Way 1
"If I struggle, I must not be God's child."
John never teaches perfection. In fact, earlier he acknowledged believers still sin (1 John 1:8-10; 2:1). The issue is direction, not flawless performance.
Wrong Way 2
"I can live however I want because I'm already God's child."
John repeatedly connects identity and behavior. Grace is never permission for careless living.
Wrong Way 3
"Christians should isolate from the world."
John does not teach isolation. Jesus spent time among people who needed Him.
John is warning against adopting the world's values, not abandoning people.
Wrong Way 4
Obsessing Over End Times Predictions
John's focus is not speculation. His focus is faithfulness.
The best preparation for Christ's return is remaining in Christ today.
✅ Applying it the Right Way:
Read It as a Family Passage
The central theme is identity.
God's children should increasingly reflect their Father.
Read It Through the Lens of Adoption
The first-century world understood adoption as a powerful legal and relational change.
John's readers would have heard belonging, inheritance, and family loyalty.
Let Future Hope Shape Present Choices
John repeatedly connects future transformation with present living.
Hope is not escape.
Hope is motivation.
Remember the Original Audience
These believers had recently experienced division and confusion from false teachers.
John is reassuring them:
You belong to God.
Stay rooted.
Stay faithful.
Stay hopeful.
Don't Miss the Wonder
One insight many Bible teachers point out is that John seems genuinely amazed by God's love.
This isn't dry theology.
This is worship.
John wants readers to stop and marvel:
God calls us His children.
Questions to Chew on and Discuss:
These questions are designed to help you personally dig deeper into the passage and help guide your discussions in your Journey Groups and Me & 3 small groups.
THE FACTS — What Does the Passage Say?
What reasons does John give for remaining in Christ (2:28)?
How does John describe the relationship between righteousness and being born of God (2:29)?
What future hope does John describe in 3:2-3?
THE MEANING — What Does It Mean?
Why do you think John focuses on identity after warning about false teachers?
What does it mean to be called a child of God in the first-century world?
How does future hope influence present behavior according to John?
THE HEART — What Am I Hearing?
What part of God's love in this passage stands out most to you?
Do you tend to think of yourself more as forgiven or as fully welcomed into God's family?
What fears or insecurities become smaller when you remember whose child you are?
THE HANDS — What Will I Do?
What is one practical way you can remain connected to Jesus this week?
Where is God inviting you to reflect more of your Father's character?
How can your future hope change one decision you will make this week?
Journey Group OR ME & 3 Small Group Discussion Starters:
Whether you're helping facilitate a small group, talking about this passage one-on-one with a friend, or even just need a topic to guide the conversation at the dinner table, these ideas can help start a good group conversation before you dive into the passage and questions in this study guide.
Discussion Starter 1
When you hear the phrase "child of God," what comes to mind first?
A title?A relationship?A responsibility?A future hope?
Why?
Discussion Starter 2
What shapes your identity most often during the week:
Your work?Your successes?Your failures?Other people's opinions?Or your relationship with God?
How can this passage help re-center that?
🧩 SUM IT UP
John's message is simple. God has done more than forgive believers.
He has adopted them.
They are His children.
Because they belong to Him, they should remain connected to Jesus, grow to reflect their
Father's character, and live with confidence about the future.
The world offers many temporary identities.
John points believers toward the one identity that lasts forever:
You are a child of God. Live like it.
Experience the God of the Wilderness
Throughout the Bible, the desert isn't just a place of heat and sand; it is God’s favorite classroom. It’s where He took Moses to see the burning bush, where He shaped the Israelites into a nation, and where Jesus was prepared for His ministry.
There is something about stepping away from the "safe structures" of the city and into the stillness of the high desert that clears the noise and lets you hear God's voice.
Are you willing to come to the wilderness for a time of preparation and growth? If you feel God moving you out of your comfort zone and into a deeper dependence on Him, we invite you to join us on our off-grid property in Northwest Arizona.
Arizona Bible Experience Retreat 📅 Dates: October 17-23, 2026 📍 Location: Meadview, AZ
Incredible scenery, excellent teaching, and friendships forged from slot canyons to campfires. We have limited spots available to keep the experience intimate and impactful.
Several lodging options. Daily excursions. Shared meals, campfires, and more! Includes a day at the West Rim of the Grand Canyon and so much more.
Save the Date: The Pig Out-Play & Praise
Every September, the whole YJJ community rallies together in beautiful North Idaho for our annual gathering. We call it "The Pig Out-Play & Praise"—and for good reason! We smoke a whole hog and briskets for a week of incredible food, deep fellowship, and powerful worship led by two different teams.
The Biblical Connection:
Did you know that God actually built "big meet-ups" into the very rhythm of life for His people? From the Appointed Feasts to the harvest gatherings, the ancient Israelites were commanded to stop, gather, and celebrate what God was doing. The value of these rhythms remains true for us today. We need these "mountain top" moments to refuel and reconnect.
Registration is OPEN now! Get your tickets here:
HAVE YOU WATCHED THIS VIDEO YET?
MORE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU GROW AS A CHRISTIAN
Read Our Full Statement of Faith: CLICK HERE
Your Jesus Journey is an independent, non-denominational Christian ministry. We're fueled by God's grace and the generosity of our supporters. Our team—led by Pastor Thad and his wife Kaila—is made up of dedicated disciples from all over the United States. Together, we work to help people understand the Bible, find Christian friends, and grow as disciple-makers.
Be sure to grab our free E-Book, "Stop Reading the Bible Wrong: 7 Strategic Shifts that Change Everything." Just click the Free Gift button at the top of our website, and we'll send it to you today!
Go to https://www.yourjesusjourney.com/journeygroups to learn more about Journey Groups, get connected in one, or even learn how to start your own. It's like a spiritual potluck, but instead of questionable casseroles, we share insights and grow closer to God. See you there!
You can also get our FREE in-Depth Bible-Study Guides delivered to your inbox: https://forms.wix.com/r/7330608166566101604.
To learn more about YJJ, Thad and Kaila, and Your Jesus Journey, check out our ABOUT US section: https://www.yourjesusjourney.com/learn-about-thad-and-kaila-and-the-journey-church-online.
There's lots more to see and learn on our website, from our "what we believe" page to hundreds of blogs. We encourage you to swing on by and take a look around at www.YourJesusJourney.com!
Comments