More on 1 John 3... 6-30-08

I had to backdate this one to get it to fit in its sequence but this was made on 6-30-08, not 7-13-08.

1) More on 1 John 3

a) We share in the Glory of God.

i) Mary and saints are not just human, but glorified human

(1) She shares in the Glory of God w/o being God.

(2) See 2 Peter 1:3-5

b) Who is a Christian?

i) Term Christian isn’t actually used.

(1) Really, “Children of God”

ii) It is not a nice title

(1) Something in our very being makes us Christian

(2) Something that God bestowed upon us.

c) The role of God

i) OT: God=Creator (lowercase “father”)

ii) NT: God= internal self.

iii) Intimate union between God and Christians in John

(1) Eucharist, etc.

iv) Points ii and iii are salvific

v) Point i is NOT salvific. (Just because you’re made doesn’t mean you’re saved)

vi) It is Paternity vs. Fatherhood

(1) Relationship with someone who is your father is different than someone who is your “birthgiver”

vii) No one can come to the Father without going through the Son.

viii) We need to have a personal relationship eith God.

ix) “Children of God” is not synonymous w/ human being.

d) John 1: 10-13

i) Being born is not good enough

ii) You only become a child of God through grace.

iii) Jews thought they had it made by being just Jewish.

iv) Jesus said it takes more than birth and circumcision, however.

e) Working through God

i) Idea and exclusivity of God did not come from humans, it is from God.

ii) We are not saved by works, but works of love through charity and by faith.

iii) God cannot be impressed.

iv) He gives grace because he loves you.

v) Love is not a duty, it is a desire.

vi) Biggest tension=difference between outward appearance and internal self.

vii) By living through the sacraments, etc. we find out joy and grace.

f) God of Israwl revealed himself as holy.

i) Moral being

ii) Standards

iii) Much emphasis placed on externals to show holiness.

iv) Defined Personal God.

(1) “no longer do I call you slaves, but now I call you friends” (end of last supper)

(2) “we do not know when it is revealed, but we shall be like Him” (Johns understanding of f, iv, (1))

(a) Beautific vision

g) 1 Corinthians 15:12

i) Even saints who have reached the highest level of mystical experience admit what they see on this earth is through faith.

ii) We will see him like he is, face to face.

(1) OT: you see God, you die.

(a) Even seeing a part of His Glory means you die.

(b) He gave the chance for humans to see God but they messed up

(c) Everything is through angels now

(i) Exodus, Leviticus, etc.

(d) This is why Jews cover their eyes when looking at the Wailing Wall,

(2) NT: “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God”

(a) We saw God through the Incarnation in His Son, so that we might see God but not die.

(i) E.g. message to Thomas

1. I am the perfect reflection of God.

(3) The Eucharist

(a) Gives Catholics the Living God.

2) 1 John 3: 4-10

a) What is being a child of God?

i) Everyone who commits sin commits “lawlessness”

ii) Affects one’s entire relationship with God.

iii) He defines what a Christian CANNOT be.

iv) You cannot be submissive to God and be in an attitude of selfishness.

v) Term: Docile=teachable.

vi) All sin is rebellion

vii) All sins are against God through others, but all people sin.

viii) Child of God comes from Genesis 3:15

(1) 3 battles of this verse

(a) You (Satan) and woman

(b) Your (Satan) offspring (children of Satan) vs. woman’s offspring.

(c) Satan stroked at his foot vs. his strike at your head.

ix) When children of God sin, it is usually some weakness of the flesh.

b) Children of the devil

i) Humans of the world.

ii) To live a Christian life, you must have a “Biblical mindset”

(1) Look at the world through Scripture.

iii) Children of Satan not developed in OT.

(1) There is the idea, however, of women killing children of Satan while striking at their heads.

(a) Several stories, one of them about a woman driving a tent spike through the head of a sleeping man! YOWZAH!

iv) New Testament on Children of Satan.

(1) “You brood of Vipers (you children of serpents!) Matthew 3:7

(2) Matthew 12:34

(3) Revelation 12 reflects Gen 13:15

v) Every sin committed, you build the city of Satan.

vi) Every time we try to deny or change God’s will is like Satan.

(1) God rebuked Peter when Peter tried to talk him out of going forth with his ministries.

c) Do not love the things of this world