Two metaphors, one connotation: Life in God (the Trinity). It’s all about relationship.

4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend…

In 1 John 3:9, we have two metaphors used to help describe our relationship with the Father, Son and Spirit. Let’s look at the verse,

⁹ No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.

The first metaphor is “born of God.” Jesus used this metaphor in John 3:3. He described salvation as being first born of water (natural birth) and then of spirit (a spiritual birth). The second metaphor is, “God’s seed.” The seed of God in each of us is “born” when it sprouts in fertile soil. Both are viable as descriptions of salvation. Jesus refers to the kingdom of heaven as a mustard seed and yeast in dough (Matthew 13:31-33), and finding the kingdom of heaven as a treasure hidden in a field and a pearl of great price (Matthew 13:44-46). The kingdom of heaven comes through a Person, and that Person is Jesus Christ. “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:12

Jesus’ message is simple and straightforward: “Repent [change the way you are thinking], for the kingdom of heaven [heavenly life that God the Son brings] is at hand.”

If we really want a description of salvation, Jesus gives us one in Matthew 13:15. It’s at the end of a quote from Isaiah 6:9-10,

¹⁵ For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ Matthew 13:15 (also in John 12:39-40)

King David proclaimed, “Your face, O Lord, I will seek” Psalm 27:8. In Matthew, Jesus said, “Come to Me,” (11:28); in Luke, He said, “Now, they are hidden from your eyes,” (19:42), and in John, Jesus says, “Come into the light,” (3:21). In John’s first letter, he says, “The darkness has blinded their eyes” (2:11).

Conclusion: We need to turn to Jesus and have our eyes healed. When we do, the deception and lies fade away in light of the Truth. We could say that “the scales fall off our eyes” (Acts 9:18). We begin to see with new eyes, hear with new ears, and understand with new hearts. Are they really new? No, but they are restored. Turned away from the Father, we saw only darkness. Many love it because they feel that they can do what they want to do. The problem is that they cannot see the consequences until it is too late to avoid them. Walking in the light of Christ–with Christ–is the only way to avoid wrath (consequences). We who walk in the light, as He is in the light, have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus God’s Son (continuously) cleanses us from all sin (because of Christ’s completed work on the cross). If we have the Son, we have (eternal) life. If we turn away from the Son, we “enter” darkness. Let’s keep our faces turned toward Him.

Tomorrow, we will look at the metaphor of the seed and its significance.

Abba, I don’t need eternal life–I need You. You ARE eternal life. Rather than pining for a perfect location to live, a paradise, I want a relationship with You, and I don’t care where we are or how we live. If I’m with You, then as far as I’m concerned, that’s heaven to me. Your love, Your joy and Your peace allow me to endure and even enjoy the most dire circumstances. I know that this world will pass away, but Your promise to be in me and I in You forever will never change. I have You and that’s all I need. Thank You, Abba, Jesus, and Spirit for living in me and I in You, and including me in Your fellowship.