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Walking in the Light: New Identity and New Love - 1 John 2:12-17 — 10/23/2026 10:00 AM
Today's speaker is Dr. Matt Bennett, Associate Professor of Missions and Theology at Cedarville University. Speaking from 1 John 2:12-17, Dr. Bennett teaches that who we are most fundamentally is defined by Whose we are.
Notes
This morning in chapel, Dr. Matt Bennett, Associate Professor of Missions and Theology at Cedarville University, preached through 1 John 2:12–17 and talked about how we all ask two questions: “Who am I?” and “Who am I to be?” These questions cannot be answered by considering things like our name, skills, or abilities. Our identity must be something that comes from without.
Who We Are (vv. 12–14)
By addressing his audience as “children,” John shows that our identity is tethered to the fact that we’ve been adopted as God’s children. The sins that stained us and kept us from the holy presence of God have been graciously pardoned if we are in Christ. Your sin doesn’t get to define you. You’ve been bought with a price. You are not abandoned but adopted.
God has forgiven us for His name’s sake to prove to the nations that He is great and greatly to be praised. He has also forgiven us because He loves us deeply. We are whose we are.
John addresses two groups of “children” — the younger and the older. He reminds the younger of three things: they have conquered the evil one, they are strong, and the Word of God abides in them.
He then turns his attention to the older, telling them twice that they know the Father who has been from the beginning. Even when we know a lot about God and are constantly learning new things about Him, our hearts must keep coming back to the beautiful old things. We get to know the God who hung the stars. No matter how old we get, He was there before us. Even though our hearts are prone to sin apart from Christ, He still lets us know Him. These things are worth clinging to.
Who We Are To Be (vv. 15–17)
John has now answered the question of who we are: sinful exiles who have been graciously adopted as God’s children. But the second question still stands: Who are we to be? Having been told to love the brothers because we are beloved by God, we are now told what not to love.
John warns us away from three things: the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life. Those whose eyes are fixed on their Father don’t habitually let their minds wander to material things. Since we have an eternal inheritance, the allurement of a world that is passing away loses its luster.
We are a people made to be children of God and then to look like the family to which we belong. Because we are beloved of God, we should love the things He loves! As He acts for the fame of His name, so also should we. As He prizes each one of our brothers and sisters in the family, so also should we. As His children, let us seek to bear the family resemblance in all things.