Who Is Your Father

Text: 1Jo 3:8-10

A. Son of Consolation.

1. Connotation. a. From the Greek word “paraklēsis”, which means “exhortation, admonition, encouragement”. b. A son of consolation is an encouraging person who considers others.

2. Characteristics. a. He helps those who are in need (Act 4:36-37). b. He befriends those who are lonely (Act 9:26-27). c. He encourages those who are new in the faith (Act 11:22-23). d. He forgives those who have let him down (Act 15:36-39).

3. Consequences. a. The needy Christians in Jerusalem were taken care of (Act 4:34). b. The Christians in Jerusalem accepted Paul into their fellowship (Act 9:28). c. The church in Antioch grew rapidly (Act 11:24). d. John Mark became a useful minister for Christ (2Ti 4:11).

4. Consideration. a. Do we take care of needy brethren? b. Do we reach out to lonely brethren? c. Do we give support to new converts? d. Do we make peace with erring brethren?

B. Son of Belial.

1. Connotation. a. From the Hebrew word “belı̂ya‛al”, which means “worthlessness”. b. A son of Belial is a worthless person who considers only himself.

2. Characteristics. a. He is perverse (Jdg 19:22-25). b. He is corrupt (1Sa 2:13-16). c. He is rebellious (1Sa 10:27). d. He is ungrateful (1Sa 25:4-11). e. He is malicious (1Ki 21:13).

3. Consequences. a. The Benjamites went to war against their brethren (Jdg 20:12-14). b. The Israelites abhorred worship (1Sa 2:17). c. Those who rejected Saul as king were almost put to death (1Sa 11:12-13). d. Nabal’s family was almost massacred (1Sa 25:32-34). e. God was provoked to anger (1Ki 21:21-24).

4. Consideration. a. Do we live in sin? b. Do we use religion for gain? c. Do we despise those in authority? d. Do we return good with evil? e. Do we speak evil of others?

C. Son of Perdition.

1. Connotation. a. From the Greek word “apōleia”, which means “a perishing, ruin, destruction”. b. A son of perdition is a destructive person who considers only himself, at the expense of others.

2. Characteristics. a. He exalts himself above God (2Th 2:4). b. He cares only about his physical interests (Joh 12:4-6). c. He exploits others (Mat 26:14-16). d. He twists the Scriptures (2Th 2:10).

3. Consequences. a. He will face judgment (2Pe 3:7). b. His end is destruction (Php 3:19). c. He leads others to perish (2Th 2:10). d. He causes the way of truth to be blasphemed (2Pe 2:2).

4. Consideration. a. Do we live for ourselves? b. Do we allow our Christian liberty to become a stumbling block to others? c. Do we build our happiness on others’ misery? d. Do we misuse the Scriptures to justify ourselves?