A sermon delivered on November 1, 2026 by Patrick H. Wrisley.
Throughout the first letter of John, we read how the evangelist peppers us in staccato fashion with “the whys” for the purpose of his writing. These are mostly found in the first two chapters but occur in later ones as well. Throughout 1 John, John says, “I write to you…”
- So that our joy may be complete.
- So that you may not sin.
- So that you remember when you love your brother and sister, you are living in the Light.
- To remind you that your sins are forgiven on account of Jesus’ name.
- That you may know you have conquered the evil one.
- So that you will know the Father.
- So that will know him who is from the beginning.
- To remind you that you are strong and the word of God abides in you.
- That you remember that no lie ever comes from the truth.
- That you watch out for those who try to deceive you.
And finally, towards the end of his letter, he writes, “I write so that you may have eternal life.” All of this flows together leading to our reading this morning from 1John 3.1-3 which is the critical part of the entire letter. Listen to the Word of the Lord.
1 John 3:1-3
3.1 See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. 3 And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.[i]
Did you hear what John is saying? Does its weight fully press upon you?
We are God’s children now; what we will be has not be revealed. What we know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.
John is telling us is that we are adopted as God’s children. Being an adopted child gives the child privileges of being in that particular family. For those of us who walk as children in the Christ’s steps, 1) it means we are loved, 2) we have responsibilities and 3), we have a future.
We are loved. This is what John’s letters are all about. God took the initiative to create us. God took the initiative to forgive us. God took the initiative to redeem us. God in Jesus came to bring us to himself. God takes the initiative to begin the process of bringing us home. God lavishes us with love and grace.
Yet being a child in a particular family gives us responsibilities within the family itself. We live as though we are children of the world or we live as children of our Heavenly Father. For the Church, baptism is the defining act that publicly points to our affiliation. It’s a washing away of the old life and emerging from the water fresh and vital in the family of the Spirit. And what are our responsibilities in this life and family of the Spirit? It’s to love the Lord our God with every fiber of our being and life. It’s to take that love for our Lord God and actively share the same with those we live with, work with, play with, worship with, disagree with and perhaps even dislike.
As adopted children in the Lord’s family, we live knowing we have a wonderful future, too. Living as children of Christ’s Way, we live in two worlds at the same time. We live in the already where we have been adopted into God’s family and kin. But we also live in the not yet – that moment when each of us will be in the presence of God at the fulfillment of time. We have feet in two worlds: this realm on earth as well as in God’s direct presence. Our eternal life begins on this side of the grave, beloved, and we express that eternal life when we love one another.
Today is All Saints Sunday. It’s a celebration of what God has done, is doing, and will yet do in our world and in our lives. It’s a day that those of us living in the “already” celebrate and remember those who have already attained their ‘not yet’ and have died and rest from their labors in the very presence of the Lord. Their responsibilities and demonstration of love from their earthly life have been extended and are now being shared in the eternal realm with God.
One cannot help but wonder what it will be like when we are in God’s presence once we die. As John says, what we will be has not yet been revealed but we do know that we will be like him. I wonder if that means I will be taller, leaner? Will I still like stiff coffee or will it even matter? Can I still sip a good bourbon by the fire? What are the living situations like “up there”?
The challenge is that for many Churches and Christians, we are so heavenly minded we are no earthly good. We get all wrapped with questions with, “Just how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” We discriminate. We judge others who are not like us. We declare our love for God but then proffer injustice, violence, hate, and bigotry all in the name of Jesus.
This is why All Saint’s Sunday is so important to remember. This is why we have communion today. It’s a day and a time when the lines separating the already and the not yet fade and we are one family together with all those who have died and are now in the Presence of the Living Christ. Communion is a time when the Spirit of God weaves all people in heaven with those of us are on earth. This, my friends, is the power of the meal. It is a family reunion where all of us adopted brothers, sisters, aunts, and uncles come join in the feast.
As we take the Lord’s Supper this morning, let us examine whether we are living into our family responsibilities of loving the Lord God with every fiber of our being and loving those in the world around us with the same intensity. So let it be.
© Copyright 2026 Patrick H. Wrisley, D.Min. Thie sermon may not be altered, re-purposed, published or preached without permission. All rights reserved. See www.patrickhwrisley.com.
[i] New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
