In this sermon on 1 John 3, Matt Crummy explores the astonishing truth that we are called children of God—not metaphorically or aspirationally, but as a present and permanent identity rooted in God’s initiating love. This identity, given not earned, shapes how we see ourselves, how we respond to sin, and how we live in hopeful anticipation of what we will become. Matt contrasts being named by the world with being named by God, calling us to resist self-definition and instead live from the reality of our belovedness. Rather than viewing sin as legal infraction, he points to a relational vision of holiness—one shaped by the love of the Father and the hope of becoming like Christ.