The Bible is the Word of God that reveals to us His unconditional love and His infinite grace. It contains powerful passages that invite us to contemplate God’s love for us, his children. One such edifying passage is found in 1 John 3:1 : “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God. That’s why the world doesn’t know us; because you do not know him.” In this Bible study, we will take a deep look at the meaning of this verse and how we can experience the manifestation of God’s love in our lives.
The Revelation of God’s Love
The apostle John, author of this letter, urges readers to reflect on the “great love” that the Father has bestowed upon them. This expression resonates with a profound message that God’s love is immense and incomparable. God loves us beyond all human measure, and He demonstrated that love to us through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. He sent Jesus into the world to redeem humanity, reconciling us to Him and adopting us as His children.
(John 3:16-17) – “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that it might be saved through him.”
The above verse is a fundamental statement of the Christian gospel message. It describes God’s love for humanity and God’s plan of salvation. According to the passage, God sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world as an act of supreme love. Jesus came with the purpose of redeeming humanity, reconciling it with God and enabling the adoption of all who believe in him as his children.
The first part of the verse underscores God’s unconditional love for mankind. He so loved the world that he was willing to give up his only begotten Son to save those who believe in him. Jesus’ offering is a gracious gift and the ultimate expression of divine love.
The second part of the verse emphasizes the purpose of Jesus’ coming. He was not sent into the world to condemn it, but to save mankind. God’s plan was to provide a solution to the problem of sin and the separation between God and people. Through faith in Jesus Christ, people can find reconciliation with God and the promise of eternal life.
This revelation of God’s love is an invitation to know His loving and merciful nature. We are called to understand and accept that we are loved by God in a way that transcends our understanding. The central message of the verse is that we have been called children of God, an identity that connects us directly to our heavenly Father. It sets us apart from the world and reminds us that as children of God we are to live according to Kingdom principles and values.
The Deep Implication of God’s Love
God’s love for us has profound and life-changing implications. When we embrace this truth and take ownership of the fact that we are God’s beloved children, it radically changes how we see ourselves and how we see others. It is a love that enables us to love unconditionally and sacrificially.
This love also gives us unshakable security. When we face challenges and trials, we can find comfort and hope in the knowledge that we are loved and cared for by our heavenly Father. Nothing can separate us from that love, as we are assured in Romans 8:38-39: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things neither height nor depth nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The Misunderstanding of the World
The verse under study mentions that the world does not know us because it does not know God. Those who do not know God and His redemptive work in Christ have difficulty understanding and recognizing the reality of divine love manifested in us. This misunderstanding can lead to persecution and rejection by those who do not share the same faith.
However, as children of God, we should not be surprised or discouraged by the world’s rejection. Jesus said in John 15:18-19, “If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own, but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, that is why the world hates you.” Our identity as children of God separates us from the world’s value system, and this naturally can lead to conflict. However, we are promised the presence and love of God to strengthen and guide us through adversity.
The Experience of God’s Love
How can we fully experience God’s love in our daily lives? The answer lies in turning to God, seeking an intimate relationship with Him, and allowing His love to transform us. It is essential to cultivate a life of communion with God through prayer, Bible reading and community sharing.
Furthermore, we are to express God’s love in our interactions with others. Jesus taught us the greatest commandment in Matthew 22:37-39: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second, similar to this, is: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” God’s love in us is manifested when we love God with our whole being and when we love our neighbor as ourselves.
The Hope of Future Glorification
The final verse of the Bible study brings hope for the future of God’s children: “Beloved, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. But we know that when he appears, we will be like him; for as it is we shall see it.” (1 John 3:2). This promise points us to the hope of future glorification, when we will be transformed in our entirety to be like Christ.
This hope strengthens us through the struggles and tribulations of this life. We know that although we have not yet reached the fullness of what we will be, the process of sanctification continues in us. Romans 8:29 reminds us, “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” God’s work in us is progressive, and we can be confident that He is molding us into the image of Christ so that we can reflect His love to the world.
Conclusion
Verse 1 John 3:1 invites us to contemplate the great love that God has for us in calling us His children. This love is incomparable, deep and transformative. We are to live in accordance with our identity as children of God, expressing that love to the world and finding security and hope in our relationship with our heavenly Father.
Our experiencing God’s love is an ongoing process as we turn to Him, seek intimate fellowship, and allow His love to transform us. And in the end, we look forward with hope to future glorification, when we will be like Christ in His fullness.
May we be inspired and encouraged by the love of God in our lives and may we be motivated to share that love with the world around us.
