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1 John 3 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
This really is an incredible chapter! It’s hard to summarize these thoughts in just a few paragraphs. I was really drawn to the first several verses that speak to believers being children of God.
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
1 John 3:1-2 NASB
We are God’s children, not because of anything that we’ve accomplished, but because He created and called us. He gave us life. We are also children in the sense that He is growing and maturing us into “spiritual adults.” Though miraculous, the birth is not the pinnacle of that baby’s existence. The role of parents is to nurture and mature that baby through the various stages of development and into adulthood. It’s out of love that parents discipline and draw boundaries for their children.
But God does more than this. He does more than just name us. He calls us with His love. This is a crucial point. The way that He calls us is through sacrificing His Son. Therefore, the relationship has been restored between us (his children) and Him (our Father) through scandalous grace. This act of God is permanent.
This love is so incredible and so life-changing that it is imparted to us as we continue to mature as His children. This is much different than love that is simply exhibited. We can marvel at the love that others may exhibit, but with God, we become His love to others. It’s given to us through the Holy Spirit. Because we are His children, we take on His character and His attitude.
Where do you need to be reminded that you are a child of God? Not just a child named, or recognized, or created, but a child called and given specifc purposes. While you were just a newborn, God held you in His arms and saw promise, hope, and opportunities for you to glorify Him and His kingdom.