1 John 3

== 1 John 3 ==
=== 1 John 3:1 ===
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Behold! There is a great wonder here in John's words as he describes God's love. He has been calling these Christians "little children" and now he focuses powerfully on the relationship that the Father has with Christians. Behold what manner of love, the depth and richness of God's love for His creation. Consider what all God has done to express His love for mankind. I see in this passage a perspective similar to that of the father in the story of the prodigal son. He longed for his son to return home, to be restored to him, to the point that he looked for him afar off every day. God has adopted us and brought us into His family, chosen us to be heirs of all that He has.
There is an important point to make here though when speaking of election and the idea of sons of God. Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). When we believe, God empowers us to become sons of God (John 1:12). In other words, He has equipped us with all the necessary knowledge to know what we need to do to become His sons through that faith. Before that, we were in the world and did not know Him. Yet the choice to become His sons is still ours to make. We can act on that faith and obey the gospel message we have received and be baptized (Mark 16:16) wherein He adds us to His church (Act 2:47) adopting us His sons in truth. Or we can reject that faith and remain in the world. This choosing requires both parties to agree to the adoption, just like in the real world where a teen is going to be adopted by a set of parents. The parents can meet the teen, discuss all the terms of the adoption with the teen, and desire to adopt the teen, but it is up to the teen to say yes or no. There is no force against the will of the teen, just as there is no force from God that makes us adopted sons.
In that last part, John writes that the world does not know Christians because they do not know the Father. This means that because we are now living according to the will of God, we are reflecting Christ to the world and that is alien to people. They no longer recognize us as one of their own because we no longer belong to them and they don't know or understand the Father whom we reflect.
=== 1 John 3:2 ===
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
=== 1 John 3:3 ===
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
=== 1 John 3:4 ===
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
=== 1 John 3:5 ===
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
=== 1 John 3:6 ===
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
=== 1 John 3:7 ===
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
=== 1 John 3:8 ===
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
=== 1 John 3:9 ===
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
=== 1 John 3:10 ===
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
=== 1 John 3:11 ===
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
=== 1 John 3:12 ===
12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
=== 1 John 3:13 ===
13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
=== 1 John 3:14 ===
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
=== 1 John 3:15 ===
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
=== 1 John 3:16 ===
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
=== 1 John 3:17 ===
17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
=== 1 John 3:18 ===
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
=== 1 John 3:19 ===
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
=== 1 John 3:20 ===
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
=== 1 John 3:21 ===
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
=== 1 John 3:22 ===
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
=== 1 John 3:23 ===
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
=== 1 John 3:24 ===
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
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