This passage reminds us of the incredible privilege and responsibility we have as believers, and it encourages us to live in a manner that reflects our relationship with Him. These verses beautifully emphasize three main themes:
- The Love of the Father:
John begins by drawing our attention to the tremendous love the Father has bestowed upon us. It is an extraordinary and immeasurable love that surpasses all understanding. Through His love, we have been adopted as His children, invited into a deep and intimate relationship with Him. This love is a testament to the Father's grace and compassion towards us.
- Our Identity as Children of God:
John highlights the incredible reality that we are now children of God. We have been given the privilege of being called His sons and daughters. This new identity sets us apart from the world, which often fails to recognize and comprehend the profound nature of our relationship with the Father. As children of God, we are heirs to His promises and recipients of His divine love and care.
- The Hope of Transformation:
While we may not fully understand or comprehend what we will become in our future glorified state, we do know that we will be like Him when Jesus is revealed. This hope of transformation gives us confidence and assurance that one day we will be conformed to the likeness of Christ. This hope shapes our present reality, inspiring us to live in a manner that reflects the purity and holiness of our heavenly Father. We are called to align our lives with His character and to pursue righteousness, being transformed by His Spirit.
Furthermore, this passage teaches us important lessons about our response as children of God:
- Gratitude and Wonder:
As we contemplate the great love the Father has bestowed upon us, it should elicit within us a sense of gratitude and wonder. We should marvel at the privilege of being called His children and never take His love for granted. This awareness should permeate our hearts and overflow into a life marked by thanksgiving and adoration.
- Living with Hope and Expectation:
Our identity as children of God fills us with hope and expectation. We eagerly await the day when Jesus will be revealed, knowing that we will be transformed into His likeness. This hope shapes our perspective and empowers us to persevere through trials, knowing that our present sufferings are temporary compared to the glory that awaits us.
- Pursuing Holiness:
The hope of transformation compels us to purify ourselves, just as He is pure. As children of God, we are called to live lives of holiness and righteousness, aligning our actions, thoughts, and attitudes with the character of our heavenly Father. The process of sanctification involves surrendering our lives to Him, allowing His Spirit to mold us into His likeness.
In summary, 1 John 3:1-3 reveals the incredible love of the Father, our identity as His children, and the hope of transformation that shapes our present lives. It calls us to respond with gratitude, hope, and a pursuit of holiness. As we embrace our identity as children of God, may we live in a manner that reflects His love, eagerly anticipating the day when we will be fully transformed into the likeness of Christ.
See also: vs 4-6
1 John 3:1-3. See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is. Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.