What Manner Of Love

August 6th, 2023

by Dr. J.C. House
08/06/2023

Suggested Reading: I John 3:1-15

1 John 3:1 - “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.”

A special type of love is referenced in our key verse. It is a love the Father has for His children. You do understand that not everyone is a child of God, don’t you? In our natural born state, we are children of the Devil. 1 John 3:10 references this, “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.”

We are considering God’s love for His redeemed ones. They are a particular class of people who have become “sons of God” by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:26 says it like this, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”

Several things about this love should greatly encourage us.

IT IS A SPECIAL LOVE. (vs.1) “WHAT MANNER OF LOVE”
Did you ever stop to consider where God’s love brought you? To a high position of honor and privilege. You were lost and undone without God and His Son, and now you are a member of the royal family of Heaven. Ephesians 3:15, “Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,”. 1 John 3:1 tells us we are the sons of God. It is not that someday we will be a child of God; if you are a true believer in the Lord Jesus, it is now.

IT IS A LOVE THAT SETS US APART. (vs.1) “THE WORLD KNOWETH US NOT”
The worldly person does not recognize us nor understand us. For the most part, they consider us fanatical and foolish in our practice of religion. They don’t understand why we do not share their pleasures or why we prefer a Wednesday night church service over a movie. Yes, the world quickly misunderstands us because God’s love has set us apart.

IT IS A LOVE THAT PROVIDES US A GREAT FUTURE.
1 John 3:2, “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.” Notice three marvelous truths revealed in this verse:
1. Jesus is coming again. John mentions it thusly, “when He shall appear”. That is our blessed hope. John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

2. When He comes, we shall see Him as He is. He first came in weakness, this time in great glory and power.

3. When we see Him, we shall be like Him. 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” Psalm 17:15, “...I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.”