ASTONISHING LOVE OF THE FATHER;
“See how {what} 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. 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. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”- {1 John 3:1-3}
John is describing the kind of love the Father gives His children, “what great love.” The Greek word translated as “what great” is used six times in the New Testament and always implies astonishment and admiration.
When John says “That is what we are!” he is declaring what is true for us presently, the reality of our status. Right now, at this very moment, we are His children. This is not something God will do- a future promise He will fulfill, but presently is true of us! God calls us His children. He declares it is so, therefore it is so! We have all the rights of His child to enjoy as adopted children. “…and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.” – {Rom 8:17}. We are one of His own! God is our loving, caring eternal Heavenly Father! John’s use of the word, “Father” implies father-child relationship, and He has transferred us out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son, and we are to grow in gratitude to Him for this wonderful outworking of His love towards us-{Col 1:12-14}
The Father’s love in sending the Son and making us His children shows the depths of devotion He has for us, who in and of ourselves are unlovable and of no attraction to Him, nor of any benefit to enhance Him. For He is perfect in need of nothing or no one outside of Himself to inform Him, satisfy, or enhance in any way. Perfection is perfection and such He is.
God’s Word teaches there are two “Fathers” and as a result two types of children. The devil has children and is called a father, and God the Father has children. “By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.”-{1 John 3:10}. So, not all people are God’s children. it depends on whose family you belong to! But those who are born a “second time,” not physically but spiritually, now have entered into a new relationship with God as their Father…- {Read 1 Peter 1:3}, and His love is astonishing, and how astonishing and inspiring it should cause us to be!
Contemplate the Love of God The Father for you.
Celebrate Him. Share Him with others!