ASTONISHING LOVE OF THE FATHER;
“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. 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}
The term “how great” (potapēn) literally means “of what country.” In other words, this was an “alien” or “supernatural” type of love. This idiom “always implied astonishment.” John almost couldn’t believe we would have so high of a privilege. John’s is describing the kind of love the Father gives His children, “what great love.” The Greek word translated “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-{Read Col 1:12-14} We have gone from slaves to sons and daughters of God the Father!
AMAZING LOVE OF THE FATHER.
WE ARE WHO AND WHAT HE SAYS WE ARE!- “CHILDREN OF GOD!”