1 John 3:1-2: Present Joy and Future Glory
I John 3:1-2: How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. [1]
1 John 3:1-2 is an incredible encouragement for those who love the Trinity. John joyfully informs believers that God’s love has been poured over them and they are welcomed into His family by the blood of His Son. [2] John’s wording shows us the “action and the extent of God’s love” by assuring the elect they are adopted by the Trinity. [3] Knowledge of God is another blessing because a failure to know the Lord is why the world rejects Christ. [4] Verse 2 assures Christians that they are still God’s children, even though they wrestle with sin now, and promises a future where they will be perfected and freed from sin. [5]
What more encouraging news could we ask for? When we were the Triune God’s enemies, He sent Christ to die for us, which makes us His adopted children. [6] When the Almighty adopts us, nothing can change that, not even our present sins. [7] Though there is suffering in this life, caused by our own sin, there is a day coming when sin and suffering will cease. [8] This good news motivates us to live more like Christ and share the Gospel with others, not out of fear, but from love. [9] May the assurance of our identity in Christ drive us to be more like Him.
This blog was written by Seth Dunn
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Logos Bible Software. All Scripture references will be ESV unless noted otherwise.
[2] Simon J. Kistemaker. New Testament Commentary: Exposition of the Epistle of James and the Epistles of John. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1986), 293-294.
[3] Kistemaker, Exposition of the Epistle of James and the Epistles of John, 294-295.
[4] Kistemaker, Exposition of the Epistle of James and the Epistles of John, 294.
[5] Kistemaker, Exposition of the Epistle of James and the Epistles of John, 294-295.
[6] Romans 5:1-12.
[7] Romans 8.
[8] Revelation 21-22.
[9] Romans 8:12-17; Matthew 28:18-19; Acts 1:8.