The book of First John

A Verse by Verse Study
Text 1^st John 3:1, 2

1. V. 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.”
1. John had just told us that “ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.” 2:29 Taken in context means we are doing righteous because of our salvation not to be saved.

a. John had just spent 2 chapters explaining our salvation in Christ and how we mature in Christ, and John finished the thought those that are in Christ walk in righteousness.

b. Now John moves on to speak to us about God’s love for us.

2. “Behold” This word is used is a past sense and it means “to be sure to understand”
3. “what manner of love” This is defined as “what kind or quality of love” that is to say, now that you are in Christ and now a child of God, look at the quality of love it took to bring us to Christ.
4. “the Father hath bestowed upon us” the word bestowed means grant therefore it is used the same as grace.
5. The great and unspeakable love the Father has granted to us is more than tongue can utter. We are the children of God through Christ only because of His wonderful Grace.
6. “that we should be called the sons of God:” This word “called” means a surname which means that is who we are, and that is we are the children of God, by family name. 2 Corinthians 6:18 “And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
7. “therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” If the world does not know Christ then how could it know us who are His by family name?

a. They know not God’s truths nor do they know Him period.

b. 1 Corinthians 2:8 “Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

c. This Jesus the religionist have created is not Jesus.

2. Verse 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.

1. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God,” we know this because we walk and work in righteousness as we saw in chapter two.

2. We know we will be like Christ, how ever we have no idea what we have ahead for us. It will be a glorious state, but how glorious?

3. “but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him;” Philippians 3:21 “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”