"See what great love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and we are" (1 John 3:1).
Few statements in Scripture capture the heart of God more clearly than these words. John does not merely tell believers that they have been forgiven or that they will someday enter heaven. He marvels that they are called the children and presently exist as His children.
This identity is rooted in God's eternal purpose. Before the foundation of the world, God chose a people to be holy and blameless before Him in love (Ephesians 1:4). His purpose was never merely to rescue humanity from judgment but to bring many sons and daughters into glory (Hebrews 2:10). Through Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit, believers are adopted into God's family, transformed into the image of Christ, and prepared for eternal fellowship with the Father.
The great love of the Father is revealed in His eternal purpose to create a holy family conformed to the image of Christ. Through the New Covenant, believers are born of God, receive His Spirit, and presently exist as children of God while being transformed into Christ's likeness until the day they fully share His glory.
What Great Love: Children of God Now
John's declaration begins with wonder. The phrase "what great love" expresses amazement at the quality and magnitude of God's love. The Father has given something extraordinary: He has made sinners His children.
This status is not merely future. John writes, "and we exist" (1 John 3:1). The believer's sonship is a present reality. Through faith in Christ, those who receive Him are given the right to become children of God (John 1:12). This new birth is produced by God Himself (John 1:13).
The evidence of this new relationship is the gift of the Spirit. Believers receive the Spirit of "adoption" by whom they cry, "Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15). The Spirit bears witness that they are God's children and heirs together with Christ (Romans 8:16-17).
Because this identity comes from God, the world does not understand it. John explains that the world does not know God's children because it did not know Christ (1 John 3:1). Spiritual life is often hidden from worldly sight, yet it remains profoundly real.
Chosen in Love Before Time
God's love did not begin when humanity sinned. It reaches back before creation itself.
Paul writes that God chose believers in Christ before the foundation of the world that they should be holy and blameless before Him in love (Ephesians 1:4). He further explains that God predestined them for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ according to the good pleasure of His will (Ephesians 1:5).
This eternal purpose reveals the Father's heart. God's goal has always been relational. He desires a family that shares in His life, reflects His character, and enjoys fellowship with Him forever.
Romans 8:29 explains the destination of this purpose. Those whom God foreknew He predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. Christ is not only the Savior of God's family but also its pattern. The Father is forming a people who will increasingly reflect the character and life of Jesus.
Covenant Love Revealed Through Israel
The Old Testament provides vivid illustrations of God's covenant love.
In Hosea, the prophet is commanded to love his unfaithful wife as a picture of God's faithful love toward His covenant people (Hosea 3:1). Though Israel repeatedly turned away, God continued to pursue them with mercy.
Ezekiel 16 presents a similar picture. God describes Israel as one whom He rescued, adorned, blessed, and entered into covenant relationship with. Yet the nation turned from Him and pursued other loves. Despite this unfaithfulness, God declares, "I will remember My covenant with you from your youth and establish a new covenant with you..." (Ezekiel 16:60).
These accounts reveal two truths. First, God is holy and sinful men can not be in His presence thus loved without a meditator. Second, His covenant love remains steadfast. The psalmist recognized this when he prayed, "Remember, Lord, Your compassion and Your faithful love, for they have existed from antiquity" (Psalm 25:6).
The Old Testament consistently points beyond itself toward a greater covenant founded upon better promises.
The Law as Guardian and Shadow
God gave the Law for a purpose. It revealed His holiness, exposed human sinfulness, and served as a guardian until the coming of Christ (Galatians 3:24).
Paul explains that the Law brought the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20). It revealed what righteousness looked like but could not produce righteousness within the human heart. In this sense, it functioned as a ministry that exposed condemnation rather than imparting life (2 Corinthians 3:7-9).
The sacrificial system likewise pointed beyond itself. Hebrews teaches that the Law possessed only a shadow of the good things to come (Hebrews 10:1). Animal sacrifices could never permanently remove sin. Instead, they anticipated a perfect sacrifice that would accomplish what the old system could not.
The shadow prepared the way for the substance.
Christ and the Better Covenant
The promises anticipated in the Old Covenant find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
Hebrews presents Christ as the mediator of a better covenant established on better promises (Hebrews 8:6). Unlike earthly priests who ministered in a temporary sanctuary, Christ entered the heavenly sanctuary through His own blood, obtaining eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:11-12).
Hebrews 10 emphasizes that God ultimately desired obedience flowing from a perfect heart. Christ came to do the Father's will completely (Hebrews 10:7). Through His sacrifice believers are sanctified once for all (Hebrews 10:10).
The cross reveals both God's holiness and God's love. While humanity was still sinful, Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:8). Through Him believers are reconciled to God and granted access into grace (Romans 5:1-2).
The Children of Promise
The New Covenant creates a people defined not by physical ancestry but by faith.
Paul teaches that true circumcision is inward, accomplished by the Spirit rather than from fleshly lineage or the will of a man (Romans 2:28-29). Likewise, the true children of Abraham are those who share Abraham's faith (Galatians 3:7).
The promise made to Abraham ultimately centered upon Christ (Galatians 3:16). Through Him, the blessing extends to all nations. Therefore, everyone united to Christ becomes part of God's covenant family and an heir according to the promise (Galatians 3:29).
God's people are now described as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, and a people for His possession (1 Peter 2:5, 9).
Conformed to the Image of Christ
God's goal is not merely to forgive sin but to transform people.
Romans 8:29 states that believers are predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ. This transformation is progressive. Paul explains that believers are being transformed from glory to glory as they behold the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18).
James describes spiritual maturity as becoming complete and lacking nothing (James 1:4). Trials, discipline, and growth all play a role in this process.
The Christian life therefore involves more than external obedience. God works within His people through the Spirit, changing desires, renewing minds, and producing Christlike character.
God Is Light and God Is Love
John presents two foundational truths regarding God's character.
First, "God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him" (1 John 1:5). God is completely pure, truthful, and holy. There is no deception, corruption, or darkness in His nature.
Second, "God is love" (1 John 4:8). His actions flow from self-giving affection and covenant faithfulness. Scripture teaches that love is not self-seeking (1 Corinthians 13:5), and God's dealings with His people consistently reveal His desire to bless, restore, mature, and draw them into fellowship with Himself.
James similarly describes the Father as the source of every good and perfect gift, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (James 1:17).
These truths are not in tension. God's holiness and love operate together in perfect harmony. God exists love and agape love is not self-seeking (1 John 4:8 ; 1 Corinthians 13:5). I do not see a self-exalting God working in these truths even if it is said to ultimately be an act of love. This would mean God's sacrificial love seen in Christ is a means to an end. But gape love never ends, because God exists love and God's love doesn't seek its own, here on earth and in heaven. I use the imagery of a earthly father. Does he seek glory from his children? father you are so wise, you so funny, look at all your signs and wonders... we see God do this for his people under the old covenant but they turned their hearts from him (Ezekiel 16, Hosea). Or is he glorified in that his children love him and are like him thus can be loved by him? Jesus said love is the summation of the Law or his righteous requirements. God's discipline of his children is because he loves them, so they become blameless in His presence, in love.
A people blameless and holy like him can be loved by Him for eternity. What great love that we exist children!
Love as the Evidence of Divine Life
Because God is love, those born of God increasingly display love.
The scriptures repeatedly connect righteousness with brotherly love (1 John 3:10-17). John puts it is a sign of walking in the light. The contrast between Cain and Abel illustrates this principle. Cain's actions revealed a heart characterized by darkness, while Abel's faith produced righteousness (1 John 3:12; Hebrews 11:4).
John therefore declares that believers know they have passed from death to life because they love the brothers and sisters (1 John 3:14). Love becomes visible evidence of God's life at work within them.
This love is practical rather than merely verbal. Believers are told to love in action and truth (1 John 3:18). The example is Christ Himself, who laid down His life for others (1 John 3:16). Becoming like Jesus, who is the exact representation of God's character, is how we love God and others.
The Purpose of the Church
The church exists as God's family becoming like him through conformation to the image of His Son, who exists the firstborn among many brethren.
Jesus declared that the distinguishing mark of His disciples would be their love for one another (John 13:34-35). Christian maturity is therefore measured not merely by activity, knowledge, or outward success but by growing conformity to Christ's love.
Ephesians 4 describes how God provides gifts to His people so that the body may be built up until all attain maturity in Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16). They grow up truth in love. Likewise, Peter describes believers as living stones joined together into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5).
God's purpose is a family who reflects His character and helps each member grow toward spiritual maturity.
The Hope of Glory
Although believers are already God's children, their transformation is ongoing and not yet complete.
John writes, "Dear friends, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed" (1 John 3:2). But we know we will be like him. The final stage of God's purpose awaits the return of Christ.
Yet believers possess a certain hope. "We know that when He appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2).
This future hope shapes present conduct. Everyone who possesses this hope purifies himself just as Christ is pure (1 John 3:3). The promise of future glorification motivates present transformation. For God to have a people of His own they must share in his divine nature, which is pure. Pure religion James states is loving and caring for the vulnerable but also being unstained in this world (James 1:27).
Revelation describes the culmination of God's purpose: His people dwelling with Him forever, free from death, sorrow, pain, and every effect of sin (Revelation 21:3-4).
Conclusion
The story of redemption is ultimately the story of the Father's love. Before creation He chose a people in Christ (Ephesians 1:4-5). From old he loved, and through covenant faithfulness He preserved His promises. Through Jesus Christ He established a better covenant and opened the way into His presence. Through the Holy Spirit He gives new birth and adoption. Through His ongoing work He transforms His people into the image of His Son.
Therefore, believers are more than forgiven sinners. They are children of God. They presently possess the Spirit of adoption, participate in God's family, and live in the hope of future glory.
This is the great love the Father has given: that we should be called children of God—also exist! (1 John 3:1).