Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach

Today here in the USA and likely in many other places Valentine’s Day will be celebrated. This is a 14.2 BILLION dollar spending spree here in America. Yet all the roses, boxes of chocolates, and cute cards miss the mark when it comes to true love.

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CONTEXT

CHAP. 3

It is a mark of God’s singular love toward us, that we are now called his sons, and designed for further happiness hereafter, 1, 2

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.

So late mention having been made of that great thing, in the close of the foregoing chapter, being born of God, the holy apostle is here in transport, in the contemplation of the glorious consequent privilege, to be called his sons; and of that admirable love, from whence the whole hath proceeded. What manner; ποταπὴν· or, how great! Called, here, (as often referring to God as the author,) signifies to be made, or to be, Matt. 5:9, 45; John 1:12; Rom. 4:17. He confers not the name without the thing; the new, even a Divine nature, 2 Pet. 1:4, in regeneration; the real advantages and dignity of the relation by adoption; and all of mere (and the greatest) kindness and good-will, Tit. 3:5–7. Hence he intimates, it ought not to be counted grievous, that the world knoweth us not, i. e. doth not own or acknowledge us for its own, is not kind to us, yea, hates and persecutes us; knowing often (after the Hebrew phrase) signifying affection, 1 Cor. 8:3; 2 Tim. 2:19; and accordingly, not knowing, disaffection, and the consequent effects, Matt. 7:23. Nor should it be thought strange, because it knew him not: the Father, and the whole family, are to it an invited genus, hated alike.

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.

Our present state he affirms to be unquestionably that of sons, whatsoever hardships from the world, or severer discipline from our Father, we must for a while undergo; but for our future state, it is much above us to comprehend distinctly the glory of it; it doth not yet appear, it is yet an unrevealed thing, Rom. 8:18; a veil is drawn before it, which is to be drawn aside at the appointed season of the manifestation of the sons of God, ver. 19. But so much we in the general know of it, (so certain are the apprehensions of faith,) that when he shall appear, or display his own glory in the appearance of his Son, who is then to come in the glory of his Father, Matt. 16:27; 1 Tim. 6:14–16, we shall be like him, as it befits children to be unto their Father; i. e. his image shall then be perfected in us, which was defaced so greatly in the apostasy, is restored imperfectly in regeneration, Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10, must be daily improved in progressive sanctification: so that as God was above said to be light, Christians are to shine as lights, as the sons of God, without rebuke, representing and glorifying their Father, Matt. 5:16; Phil. 2:15; 1 Pet. 2:9: but is then to be advanced in us to a far higher pitch than ever, in respect both of holiness and blessedness. For we shall see him as he is; i. e. so far as the limited capacity of our natures can admit; and are therefore by that likeness to be qualified for such vision: which eternal, efficacious vision doth also continue that likeness, the causal particle, for, admitting both those references: see Psal. 17:15.

Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible, vol. 3 (New York: Robert Carter and Brothers, 1853), 934.

DEVOTIONAL

1 John 3:1-2

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us.” Consider who we were, and what we feel ourselves to be even now when corruption is powerful in us, and you will wonder at our adoption. Yet we are called “the sons of God.” What a high relationship is that of a son, and what privileges it brings! What care and tenderness the son expects from his father, and what love the father feels towards the son! But all that, and more than that, we now have through Christ. As for the temporary drawback of suffering with the elder brother, this we accept as an honour: “Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” We are content to be unknown with him in his humiliation, for we are to be exalted with him. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God.” That is easy to read, but it is not so easy to feel. How is it with your heart this morning? Are you in the lowest depths of sorrow? Does corruption rise within your spirit, and grace seem like a poor spark trampled under foot? Does your faith almost fail you? Fear not, it is neither your graces nor feelings on which you are to live: you must live simply by faith on Christ. With all these things against us, now—in the very depths of our sorrow, wherever we may be—now, as much in the valley as on the mountain, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God.” “Ah, but,” you say, “see how I am arrayed! my graces are not bright; my righteousness does not shine with apparent glory.” But read the next: “It doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him.” The Holy Spirit shall purify our minds, and divine power shall refine our bodies, then shall we see him as he is.

C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening: Daily Readings (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1896).

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