How lavish his love … but they knew him not.

I taught Sunday School today with 1 John 3:1 as the memory verse.

See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called God's children — and indeed we are! For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know him. (NET)

1. On the slave metaphor, how marvelous is it that even though we are called to be slaves to God, his love us is lavished on us so greatly that we are called his children. As slaves we are bound by the demand of a master and the gift is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. As children, we are bound by his love and promised an inheritance in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2. And with regards to the DaVinci Code post, the second portion of the verse rings so true. Let me quote Barnes: “Therefore the world knoweth us not - Does not understand our principles; the reasons of our conduct; the sources of our comforts and joys. The people of the world regard us as fanatics or enthusiasts; as foolish in abandoning the pleasures and pursuits which they engage in; as renouncing certain happiness for that which is uncertain; as cherishing false and delusive hopes in regard to the future, and as practicing needless austerities, with nothing to compensate for the pleasures which are abandoned. There is nothing which the frivolous, the ambitious, and the selfish “less” understand than they do the elements which go into the Christian’s character, and the nature and source of the Christian’s joys. Because it knew him not - It did not know the Lord Jesus Christ. That is, the world had no right views of the real character of the Lord Jesus when he was on the earth. They mistook him for an enthusiast or an impostor; and it is no wonder that, having wholly mistaken his character, they should mistake ours. On the fact that the world did not know him, see the 1Co_2:8 note; Act_3:17 note. Compare Joh_17:25. On the fact that Christians may be expected to be regarded and treated as their Saviour was, see the notes at Joh_15:18-20. Compare Mat_10:24-25.”

Maeghan
Picture by Griszka Niewiadomski