Scripture Song of I John 3:1-2

“Behold, What Manner Of Love”

Download Mp3 Download Ogg

Commentary on I John 3:1-2

by Living Faith Fellowship

At the end of the parable of the prodigal son, we find the lesser-known character of the older brother. Feeling that his own faithfulness has not been duly recognized, he is angry at the reception his younger brother has received (Luke 15:29-30). Presumably he would have been happier had his brother never returned, leaving him as the center of their father's attention.

What a striking contrast this is with the character of our own Elder Brother. As God's only begotten Son, Jesus enjoyed perfect communion with the Father - yet He accepted the separation and punishment of our sin in order to please the Father's heart by bringing many sons into glory (Heb. 2:10).

Because of his sacrifice, we who believe are given power not only to become the sons of God (John 1:12), but also to live out the righteous life of Jesus Christ instead of being mired in our own sinful nature. When the world does not recognize this life or even denounces it as evil, we should not be surprised; they nailed the Lord of Glory to a cross between two thieves. This mortal journey is not our time to be acknowledged or applauded, but to learn obedience through the things that we suffer, even as our Lord did (Heb. 5:8).

When the final trumpet sounds, the whole earth will witness that event for which creation is longing - the manifestation of the sons of God (Rom. 8:19). As worthless sinners, accorded a place at the Father's table only through the faithfulness of our Elder Brother, it will be our eternal joy to say, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us!"

Commentary ©2011 Hebron Christian Fellowship. Unaltered text may be reproduced freely without financial gain.

Print Commentary

I John 3:1-2

Verbatim KJV. Words or verses not included in song replaced with "..."

  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.
  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.