1 John 3:1 (NKJV)

Bible Commentary

1 John 3:1 is a Bible verse in the New Testament that describes the unconditional love of God. What an honor for those of us who are saved, to be called children of God and to truly know and understand His unconditional love for us!

1 John 3:1 starts out by telling us to Behold. But what are we to behold and exactly what does that mean? Webster’s dictionary says “behold” means: to see or observe (a thing or person, especially a remarkable or impressive one).

God wants us to see His remarkable love for us.

It goes on to ask what manner of love? In this verse love is Agape Love. “Agape” means that our Father’s love for us is truly unconditional. His love is a selfless love, always giving, never taking.

The Father bestowed this love upon us. This literally means He gifted His unconditional love to us. This once again shows us His one-sided love, nothing to earn nor expected in return. 1 John 3:1 continues to tell us that because He has bestowed His unconditional love upon us we have the right to be called children of God.

This means that we are children of God’s Holy Trinity!

• The Father – “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty,” 2 Corinthians 6:18

• The Son – But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. John 1:12

• The Spirit – The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, Romans 8:16

The world does not know us because God is our Father, our Daddy. We are to be strangers to this world. Satan is the prince of the earth and he hates Christ and His children. Satan will do anything he can to make our life miserable and will do all he can to damage our testimony. So, when trying times come upon us we should not be caught off guard, but be prepared and ready to lean into God’s love and protections.

Your Test Becomes Your Testimony

We can allow Satan to defeat us and therefore damage our testimony for Jesus, or we can withstand the attacks of the enemy and turn our test into our testimony and our mess into our message!

Because it did not know Him the world treats us as it treated Him. At the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry His people not only rejected Him, but they murdered Him. Jesus came preaching love and salvation, and the world answered Him with hate and death.

Titus 3:4-5 says, “But when the kindness (excellence) of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, ⁵ He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing (baptizing) of regeneration (spiritual rebirth) and renewing (renovation) by the Holy Spirit,”

Through God’s unwavering, unconditional love we were rescued from Satan and the eternal damnation that will come to those who reject Jesus Christ. God’s love is unconditional to us all, but it is up to us to reach out and accept the gift He wants to bestow upon us.

Study the Bible verse of 1 John 3:1 and soak in God’s unconditional love for you.