The Love that calls us Sons.
Notice:
I. The love that is given. We are called upon to come with our little vessels to measure the contents of the great ocean, to plumb with our short lines the infinite abyss, and not only to estimate the quantity, but the quality, of that love which in both respects surpasses all our means of comparison and conception. Properly speaking, we can do neither the one nor the other, for we have no line long enough to sound its depth, and no experience which will give us a standard with which to compare its quality. But all that we can do John would have us do that is, look, and ever look, at the working of that love till we form some not wholly inadequate idea of it. We have to turn to the work of Christ, and especially to His death, if we would estimate the love of God. According to John's constant teaching, that is the great proof that God loves us. The most wonderful revelation to every heart of man of the depth of that Divine heart lies in the gift of Jesus Christ. The Apostle bids me "behold what manner of love."
II. Look, next, at the sonship which is the purpose of His given love. It has often been noticed that the Apostle John uses for that expression "the sons of God," another word from that which his brother Paul uses. John's phrase would perhaps be a little more accurately translated "children of God," whilst Paul, on the other hand, very seldom says "children," but almost always says "sons." Of course the children are sons, and the sons are children, but still the slight distinction of phrase is characteristic of the men and of the different points of view from which they speak about the same thing. John's word lays stress on the children's kindred nature with their father and on their immature condition. What is implied in that great word by which the Almighty gives us a name and a place as of sons and daughters? Clearly, first, a communicated life, therefore, second, a kindred nature which shall be "pure as He is pure," and third, growth to full maturity.
III. Now still further let me ask you to look at the glad recognition of this sonship by the child's heart. Notice the clause added in the Revised Version, "And such we are." It is a kind of "aside," in which John adds the "Amen" for himself and for his poor brothers and sisters toiling and moiling obscure among the crowds of Ephesus to the great truth. He asserts his and their glad consciousness of the reality of the fact of their sonship, which they know to be no empty title.
IV. We have here, finally, the loving and devout gaze upon this wonderful love. "Behold," at the beginning of my text, is not the mere exclamation which you often find both in the Old and in the New Testaments, which is simply intended to emphasise the importance of what follows, but it is a distinct command to do the thing to look, and ever to look, and to look again, and live in the habitual and devout contemplation of that infinite and wondrous love of God.
A. Maclaren, A Year's Ministry,2nd series, p. 241.
References: 1 John 3:1. Expositor,1st series, vol. vii., p. 208; M. G. Pearse, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxix., p. 64; Preacher's Monthly,vol. ix., p. 333; Homiletic Magazine,vol. ix., p. 290; J. Keble, Sermons for Christmas and Epiphany,p. 367. 1 John 3:1; 1 John 3:2. Spurgeon, Morning by Morning,p. 44; A. Mahan, Christian World Pulpit,vol. vi., p. 184. 1 John 3:1-3. Homilist,1st series, vol. iv., p. 341. 1 John 3:1-5. A. Cooper, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxiv., p. 344; H. W. Beecher, Ibid.,vol. xxvi., p. 107.