CHRISTIANS ARE THE SONS OF GOD

Gary McDade

"The feeling of closeness to God Christians appreciate is expressed in 1 John 3:1-2, “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. 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.” “What *manner* of love” translates potapo,j, concerning which Arndt & Gingrich say, “Somet. [sometimes] the context calls for the mng. [meaning] *how great, how wonderful* Mk 13:1 a. b; *how glorious* 1 J [John] 3:1” (p. 701). As A & G already pointed out, 1 John 3:1 is one of those contexts warranting the translation into English of “what *glorious* love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” In this connection the observation harmonizes with Paul’s statement,

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature [the creation, ASV, NKJV] waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature [the creation, ASV, NKJV] was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself [the creation itself, ASV, NKJV] also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God (Romans 8:18-21).

Here the created universe is personified as if waiting along with the sons or children of God for the return of Christ to be taken with them to glory being then released from the various sufferings associated with this present world.

Another concern allayed in 1 John 3:1-2 is in what form will the righteous appear in eternity? While no specific answer is forthcoming, the comfort is to be found in the fact that the sons of God “will be like Him” and get to “see Him as He is.” Christians who have spent their lives trying to be like Christ in attitudes and actions will take great comfort in at long last truly being “like Him.” What *wonderful* love!