The Chosen Key Word in this Chapter is “Hope” it comes from the Greek Word “elpis” which means “hope.”
John marvels at God’s love while distinguishing genuine righteousness from persistent sin. Welcome to Bible Life Basics Chapter Reviews, I am Chris and this is 1 John 3.
John declares, “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,” describing how now they are the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what they shall be, but they know that when He shall appear, they shall be like Him, for they shall see Him as He is, and every man who has this “hope,” “elpis” in Greek, in Him purifies himself, even as He is pure.
John explains that whoever commits sin transgresses also the law, since sin is the transgression of the law, and they know that He was manifested to take away their sins, and in Him is no sin, whoever abides in Him does not sin, whoever sins has not seen Him, neither known Him, urging his little children not to let any man deceive them, he who does righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous, he who commits sin is of the devil, for the devil sins from the beginning, for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
John describes how this is the message they heard from the beginning, that they should love one another, not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother, urging them not to marvel if the world hates them, since they know that they have passed from death to life, because they love the brethren, he who does not love his brother abides in death, declaring, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren,” urging them not to love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth, closing with the assurance that whatever their heart condemns, God is greater than their heart, and knows all things.
John’s wondering exclamation, behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God, invites genuine, ongoing amazement at the sheer scale of divine love rather than treating it as merely routine theological fact. His practical definition of genuine love, not merely word or talk but deed and truth, insists that authentic love always finds concrete, tangible expression rather than remaining purely sentimental or abstract.
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