1 John 3:1
1 John 3:1
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.
Among all the identities that we have, the first and most important one is that we are God's children. Have you ever felt that God has given up on you because, instead of walking confidently in faith, we sometimes stumble and fall? Have you ever feared that there is a limit to God's patience for your failure and your lack of self-discipline when you are fighting your temptations? The primary truth is God's love and acceptance is unconditional. When our faith is strong, God loves us; when our faith is weak, God loves us; when we succeed, God cheers for us; when we fail, God comforts us. God's love never changes, and it never fails. Unbelievers cannot fully comprehend us Christians because they fail to fully comprehend God. Those in the world associate us with fanatics or enthusiasts, as foolish in abandoning things they enjoy, as renouncing certain happiness for something uncertain. When Jesus came into the world, the world didn't recognize Him as the Son of God. When we feel rejected by the world, we experience only what Jesus Christ has experienced. As God's children, we can be sure that He will make us just like Jesus.
1 John 4:10
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 5:1
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
1 Corinthians 13:4
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1 John 3:18
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.