1Jn 3:1  Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. ASV

1Jn 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. KJV

1Jn 3:1  See what manner of love the Father has given us, that we may be called children of God. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. LITV

1Jn 3:1  Behold what manner of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God. Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. MKJV
__________________________________________________________

                             COMMENTARY

  We must keep in mind that John's main purpose in writing this letter was to address the false doctrine of Gnosticism. The Gnostics denied the reality of sin and claimed that they had no sin. They believed that 'salvation' had to do with a special species of knowledge and nothing to do with how one lives. The result was that they continued to live a life of sin while thinking they were 'saved' because of some 'higher knowledge'.

  The context of this passage is speaking very clearly of the Christian’s Character as well as his Conduct. There are those who deny this and try to say this passage is speaking of one’s "State" before God. They say that one is either in a 'state' of sin & condemnation or a 'state' of grace & salvation. He's in a lost, or saved 'state'.  But as for his Character and Conduct, both are still sinful. A saved, regenerate sinner who has been given a New Heart is still just as much a sinner as before he was saved. All that is is a variation of the false doctrine of Positional Holiness. It's foundational root is that of Antinomianism. The end result is no different from the Gnostics. Both continue in a life style marked by sin!

  As true as it is that a Christian is one who is "positionally holy" as he is in union with the Lord Jesus Christ, that speaks  of the doctrine of Justification; whereas this passage is not talking about Justification at all. It is talking about Regeneration &  Sanctification; how one lives, or one’s Conduct, which is indicative of his Character. This is clear from verse 7 where we are taught that a Regenerate Christian is one who -does- righteousness. What a person does speaks of his Conduct, not his "state." A person who is still wicked in his Character can do nothing but sin no matter what "state" he happens to be in. Moreover, going one step further in the verse, the reason why the Christian does righteousness in his Conduct is because he -is- righteous in his Character...and the reason why he is righteous in his Character is because he has been made righteous by the power of the Spirit of God in Regeneration. Verse 9 as well as 1Jo 2:29 are speaking of Regeneration. So that, the two major Gospel doctrines found in this passage are Regeneration and Sanctification. Nothing is said of Justification.

  The righteous deeds done by the Christian who is righteous in his Character, are not the ground of salvation and one’s standing before God.  They are the necessary results of the fact that one has indeed been both Regenerated and Justified by God. This is all in complete harmony with what Messiah Himself taught concerning the 'root' and 'fruit' of a 'tree'. The Character is the 'root', which in this case is Righteous, and the Conduct is the 'fruit' which in this same case is Righteousness. Those who say Christians are still sinners, which means they are depraved in their Character are denying the Biblical doctrines of Regeneration & Sanctification. They have no ground upon which to present a Biblical doctrine of good works. Why not? Because, as the Lord Jesus said... a corrupt tree -cannot- bring forth good fruit. Any 'fruit' that is produced by a corrupt tree, which is a sinner with a depraved nature, can only be corrupt fruit. How then can corrupt fruit be considered Christian good works? How can anything corrupt be good? Folks who believe this false doctrine even admit that everything they do is  "tainted with sin"! If it's tainted with sin how in the name of Biblical sanity can it possibly be 'good'? People who believe that are no different than the Gnostics. Both end up in a life style that is marked by sin.

  It says plainly that the world knew not God! Romans 1 must be kept in context of passages such as this that teach all men do not know God. Scripture teaches that all natural born humans are dead in sin. That means they are completely dead to God and anything having to do with Him or His Kingdom. How can one who is completely dead to God possibly know Him in any way? He cannot. Such people are under the curse of spiritual death and unless God saves them He will judge them with His fire.

2 Thes 1:7  and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire,
8 rendering vengeance to them that  -know not God,-  and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus:

1John

Main Index