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,
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.
1 John 3:1,2
"There is a chapter in every word and a sermon in every letter.
How it opens with a "Behold!" because it is such a striking portion of sacred Scripture, that the Holy Ghost would have us pay
"Behold!" says he, "I have put up a way-mark to tell you there is something eminently worthy of attention buried beneath these words."
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us.
Consider who we were, and who we are now;
What a high relationship is that of a son to his father!
What privileges a son has from his father!
What liberties a son may take with his father!
And oh! what obedience the son owes to his father,
and what love the father feels towards the son!
Beloved, now are we the sons of God.
That is easy to read; but it is not so easy to feel.
Beloved, now are you a son of God.
Does your faith almost fail you?
When broken on the wheel of suffering as when exalted on the wings of triumph—beloved, now are we the sons of God."
Charles Spurgeon