1John 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.

The manner of God's love is such that it begs to be marveled at. Behold how great it is! The greatness of this love is revealed in the fact that we are called sons of God. This was a privilege once reserved only for Jesus.

John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

It is so distinguished that when Jesus, our Lord, laid claim to it, the Jews were rubbed up the wrong way. Now, that same distinction, honorific, title, and privilege are given to those of us who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Hallelujah!

As a 'son of God,' we assume God's own class of being and associate with Him without any sense of inferiority. This is revolutionary.

John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

Our theme Scripture says that the world does not know us because it knew Him not. We are elevated to the God class, because to know Him is then to know us. Paul therefore cautions us not to know any man after the flesh, implying that there is a knowledge of certain men that cannot be supplied by carnal senses.

2Cor 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

But before we get carried away into these marvelous truths, let us first stay with the love of God. The manner of this love is so great, so accommodating, so vast, and so transforming that it converts us from enmity to sonship, and so we are called sons.

God's love is such. It calls sons. It converts to sonship. A major implication of this is that if God loves you, He makes you a son.

To put it simply, adoption is God's love accepted. He quickly sends you the papers of adoption, bringing you into His family. He never wants separation from those He loves. His love is expressed in His fatherhood. His will is to have sons. This signifies an eternal connection, a perpetual bond, and an everlasting embrace.

Is it then really love we are practicing if it is not abiding, long-lasting, and perpetual?

1Cor 13:8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

Love does not end, for it quickly conscripts us into family and establishes eternal, unbreakable bonds. That is God's love. It is among the marvelous things that the angels desire to look into.

1Pet 1:12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Ps 8:4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

Behold, marvel, and wonder at such love!