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(Photo by Tobias Reich on Unsplash. Berean Standard Bible.)

Welcome to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. This is Jeff M Newman. Get a new lesson every other week on Mondays at 12:00 PM Pacific.

In Lesson 74, we are going to study the second part of 1 John 3:1.

Let’s read this part of the verse.

1 John 3:1...that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are!...

Let’s go over the definitions of the words.

That (2443. hina) — expresses purpose or intended result. Here it shows God’s deliberate intention. He calls us in order that we might be called His children. This highlights God’s intentional design and the goal of His love to make us truly His own.

We should be called (2564. kaleó) — means to call, invite, or summon. It shows that God takes the first step and calls us to Himself. Becoming His children is not something we earn. It is a gift of grace. God personally invites undeserving sinners to come close and belong to Him.

Children (5043. teknon) — means a child born of someone. Spiritually, it refers to those who have been born of God, sharing His nature through new birth by grace. It also points to a close relationship of love, trust, and obedience with the Father.

Of God (2316. theos) — means the one true God, the supreme divine being, the Creator. The phrase “children of God” shows both our origin, being born of God, and our belonging, as we truly belong to Him.

And [that is what] (2532. kai) — affirms that we truly are God’s children now, and this is not merely a title but a present reality.

We are! (1510. eimi) — means that we truly and continually exist as God’s children. This identity is not temporary or uncertain. It is a present and lasting reality, showing that we belong to Him now and forever.

In other words, God’s greatest purpose and desire have always been to make us His own. Because of His great love, He personally calls and invites us into His family. This is not based on anything we deserve but is entirely the result of His grace.

This part of the passage teaches us that through the new birth we receive God’s nature and enter into a relationship with Him marked by love, trust, and obedience.

Being God’s child is more than a name or a title. It is our true identity. We are, and always will be, His beloved children.

When you behold God and His love (Lesson 73), it leads to belief in Him. God’s love is intentional. It has a purpose and a goal. By the greatness of His love, God calls us to be His children.

This call is not random or accidental. It is an invitation into a close, personal relationship with Him.

The verse says, “that we should be called children of God.” This expresses both God’s initiative and our new identity. God calls us to belong to Him, and that calling is effective. When we respond in faith, we are truly His children.

Being a child of God is our identity. When we believe in Him, we are born into God’s family. Emphasis is placed on the fact that we are members of His family by birth, not by effort or merit.

“And that is what we are” confirms that this is a present, ongoi