(Photo by Ricardo Teixeira 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 73, we are going to study the first part of 1 John 3:1.
Let’s read this part of the verse.
1 John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us...
Let’s go over the definitions of the words.
Behold (3708. horaó) — is a command to stop, look, and marvel.
What manner of (4217. potapos) — means “of what kind” or “of what sort.” This phrase expresses astonishment, describing something so extraordinary or unfamiliar that it inspires wonder.
Love (26. agapé) — refers to divine love, a holy, selfless, and sacrificial affection that originates in God, reflects His nature, and is produced in believers by the Holy Spirit.
The (3588. ho, hé, to) Father (3962. patér) — means “The Heavenly Father.” This refers to God as the source of both physical life and eternal life.
Has given (1325. didómi) to us (1473. egó) — is a completed action by God, bestowing or granting something valuable to us.
John calls us to behold the Father’s love. He urges us to pause, look closely, and marvel.
The phrase “what manner of love” emphasizes the extraordinary nature of God’s love.
God’s love is divine, supernatural, and far beyond anything humans can naturally show.
This love has been fully given to us through Christ. It is a completed gift, yet it continues to impact us every moment of the day.
God’s love is unconditional and unearned. We have done nothing to deserve it, yet He chooses to love us as His children.
Be in awe that the Creator of the universe would extend such grace. Marvel at God’s generosity, who pours out His love freely, without expectation.
Truly understanding this love changes how we live, how we see ourselves, and how we relate to Him.
Let’s look at some verses that will help you understand and behold God’s divine love.
In Psalm 36:7 we learn that because of God’s love, we can take refuge under the shadow of His wings. This illustrates His protection, safety, and intimacy. God’s love provides a secure place where we are safe and deeply cared for.
Psalm 36:7 How precious is Your loving devotion, O God, that the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings!
In John 3:16 we learn that the Father gave His one and only Son because of His great love for the world. This is the clearest picture of His love in action, a love that sacrifices. God’s love is shown through the gift of Christ, offering eternal life to all who believe. This demonstrates that His love is active, generous, and reaches beyond anything we could earn or imagine.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
In Romans 8:38–39 we learn that nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. This love is unshakable and eternal, surpassing every power, circumstance, or barrier. It reminds us that God’s love is constant and secure, giving us confidence and peace.
Romans 8:38–39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In Ephesians 2:4–5 we learn that because of God’s great love and rich mercy, He made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. This shows that His love is transformational and unearned, reaching us even in our lowest state. It reminds us that God’s love is active, restoring, and full of grace.
Ephesians 2:4–5 But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses.
In Ephesians 3:16-19 we learn that God strengthens us through His Spirit so that Christ may dwell in our hearts. Being rooted and grounded in His love allows us to grasp the vast dimensions of Christ’s love, a love that surpasses knowledge. This love fills us with the fullness of God, showing us its depth, power, and transformative presence in our lives.
Ephesians 3:16-19 I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth 19 of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
In 1 John 4:9-10 we learn that God’s love was revealed when He sent His one and only Son so that we might live through Him. True love is shown not by our love for God, but by His love for us, demonstrated in the atoning sacrifice of Christ. This passage highlights that God’s love is active, sacrificial, and the source of our life.
1 John 4:9-10 This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. 10 And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
In conclusion, as we reflect on these verses, we see the richness, depth, and transformative power of God’s love. Each passage reveals a different aspect of His love, inviting us to pause, marvel, and live in the reality of what He has freely given us.
Here are the key takeaways
God’s love provides protection, safety, and intimacy, offering a secure refuge for His children. (Psalm 36:7)
God’s love is sacrificial, giving His Son so that we might have eternal life. (John 3:16)
God’s love is unshakable and eternal; nothing can separate us from it. (Romans 8:38–39)
God’s love is transformative, bringing life to us even when we are spiritually dead. (Ephesians 2:4–5)
God’s love is vast and immeasurable, filling us with His fullness as we are rooted in it. (Ephesians 3:16-19)
God’s love is active and sacrificial, shown through Christ’s atoning work for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10)
Take time each day to pause and truly behold the love God has for you. Let His unfailing, sacrificial, and immeasurable love fill your heart, giving you confidence, peace, and joy in every circumstance.
Here’s a prayer to help you respond to today’s lesson.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your incredible love, so vast, sacrificial, and unshakable. Help me to pause and truly behold it each day, to rest in Your protection, be transformed by Your grace, and live with confidence in the fullness of Your care. Teach me to respond with gratitude and faith, sharing Your love with others as I walk in the life You have given me through Christ. Amen.
Let’s read our verse, one more time.
1 John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us...
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Thank you and God bless you.
Jeff M Newman
