(Photo by Hert Niks 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 75, we are going to third and final part of 1 John 3:1.
Let’s read this part of the verse.
1 John 3:1...The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
Let’s go over the definitions of the words.
The reason (1223. dia) — means because of or on account of.
The world (3588. ho, hé, to) (2889. kosmos) — means the ordered world-system that is in moral rebellion against God.
Does not (3756. ou, ouk, ouch) — is an absolute negation. This means not, no, or not at all.
Know us (1097. ginóskó) — means to know in an experiential or relational way, that is, to recognize or acknowledge.
Is that (3754. hoti) — means that, because, or since.
It did not know (1097. ginóskó) — means did not acknowledge or recognize.
Him (846. autos) — in this context, refers to God the Father.
In other words, the reason the world-system, which is in moral rebellion against God, does not recognize us as God’s children is because it does not know, acknowledge, or have a relationship with God the Father.
In the first part of 1 John 3:1, we learned about beholding the incredible love the Father has given us (Lesson 73). In the next part of the verse, we see that because of this great love, we are called into His family (Lesson 74). When we believe in what Jesus did for us on the cross, we are born again and become His children. This is our new identity.
However, even though God calls us His children, the world does not know us or recognize us as His children. The world has rejected God, and therefore it rejects those who belong to Him. Instead of marveling at the Father’s great love, the world hates Him and those who reflect His nature.
Let’s look at some verses that show how the world hates, rejects, and refuses to acknowledge believers because it does not know God.
In John 15:18-19, Jesus explains to His disciples that the world hates them because it hated Him first. If they belonged to the world, the world would love them as its own. But because Jesus has chosen them out of the world, setting them apart to follow Him, the world hates them.
John 15:18-19 If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. 19 If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
In John 1:9-11, we see that the world did not recognize Jesus as the Creator of the world and the Light of all people. Because the world did not know Him, it did not receive Him. In the same way, the world does not recognize God’s children or accept them.
John 1:9-11 The true Light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
In 1 Corinthians 1:18, we read that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are not God’s children. This shows that they do not understand God’s love for them. If they would have known God’s love through the cross, they would know God and recognize His children.
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
In John 3:19–20, we read that people who do not know God reject Him because they love the darkness rather than the Light. They would rather continue in evil than come into the Light. Because they live in darkness, they do not know God or recognize His children. They avoid the Light because they do not want their deeds exposed.
John 3:19–20 And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but people loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
In 1 John 1:5–7, we read that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. Some people may claim to have a relationship with God, but if they walk in darkness, they do not live by the truth. Because they remain in darkness, they cannot have true fellowship with believers who walk in the light. They do not truly know God or recognize His children, because they are separated from His light.
1 John 1:5–7 God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.
In conclusion, the people of the world do not know God’s love. If they knew God’s love, they would know Him, and if they knew Him, they would know His children.
Instead the world rejects God and rejects His children.
Here are some key takeaways from the verses we reviewed.
The world hates God and His followers because believers belong to Him and no longer belong to the world (John 15:18-19).
The world did not recognize God when He came, even though He created it and is the true Light (John 1:9-11).
The world sees the message of the cross as foolish because it does not understand or acknowledge God’s love (1 Corinthians 1:18).
The people of the world love darkness rather than the Light, and reject the Light out of fear that their deeds will be exposed (John 3:19–20).
True fellowship with God and His children requires walking in the Light. Those who remain in darkness cannot truly know God or recognize His children because they do not know Him (1 John 1:5–7).
Be encouraged. Even though the world may reject you, God has called you His child and loves you deeply. Walk in the light and live in His truth, and you will experience fellowship with other believers and grow in knowing God personally. Your identity as a child of God is secure, unshakable, and untouched by anything the world can say or do to you.
Here is a prayer to help you respond to today’s lesson.
Father, thank You for calling me Your child and showing me Your great love, as 1 John 3:1 declares. Draw me closer to You each day, help me to know You more deeply, and guide me to walk in Your light. Strengthen my heart to trust in Your love and to reflect Your truth to others, even though the world does not know You. Amen.
Let’s read this part of the verse, one more time.
1 John 3:1...The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
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Listen to these lessons over and over again.
Meditate on God’s Word throughout the day. Pray continually. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
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Thank you and God bless you.
Jeff M Newman
