Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
God makes us His children from pure bounty alone, not because we merit it; this great favor should kindle in us desire for purity and conformity to His image. The sophists who say God foresees the worthy to adopt are plainly refuted, for then the gift would not be gratuitous, and our salvation rests on adoption flowing from His love, not our works.
AI summary
Behold the condescending love of the eternal Father, that He is not ashamed to call us sons, we who by nature are heirs of sin and curse, by practice children of corruption and ingratitude. The world does not know our dignity or advancement; walking by sight, it cannot perceive what we possess in Christ or what we are entitled to.
AI summary
Commenting on 1 John 3:1-3
Observe with wonder and astonishment what matchless love the Father has bestowed, adopting us into His family by grace alone, not by nature, not by our merit, for we were by nature children of wrath. This privilege exceeds all others and springs from His everlasting, unchangeable love.
AI summary