“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us. Consider who we were, and what we feel ourselves to be even now when corruption is powerful in us, and you will wonder at our adoption. Yet we are called “the sons of God.” What a high relationship is that of a son, and what privileges it brings! What care and tenderness the son expects from his father, and what love the father feels towards the son! But all that, and more than that, we now have through Christ. As for the temporary drawback of suffering with the elder brother, this we accept as an honour: “Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.” We are content to be unknown with Him in His humiliation, for we are to be exalted with Him.

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God.” That is easy to read, but it is not so easy to feel. How is it with your heart this morning? Are you in the lowest depths of sorrow? Does corruption rise within your spirit, and grace seem like a poor spark trampled under foot? Does your faith almost fail you? Fear not, it is neither your graces nor feelings on which you are to live: you must live simply by faith on Christ.

With all these things against us, now — in the very depths of our sorrow, wherever we may be — now, as much in the valley as on the mountain, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God.”

“Ah, but,” you say, “see how I am arrayed! my graces are not bright; my righteousness does not shine with apparent glory.” But read the next: “It doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him.” The Holy Spirit shall purify our minds, and divine power shall refine our bodies, then shall we see Him as He is .

If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.

Thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.

Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me.

He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him I will give power over the nations.

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

He received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.

Be ye . . . followers of God, as dear children.

If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.

The brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame.

These things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.—Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.

His Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things.—If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

I and my Father are one. The Father is in me, and I in him.—My Father, and your Father; and . . . my God, and your God.—I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one.

The Church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Having . . . these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.—Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth.—The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love.

The glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.—Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.