And So We Are

For the past two weeks, we’ve been looking at 1 John 3:1 and learning about God’s lavish love and our adoption as His children. This week we’ll look at the last four verses of this verse: “and so we are.” 

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” (1 John 3:1)

I realize at this point, you might think I’m a little crazy for writing a devotional on these four words. There’s no big theology words here, no action verbs, none of the typical words we like to talk about like grace or mercy or peace. 

But John included these words for a reason. He’s just written about this love of the Father that should cause us to stop and pay attention, because this love causes us to be adopted as His children. And then John puts a giant exclamation mark at the end of this point—God’s love for His children accomplishes its purpose. It’s not just God’s intention to adopt us. All those who receive the Father’s saving love belong to Him. 

These four words emphasize God’s faithfulness to His promises. He tells us in His Word that those who trust in Him will not be put to shame because He holds us securely (Romans 5:5). And so we are. 

These four words also point to our future inheritance with Him. In the next verse, John writes that one day we will be like Him because we are His children. Paul also teaches this truth in Romans 8:16-17: “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” 

God’s Spirit confirms this fact: those who have been saved by God’s grace are His children and heirs with Christ who will be glorified with Him. God has lavished His love on us and made us His children – and so we are, now and forever. 

No matter what you face this week, God has made you His child, and so you are. 

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