What kind of love makes sinners into God's children?

In 1 John 3, the apostle marvels that God calls us His children. In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt unfolds the astonishing love that brings believers into God's family — not as servants, but as sons and daughters.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. What does it mean that God is our Father? That salvation makes us family. God has no "peons" — those He saves He adopts as beloved children.

2. Why was John so amazed? Because the gift is staggering: that rebels and sinners should be called the very children of God.

3. How does God see you now? As His own child, dearly loved — not merely ticketed for heaven, but welcomed into His household as family. "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!" — 1 John 3:1 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.