“Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God. Beloved, now are we the sons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” John 3:1-31There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:1‑3).
Behold what love, what boundless love
The Father hath bestowed
On sinners lost, that we should be
Now called the sons of God.
In matchless grace, in wondrous love
He sent His blessed Son,
That He His scattered children thus
Might gather into one.
No longer far from Him, but now
By precious blood made nigh,
Accepted in the Well-beloved,
Near to God’s heart we be.
What we in glory soon shall be,
It doth not yet appear,
But when our precious Lord we see,
We shall His image bear.
With such a blessed hope in view
We would more holy be,
More like our risen, glorious Lord,
Whose face we soon shall see.
M. S. S. St. Petersburg.