“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”
Before he declareth this adoption, he saith two things: the one, that this so great a dignity is not to be esteemed, according to the judgment of the flesh, because it is unknown to the world, for the world knoweth not God the Father himself. He beginneth to declare this agreement between the Father and the Son at the highest cause, to wit, at that free love of God towards us, wherewith he so loveth us, that he also adopteth us to be his children. What a gift of how great love. That we should be the sons of God, and so that all the world may perceive we are so.