I John 3 "See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us.. "  What "manner of love" the NKJ says.. His love is greater than any other love. His love has come freely from the One who established the heavens and the earth.  It has come as a gift.. undeserved and unearned.  It has come lavishly.. unrestrained.. of His accord.. a love that envelops us "that we should be called children of God".   He has named us His children.. He has claimed us for Himself.  

"For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him."  The world cannot understand who we have become in Christ..  They do not understand that we have a hope that is "fixed on Him" which "purifies" us.  They cannot understand that we will not practice sin as they do.  They do not understand that they cannot keep sinning and claim that they know Him. 

John wants to make it perfectly clear that there is a clear distinction between the children of God and the children of the devil. 

The child of God does not abide in sin, but finds forgiveness in Christ who came to "take away sins". 

The child of the devil practices sin, allowing hatred and lies to fill their lives. 

The child of God has been given the great, lavish love of the Father and practices that love by loving one another, opening their hearts to each other when there is a need, loving "not.. with word or tongue, but in deed and truth." 

"We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." 

The love that God, our Father has given to us is meant to transform us into His likeness.. people known for their love.. living a life of Truth...   a life that reflects the One in whom we abide.  

John tells us to "ask" Him for what we need, so that we can live this life of love.. keeping His commandments and doing the things that please Him.  John tells us to "believe in the name of His son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us." 

Father in heaven, there is no better Christmas message than this.. that Jesus came so that we might be forgiven our sins, cleansed, and filled with Your lavish love. We ask for this love to fill us even more this year.. May we abide in Christ and He is us "by the Spirit whom He has given us."  Amen.