I John 3:1
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.
As you skim through the list of songs below, you’ll notice songs from this verse from each era of Christian songwriting. One example is this late-1800s hymn by Daniel Warner (full lyrics and sheet music here):
Behold, what love, what boundless love
The Father hath bestowed on us,
That we should be the sons of God,
And share His righteousness.
Behold, what love, behold, what love
The Father hath bestowed,
That we should be the sons of God,
Through Jesus’ precious blood.
I John 3:2
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.
This verse also supports a nice stylistic and chronological spectrum of songs, including a Booth Brothers song quoting the verse and a Sandi Patty song inspired by it:
Expository Songs
Behold th’ amazing gift of love (I John 3:1-4) (1709)
Isaac Watts | Popularized by Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1707-09)
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Behold What Manner of Love (I John 3:1) (1978)
Patricia Van Tine | Popularized by Maranatha Music
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
Behold What Wondrous Grace (I John 3:1) (1709)
Isaac Watts | Popularized by Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1707-09)
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Behold, what Love! (I John 3:1)
M. S. S.
Lyrics | Sheet Music
What Manner of Love (I John 3:1)
Daniel S. Warner
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Beloved, Now are We (I John 3:2)
Daniel Whittle and D.W. Whittle (El Nathan)
Lyrics | Sheet Music
By Grace we know, to us it’s clear (I John 3:2)
James Relly
Lyrics
Now are we Sons of God! (I John 3:2)
James Relly
Lyrics
We Shall See Him (I John 3:2)
Mary Pyper
Lyrics | Sheet Music
We Will See Him As He Is (I John 3:2)
Popularized by Sandi Patty
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
When He Appears (I John 3:2) (2014)
Popularized by Joshua Aaron
YouTube | Amazon
When We See Him (I John 3:2)
Popularized by Maranatha Music
YouTube | Amazon
Love One Another (I John 3:11-23) (1996)
Jon Mohr, Randall Dennis | Popularized by Steve Green
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
O Christian brethren, marvel not (I John 3:13-18)
Lyrics
By This We Know Love (I John 3:16) (2009)
Judah Groveman | Popularized by Sovereign Grace Music
Lyrics | Sheet Music | YouTube
This Is How We Know (I John 3:16) (2012)
Popularized by Jamie Owens-Collins
YouTube | Amazon
Other References
Behold What Love (I John 3:1)
Barney Warren
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Behold What Manner of Love (I John 3:1)
Eddie Street | Popularized by The McKameys
YouTube | Amazon
We Shall Be Like Him (I John 3:2)
Squire Parsons | Popularized by The Statesmen
Amazon
We Shall See Jesus (I John 3:2)
Dianne Wilkinson | Popularized by The Cathedrals
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
When He Comes Down (I John 3:2)
George Lewis | Popularized by The Hoppers
YouTube | Amazon
This is the Gospel of Christ (I John 3:8)
Popularized by Scott Wesley Brown
YouTube | Amazon
Love One Another (I John 3:11) (2006)
John Michael Talbot | Popularized by John Michael Talbot
YouTube | Amazon
Love One Another (I John 3:11) (1997)
Popularized by Kathy Troccoli
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
Love One Another (I John 3:11) (1980)
Popularized by David Meece
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
This Is How We Know (I John 3:16) (2010)
Popularized by Matt Redman
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
Love One Another (I John 3:23) (2006)
John Michael Talbot | Popularized by John Michael Talbot
YouTube | Amazon
Love One Another (I John 3:23) (1997)
Popularized by Kathy Troccoli
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
Quotes
First John (I John 3:2)
Lari Goss | Popularized by Booth Brothers
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
This Is How We Know (I John 3:16) (1991)
Frank Hernandez | Popularized by Steve Green and Hide ‘Em In Your Heart
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon