1 John 3:2

1 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.

1. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God…”

a. We are “now” the sons of God because we became the sons and daughters of God at the born again experience, when we believed and received the word of God.

1). John 1:12, 13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

2). 1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.

3). Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

b. As sons of God we need to be in obedience to the Scripture sincerely from out of our spirit, that as sons of God we will shine the glory of God to the world.

1). Philippians 2:12-15  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

2). Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

2.  “…and it doth not yet appear what we shall be…”

a. appear [5319 * phaneroo][Thayer:  to make manifest or visible or known what has been hidden or unknown, to manifest, whether by words, or deeds, or in any other way, make actual and visible, realized, to make known by teaching, to become manifest, be made known

of a person, expose to view, make manifest, to show one's self, appear, to become known, to be plainly recognised, thoroughly understood, who and what one is.]

1). Though we are the sons of God “now”, to the world around us it appears we are no different than anyone else and physically we are no different, but spiritually we live in different worlds, different kingdoms, serving two different kings. It is not yet apparent who we are, but when Christ Jesus comes back we will then be manifested. Until then, the creation around us is awaiting us to be manifested.

2). Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

3. “…but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

a. Right now we do not see Jesus face to face, we see him “through a glass darkly” or through the Scripture, but at the rapture, the beginning of the second coming, we will see him face to face.

1). 1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as I am known.

b. The patriarch Job was given a revelation of the resurrection of the physical body over three thousand years ago, and he spoke these powerful words that fit perfectly into this study.

1). Job 19:25-27 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

c. The words in John declare “we shall be like him” and this echos the words of Paul in his epistle to the Philippians.

1). Philippians 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things to himself.