The Bible verse 1 John 3:2 says “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” This verse contains a profound and exciting promise for believers – that one day we will see Jesus face to face and be transformed to be like Him. Let’s explore the meaning and significance of this verse.
The Context of 1 John 3:2
First, it’s important to understand the context of this verse. 1 John was written by the apostle John as a letter of encouragement and exhortation to the early Christian church. In chapter 3, John is emphasizing the incredible love of God that was demonstrated by sending His Son Jesus to die for our sins (1 John 3:1). Because of God’s love, those who believe in Christ are adopted into God’s family as His beloved children.
1 John 3:2 comes on the heels of this amazing truth. John is essentially saying, because you are God’s child, something amazing is coming in your future – you are going to see Jesus face to face! The verse begins with the address “Beloved” to remind readers of their cherished status as children of God. What’s coming next is a privilege conferred on believers because of their newly adopted family connection.
We Shall See Him As He Is
The key phrase in 1 John 3:2 is “we shall see him as he is.” To really understand this, we need to think about who Jesus is. While on earth, Jesus was fully God but He veiled His divine glory and took on full humanity (Philippians 2:6-7). People could see His human body and interaction with Him was limited by time, space, and physical constraints.
But one day, we will see Christ in His fully glorified state. We will gaze upon Him as He truly is – the perfect, magnificent, powerful, holy, sinless, exalted King of Kings and Lord of Lords. No longer will His divine nature be obscured or filtered. We will see Jesus face to face in full resplendent glory and majesty.
The Bible contains other hints about what seeing Jesus “as He is” will be like. At the transfiguration, Peter, James and John got a small glimpse of Jesus in some of His divine splendor and “his face shone like the sun” (Matthew 17:2). The book of Revelation describes Jesus with hair “white like wool, as white as snow” and “eyes like a flame of fire”, with a face “like the sun shining in full strength” (Revelation 1:14-16). Seeing Christ in undimmed radiance will be far more awe-inspiring than even these descriptions.
We cannot fully comprehend what it will be like to behold the unveiled glory of Christ. But it will be a stunning and life-changing experience. We will fall down before Him in worship. All created things will pale in comparison. We will be transfixed by His majesty and overcome with His splendor and beauty.
We Shall Be Like Him
The second part of 1 John 3:2 delivering astonishing news is “we shall be like him.” Not only will we see Jesus in unsullied glory, but we will be transformed to reflect His glory.
When we place our faith in Christ, His righteousness is credited to us (Romans 4:22-24). But while positionally righteous before God, in practical daily living we still struggle with sin. One day that struggle with sin will be over. As 1 John 3:2 promises, believers will be made fully morally and spiritually perfect, completely free from sinful flesh.
The apostle John explains we will be like Christ “because we shall see him as he is.” Gazing directly upon the sublime majesty and holiness of Christ will inevitably cause us to be “changed into his same image” (2 Corinthians 3:18). We do not know exactly how, but seeing Christ will transform us into His likeness. All sinful desires will vanish. We will be infused with Christ’s righteousness, spirituality, love, wisdom, character, and obedience to the Father.
This truth mirrors 1 Corinthians 15:49 – “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.” When God created Adam he was perfect, bearing the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). But Adam sinned, marring the image of God in man. When we see Christ we will once again become perfect image bearers, fully transformed back into God’s likeness.
The promise that we will be like Christ is repeated in several verses:
“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him” (1 John 3:2).
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29).
“Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven” (1 Corinthians 15:49).
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:1-2).
What an incredible promise! We will be made perfectly like Christ, reflecting His character and glory. Sin and the struggle with sin will be no more.
When Will This Happen?
1 John 3:2 says this stunning transformation will occur “when he appears.” This is referring to Christ’s second coming.
When Jesus ascended to heaven after His resurrection, two angels declared, “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). The book of Acts and many other New Testament verses affirm Jesus will physically return. 1 John 3:2 promises that when He does we will see Him in His glory and become like Him.
The return of Christ will be a real, visible, bodily return. Revelation 1:7 says “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him.” The two angels in Acts 1 declared Jesus will return “in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” When Christ returns, it will not be some secret invisible event – every eye will witness it.
Paul confirms believers will see the physical, resurrected Jesus: “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
We cannot know exactly when this will happen. But we can look forward to the sure promise that one day we will come face to face with the majestic, glorified Christ. And seeing Him will inevitably transform us to be like Him – perfected, free from sin, reflecting His glory.
The Blessed Hope
This “blessed hope” of seeing and being transformed by Christ should fill believers with joy, encouragement, and persevering faith.
Seeing Jesus face to face will be the culmination of all our hopes as Christians. It will make every struggle and trial in this fallen world worthwhile. This certain hope can give us strength to press on faithfully even through bleak times. As Paul says in Romans 8:18: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Knowing we will one day be with Christ and made perfectly righteous should motivate us to purify ourselves in this life. 1 John 3:3 says: “And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” Since we know one day we will be completely sinless, we should strive to live obediently even now.
Our future transformation in Christ gives meaning and motivation to our present life. Titus 2:13 calls it “our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” One day we will share in Christ’s magnificent glory! This hope gives power to live differently. As 1 Peter 1:13 says, we should “set [our] hope fully on the grace that will be brought to [us] at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Implications of Seeing and Becoming Like Christ
This stunning promise that we will see and become like Jesus should radically transform how we live our Christian lives:
– It gives hope and joy despite current struggles – For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18)
– It motivates us to pursue holiness and purity – Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3:2-3)
– It increases our desire to really know Christ now through Bible study and the Holy Spirit – But we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. (2 Corinthians 3:18) The more we know and “see” Christ now through Scripture, the more we are transformed into His image, even before His second coming.
– It gives us an eternal perspective amid temporary struggles – For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Corinthians 4:17)
– It makes us long for Christ’s return – Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8)
– It prompts us to purify ourselves – Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God (2 Peter 3:11-12)
May this amazing promise that we will see and be like Jesus fill us with joy, hope, and transformative power as we eagerly await His return! What an astounding future we have in Christ!
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to see Jesus “as He is”?
Seeing Jesus “as He is” means beholding His full divine nature, glory, splendor and holiness – not veiled or obscured as it was when He walked the earth as a man but in full majestic brilliance.
When will we see Jesus as He is?
According to 1 John 3:2, we will see Jesus in His glory when He returns and appears again. This will occur at the second coming of Christ.
Will Jesus’ second coming be a visible event?
Yes, the Bible clearly teaches Jesus’ return will be visible. Revelation 1:7 says “every eye will see him.” Acts 1:11 says He will return in the same way He ascended – literally, visibly, and bodily.
How does seeing Christ make us like Him?
We do not know exactly how, but the Bible clearly connects beholding the glory of Christ with being transformed into His image. Seeing His undimmed perfect holiness inevitably rubs off on believers, making them holy too.
When we are made like Christ what does that mean?
Being made like Jesus means we will be free from sin and reflect His character – His righteousness, spirituality, love, wisdom, goodness, and complete obedience to the Father.
Should this promised future transformation impact how we live now?
Absolutely. This promise gives hope amidst struggles, motivates us to pursue holiness, increases our desire to know Christ, gives an eternal perspective, and prompts us to purify ourselves even now.