1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been manifested what we will be. We know that if He is manifested, we will be like Him because we will see Him even as He is
Rom. 8:16 The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God
The God-men’s divine right to participate in God’s divinity includes the right to bear God’s likeness. First John 3:2…clearly reveals that we will bear God’s likeness. We will not only participate in God’s life and nature but will also bear God’s likeness. To bear God’s likeness will be a great blessing and enjoyment. (CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 4, “Incarnation, Inclusion, and Intensification,” p. 217)
Today’s Reading
Since we are the children of God, we shall be like Him in the maturity of life when He is manifested. To be like Him is “what we will be” [1 John 3:2]
This has not yet been manifested. This indicates that the children of God have a great future with a more splendid blessing. We shall not only have the divine nature but shall also bear the divine likeness. To partake of the divine nature is already a great blessing and enjoyment; yet to be like God, bearing His likeness, will be a greater blessing and enjoyment
The pronoun He in 3:2 refers to God and denotes Christ, who is to be manifested. This not only indicates that Christ is God but also implies the Divine Trinity. When Christ is manifested, the Triune God will be manifested
When we see Him, we shall see the Triune God; and when we are like Him, we shall be like the Triune God
In verse 2 John says, “We will be like Him because we will see Him even as He is.” This means that by seeing Him we shall reflect His likeness (2 Cor
3:18). This will cause us to be as He is
First John 3:2 indicates that the children of God have a great future
However, I have heard some saints say that they do not have a future. These saints need to realize that they have a great future with splendid blessings
Our future is indicated by the word it has not yet been manifested what we will be. What we shall be is a divine mystery. Because it is such a mystery, it must be something great. We are not able to imagine what our future will be
The fact that our future has not yet been manifested indicates that it will be wonderful. Although it has not been manifested what we shall be, we know that when the Son is manifested, we shall be like the Triune God. (Life-study of 1 John, pp. 225-226) Finally, the God-men have the divine right to be Godkind—God’s species (John 1:12; Rom. 8:14, 16). We have been regenerated to be Godkind. As God’s sons, we are God’s kind, God’s species
John 1:12 says, “As many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of God.” We have received the Lord Jesus by believing into Him, and God has given us the authority, the right, to be God’s children. “The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God” (Rom
8:16). Such a witnessing testifies to us and assures us that we are children of God, who possess His life. We need to realize this and remember it. Wherever we may be, we need to remember that we are God-men with the divine right to participate in God’s divinity. (CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 4, “Incarnation, Inclusion, and Intensification,” p. 218)