Daily Devotional for Tuesday, May 06, 2025

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We Shall Be Like Him: A Devotional Meditation on 1 John 3:2

The Hope of Transformation and the Vision of the Glorified Christ

“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 3:2

First John is a letter overflowing with clarity and certainty. The apostle John, now aged and writing as a spiritual father to believers scattered across churches, does not speak in vague ideals or subjective impressions. He speaks of truth—truth about God, about sin, about righteousness, about love, and about eternal life. In chapter 3, John reaches a crescendo of hope and identity: those who are born of God are already His children, and their final state will be marked by complete transformation at the appearing of Christ.

Verse 2 is a fountain of Christian assurance and longing. It bridges the present reality of being children of God with the future promise of full conformity to the glorified Christ. It speaks both of what we are now and what we shall become. The verse pulses with divine affection, eschatological certainty, and spiritual confidence—all rooted in the person and future return of Jesus Christ.

This verse answers one of the most profound questions of the Christian faith: What will happen to the believer when Christ returns? The answer is not vague, speculative, or mystical. It is crystal clear: “we shall be like him.” And this transformation is grounded in the fact that we will see Him as He is—not veiled, not humbled, not rejected, but revealed in His divine glory.

Let us examine this verse phrase by phrase, allowing its richness to shape our understanding of our identity in Christ, our hope for the future, and our call to purity even now.

“Beloved…”

The verse begins with a term of deep affection. “Beloved” (Greek: ἀγαπητοί, agapētoi) is used by John to address the readers as those dearly loved—first and foremost by God, and also by the apostle himself. This term is not casual or merely polite. It reflects the reality of divine adoption and the bond of Christian fellowship.

This word anchors the rest of the verse. The hope and glory that follow are not abstract blessings handed out indiscriminately—they are the inheritance of those whom God loves and has called into His family. Only those who are beloved—those who are in Christ—have the hope John now describes.

This is a gentle reminder: Christian doctrine is never detached from relationship. The truth about our future transformation begins with the fact that we are already deeply loved by the Father. It is from that love that our destiny flows.

“We are God’s children now…”

John now states a present reality, not a future hope: “we are God’s children now.” The Greek emphasizes certainty: νῦν τέκνα θεοῦ ἐσμέν (nun tekna Theou esmen)—“now we are children of God.” This is not a metaphor. It is not symbolic. It is a legal and spiritual fact established by the new birth (John 1:12–13; 3:3–6).

To be a child of God is to be born of Him, to belong to His household, to share in His nature (2 Peter 1:4), and to enjoy the privileges of His fatherhood—protection, correction, provision, and love. This is not something we await in the future. It is ours now, though not yet fully revealed in its outward manifestation.

This truth opposes the popular but unbiblical notion that “everyone is a child of God.” Scripture teaches that only those who are born again through faith in Christ are truly God’s children. Others remain outside of this relationship, spiritually dead, and subject to wrath until they are reconciled to God through Christ (Ephesians 2:1–3; Romans 8:14–17).

Yet for the believer, this identity is already secure. You are not trying to become God’s child—you are, right now, even in weakness, failure, and growth. That is the foundation of all Christian assurance.

“And what we will be has not yet appeared…”

Here, John introduces a contrast. While our status as children of God is presently real, the fullness of what we shall become is not yet visible. The Greek phrase οὔπω ἐφανερώθη (oupō ephanerōthē) means “has not yet been revealed or made manifest.” This speaks to the future glorification of believers, a transformation that is promised but not yet seen.

Though we are already God’s children, our present bodies are still mortal, our minds still incomplete, our conduct still imperfect. We are justified and adopted, but not yet glorified. The full glory of what we shall be—resurrected, immortal, sinless, and conformed to the image of Christ—awaits the future return of the Lord.

This humility about our current state guards us from arrogance. We do not yet appear as we shall be. We are not yet clothed with glory. But that day is coming—and that anticipation shapes how we live now.

This “not yet” reminds us that the Christian life is lived in the tension of already and not yet—already justified, but not yet glorified; already sanctified, but not yet perfected. We are on a journey, and the destination has not yet been unveiled. But it will be.

“But we know that when he appears…”

Now comes the turning point: “we know.” John moves from present humility to future certainty. Though the full revelation has not yet appeared, we know (Greek: οἴδαμεν, oidamen)—not “we guess” or “we hope vaguely,” but we are certain. The source of this certainty is the teaching of Christ, the testimony of the apostles, and the work of the Spirit (John 14:26; 16:13).

What do we know? That when He appears—that is, when Christ returns in glory—we will be transformed. The phrase ἐὰν φανερωθῇ (ean phanerōthē) refers to the visible manifestation of Christ’s presence. This is not a private or secret coming. It is His public, glorious return as King, Judge, and Savior (Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7).

The hope of Christ’s appearing is central to the New Testament. It is what believers long for, live for, and prepare for (Titus 2:13; 2 Timothy 4:8). It is the moment when faith becomes sight, and the Savior we love but have not seen (1 Peter 1:8) will be revealed in His glory.

This appearing is not symbolic. It is literal, visible, and future. It will mark the consummation of redemption and the ushering in of the age to come.

“We shall be like him…”

Here is the breathtaking promise at the heart of the verse: we shall be like Him. The Greek ὅμοιοι αὐτῷ ἐσόμεθα (homioi autō esometha) means “we will be similar to Him in kind, nature, or condition.” This is not about deity—we will not become divine. But we will be conformed to the glorified humanity of Christ.

Paul echoes this truth in Romans 8:29: “those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” And in Philippians 3:21: “He will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body.”

This is the doctrine of glorification—the final stage of salvation when the believer is resurrected, perfected, and freed from sin forever. No more weakness, no more decay, no more temptation. We shall be like Him in holiness, in immortality, in joy, in righteousness, and in resurrection life.

This transformation is the fulfillment of every longing for purity, strength, and spiritual completeness. It is not attained by effort but granted by grace, and it is assured for all who are in Christ.

“Because we shall see him as he is.”

This final clause gives the cause of our transformation: we shall see Him. The Greek phrase ὅτι ὀψόμεθα αὐτὸν καθώς ἐστιν (hoti opsometha auton kathōs estin) means “we will see Him just as He is”—in His true, unveiled, glorified reality.

This is the beatific vision—the sight of Christ in His glory, which will transform the believer forever. Moses could not see God’s face and live (Exodus 33:20), but the redeemed will see Christ as He is—and in that seeing, we will be changed.

This vision is not merely physical; it is spiritual and transformative. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:18, “we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image.” The final transformation will occur in a moment (1 Corinthians 15:52), but it will be the culmination of a lifetime of beholding Him by faith.

What Christ is now—resurrected, exalted, radiant—we shall see. And in that seeing, we will become what we were meant to be. That is the believer’s destiny.

Devotional Application: How Does This Hope Shape You?

1 John 3:2 is not only theology—it is motivation. The very next verse says, “Everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself, as he is pure.” This hope calls us to holiness.

Rejoice in your identity.
You are already a child of God. That status is secure. Let that assurance strengthen your faith in every trial.
Live with expectation.
Christ is coming. His appearing is certain. Let that future shape your present.
Pursue purity.
If we will be like Him then, we should strive to walk like Him now. True hope leads to present holiness.
Refuse discouragement.
Your present weaknesses do not define your future. You are not yet what you will be—but you will be like Him.

Conclusion: The Hope That Transforms

1 John 3:2 lifts our eyes from the brokenness of the world and the weakness of our flesh to the promise of a glorious future. Christ will appear—and we shall see Him. And in seeing, we shall be made like Him.

This is not fantasy. It is divine promise. And it is for all the beloved of God, those born again by His Spirit, united to His Son, and living in hope of His return.

So look ahead, dear believer. Hold fast. The King is coming. And when He does, you will be like Him—because you will see Him as He is.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).