1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear… I. HERE IS TRUE UNITY. "Now are we the sons of God." This makes a true Catholic Church. There may be diversity in the family features — nay, if there be intellectual life there must be; but withal there will be likeness in the King's sons, in all the wide extent of the Great Father's household. II. HERE IS TRUE FELLOWSHIP. This, at all events, is the ideal. Till the world lasts there will be men of the logical temperament of St. Paul, the mystical temperament of St. John, the practical, sagacious temperament of St. James; but there should be true fellowship for all that: "Sons of God" swallows up all minor difficulties, all theoretical diversities. III. HERE IS TRUE RESEMBLANCE. It is not a mere question of condition, but of character. All the lines of the Gospel are laid along the lines of life. IV. HERE IS FUTURE PROSPECT. "It doth not yet appear." No, the time has not yet come. The cradle is not the place for judging of countenance or character in the perfect sense. The condition of the development is time. Like a tree made strong by storms, so life means contradiction, hindrance, temptation. We are waiting, as our text says, to appear. Like an unblossomed flower, the glory is hidden yet. (W. M. Statham, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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