Being Like Jesus (First John 3:1-3)

We've previously been told that those who are born of God practice righteousness or right doing. In this chapter John tells us about the blessings that come by having that relationship with God. (See also John 1:12-13) John begins this chapter with behold, pay attention. He wants the reader to pay attention to the love given to them. The manner of love refers to the quality of God's love which we all know about from John 3:16. "

After speaking about the world earlier, John again here in verse one says, "the world does not know us because it did not know him." Knowing Him or us is obviously more than having a superficial knowledge. It's the acceptance of Him. (John 5:18-19)

Verse two should be one of the most uplifting verses we read. We are children NOW in spite of the world. The fact that, "it has not yet been revealed what we shall be" doesn't change our present status. The revealing or manifestation referred to here is obviously referring to the second coming of Christ. The facts that we, "shall be like Him" and, "we shall see Him as He is" should encourage us all. Think about it; we're going to appear as Jesus appears!

Guy N. Woods in his commentary on this book published by the Gospel Advocate sums up the feelings this verse should inspire in us. "The glorious anticipation of being like Him should prompt us to utilize every faculty we possess in His service, and thrill us with the prospect of awakening in His likeness. To be like Him is to be as He is, in both spirit and body. It is to partake of His glorious characteristics of mind and heart of soul and spirit; to come into possession of the spiritual graces which are His. It is to be like Him in purity, in holiness, in kindness and in love; it is to share with Him the complete approval of our Father and God. It is, further, to be like Him in body; to possess the immortal nature which He possesses, and to be no longer, as He is no longer, subject to death." (page 258 Woods, Guy N. New Testament Commentaries. Nashville: Gospel Advocate, 1983)

Woods also goes on in that same passage to relate a story of a group of converts in a distant land. When they are translating the Bible into their own language, they stopped when they came to this verse. They didn't think a promise like this could be possible for sinful man. They decided it was too much and said, "No, let's write that we'll be allowed to kiss His feet!"

This passage concludes with the reminder that if we have this hope, we will purify ourselves. Just as we've seen previously in John's letter, this verb is a perfect tense verb; it's ongoing. We will continue to purify ourselves. With a promise like this, why would we not?!