Episode Details

(Photo by Damir Korotaj on Unsplash. Berean Standard Bible)

Welcome to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. This is Jeff M Newman. Get a new lesson every other week on Mondays at 12:00 PM Pacific.

In Lesson 76, we are going to study the first part of 1 John 3:2.

Let’s read this part of the verse.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed...

Let’s go over the definitions of the words.

Beloved (27. agapétos) — means dearly loved ones or those loved with God’s divine love.

We are (1510. eimi) — means to be or to exist. It indicates a present and ongoing reality.

Now (3568. nun) — means at this present time.

Children (5043. teknon) — means those dependent on and belonging to God the Father.

Of God (2316. theos) — means of the supreme Creator and sovereign sustainer of all things.

And what (2532. kai) (5101. tis) — means and, also, or even.

We will be (1510. eimi) — means our future state or existence.

Has not yet (3768. oupó) — means not at this time.

Been revealed (5319. phaneroó) — means to be made visible or made clear.

In other words, we who are deeply loved by God, are at this present time, His children. What we will become in the future has not yet been made visible or made clear.

Now, let’s dig into this part of the verse.

John begins by addressing his readers as “beloved,” reminding them that they are deeply loved by God.

This is important, because true spiritual growth flows from knowing we are loved, not from striving to earn God’s love.

Next, John explains our present reality: “we are now children of God.” This is not a future hope but a present certainty. Through faith in Christ Jesus, believers are born again and immediately become children of God (John 1:12; John 3:3).

At the moment of faith, your identity is secure. If you have trusted in Christ, you are a child of God right now.

This status does not depend on circumstances or performance, it is firmly rooted in God’s grace.

As you live as a child of God, you will experience ongoing transformation. God continually shapes His children to reflect His character.

When John says, “what we will be,” he points to a greater reality that is still to come. Our present condition is not the final stage of our salvation.

What we will be will surpass anything we have known in this life.

John then adds, “it has not yet been revealed.” Our future state remains a mystery. God has not yet disclosed all the details of what we will become.

Our future glory is presently hidden and veiled, not because it is uncertain, but because it is beyond our current capacity to fully comprehend.

Scripture assures us it will be glorious, even though the specifics r