The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 92

Vers. 2, 3.-The present and the future of the good. " Beloved, now are we children of God," etc. Here is- I. A GLORIOUS FACT OF PRESENT EXPERIENCE. IC Beloved, now are we children of God." 1. As sharing in his life. 1 2. .As morally resembling him. 3. .As possessing the filial spirit. II. A GRACIOUS MYSTERY AS TO OUR FUTURE CONDITION. "And it is not yet made manifest what we shall be." Ebrard : IC While we are already God's children, we are nevertheless yet in the dark as to the nature of onr future condition." 1. The mode of our being in the future is at present a mystery to us. We know that the soul exists consciously and at once after passing from our present mode of life. We infer this from such Scriptures as these: " To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise" (Luke ::a:iii. 43); " We are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord" (2 Cor. v. 8) ; " For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain . . . . Having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better" (Phil. i. 21, 23). But how the soul exists when it has departed from the "natural body," or what is its mode of existence, we know not. At present the body is the organ and instrument of the sonl. Does the soul after death require some vehicle of expression, some instrument of action? If so, of what kind will these be? Or will the soul bo independent of such things? What is the clothing (2 Cor. v. 2-4) which awaits the soul when it passes from the earthly house of thi:1 tabernacle? Of these things we know nothing. "It is not yet made manifest what we shall be," 2. The exaltation of our being in the future is at present a mystery to us. The glory of our future being and condition is hidden from us as yet. What developments of being await us, to what services God will appoint us, with what honours he will crown us in the hereafter,- of these things we are altogether ignorant. Presumptuous are they who speak of- the details of the condition and circumstances and occupations of the children of God after death. They who knew something of these things and were recalled to this life maintained unbroken silence concerning t-hem (Luke vii. 11-16; John xi. 38-44). Paul was caught up into Paradise, but he said that it was not lawful to utter what he heard there (2 Cor. xii. 1-4). Wisely and gracionely God has left a veil over our future condition and circumstances. Mystery in these things is perhaps inevitable. Probably in our present condition we have no symbols by ·which the future glories could be revealed unto us. Our languages could not describe them. Music, as we have it, could not express them. Painting could not set them forth. Moreover, rup,tery in these things is merciful. We could not bear the revelation of the bright future, and continue in the faithful and patient performance of our duties in the present. 'rhere is one sense in which the children of God will ever say, "It is not yet made manifest what we shall be." Their progress will be interminable. The develop- ment of their being and blessedness will never come to an end. III. A GRAND ASSUBANOE AS TO OUB FU TUBE CONDITION. " we know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him ; for we shall see him even as he is." (It seems to us that the rendering should be, "if it shall be manifested." 2 But the chief poiuts of the apostle's teaching are the same whether we translate, "if it" or "if be shall be manifested.") Here is an assurance: 1. Of moral assimilation to God in CJhrist. "We shall be like him." Like him in character and sympathies and aims. 1 See this and the following points under this main division more fully stated in our homily on ver. l. • Bee Alford, in loc. ; 11.Jld Ebrard. ott. tit, 1-24.J THE FinST EPISTL-m GENERAL OF JOHN. 89