Philippians 3:20,21; 1 John 3:2,3
Our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
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. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
THOMAS COKE (1747-1814): “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.” It is observable, that these are the words of John, who had not only so familiarly conversed with Christ on this sublime and delightful subject, but had seen His transfiguration when Moses and Elias appeared in such shining glory.
JOHN CALVIN (1509-1564): John teaches the same thing as Paul in Colossians 3:3, where he says, “Your life is hid with Christ in God: when Christ, who is your life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”
THOMAS COKE: In our present state, we are not capable of forming an adequate idea of our future selves, or of the glorious scenes which will present themselves to the view of the faithful hereafter; but when our Saviour shall be revealed from heaven, arrayed in all His glories, we are assured that our frail bodies shall be transformed into the likeness of His glorious body.
CHARLES SIMEON (1759-1836): Very little is known respecting this. We can form no idea of spiritual and glorified bodies. We cannot imagine how extensive will be the capacities of the soul. We have very faint conceptions of perfect holiness and perfect happiness. Even one who had seen Christ transfigured, says, “It doth not appear.” Yet there are some things revealed to us. We shall see Christ, not merely by faith, but with our bodily eyes, Job 19:25-27; not veiled as formerly, but in all His glory.
ROBERT HAWKER (1753-1827): Of that eternal glory, to which we are begotten and called by Christ Jesus, there are no images or similitudes with which we are acquainted here below, by which we can explain it. Nay, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of men to conceive, of the nature or extent of that glory which shall be revealed, 1 Corinthians 2:9. But this we know—that amidst all that want of conformity we now have to the person and image of our Lord, there will be then a likeness.
JOHN CALVIN: “We shall be like Him,” because He will make our vile body conformable to his glorious body, as Paul also teaches us in Philippians 3:21. And now, indeed, God begins to renew in us His own image, but in what a small measure! Except then we be stripped of all the corruption of the flesh, we shall not be able to behold God face to face. And this is also expressed here, “as He is.” John does not, indeed, say, that there is no seeing of God now; but, as Paul says, “We see now through a glass, darkly,” 1 Corinthians 13:12.
JOHN TRAPP (1601-1699): Now we see as in a glass obscurely, as an old man through spectacles, as a weak eye looks upon the sun; but in heaven we shall see Him as He is, so far as a creature is capable of that blissful vision.
CHARLES SIMEON: We shall resemble Him in all His imitable perfections. This resemblance will result from our sight of Him. Even “our bodies shall be fashioned like unto his glorious body.” This shall be fully accomplished at the great day of His appearing. These things we may be said to “know.” We have already experienced the earnest of them in our hearts. When we believe in Him, we have views of Him which we had not before; these transform the soul into His image.
C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892): Those who have in a measure seen Him, are in a measure like Him.
MATTHEW POOLE (1624-1679): So certain are the apprehensions of faith, that when He shall appear—or, display His own glory in the appearance of His Son, who is then “to come in the glory of his Father,” Matthew 16:27, we shall be like Him, as it befits children to be unto their Father; His image shall then be perfected in us, which was defaced so greatly in the apostasy [of Adam’s fall], which is restored imperfectly in regeneration, (Ephesians 4:24, Colossians 3:10)—and which must be daily improved in progressive sanctification.
JOHN TRAPP: That is true hope that runs out into holiness. Faith and hope purge, and work a suitableness in the soul to the things believed and hoped for.
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): Those then who hope to live with Him must study the utmost purity from the world, and flesh, and sin; they must grow in grace and holiness. Not only does their Lord command them to do so, but their new nature inclines them so to do; yea, their hope of heaven will dictate and constrain them to do so—It is a contradiction to such hope to indulge sin and impurity. And therefore, as we are sanctified by faith, we must be sanctified by hope; that we may be saved by hope we must be purified by hope. It is the hope of hypocrites, and not of the sons of God, that makes an allowance for the gratification of impure desires and lusts.
JOHN GILL (1697-1771): “Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” Not that any man can purify or cleanse himself from sin. This is only owing to the grace of God and blood of Christ; nor that any man can be so pure and holy as Christ is, who is free from all sin, both original and actual…A true hope of that eternal happiness, which lies in likeness to Christ, and in the vision of Him, is only founded on His person, blood, righteousness, and sacrifice: and this hope every man has not, only he who is born again; for this grace is implanted in regeneration, and bestowed upon them as a free grace gift.
J. C. RYLE (1816-1900): In the matter of holiness, how is it with our souls?
ROBERT HAWKER: When the holiest child of God takes a view of himself, and dissects the anatomy of his own heart, what an humbling prospect is before him. And when he contemplates the life of Him, of whom it is said, He was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens, what a striking dissimilarity instantly appears! Is it possible the child of God will say, as the question ariseth in the heart, that where there is so little conformity—yea, so much opposition—will there ever be a likeness and agreement? When these questions arise in the soul, I know no scripture more sweet and consolatory to silence fears, and strengthen faith and hope, than this very blessed verse: “We shall be like him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
CHARLES SIMEON: Our Lord has given us the fullest assurance of these things in John 17:22-24. Paul also leaves us no room to doubt.
C. H. SPURGEON: Discouragement and despair will not purify you, doubt and darkness will only make you worse than you were before; but the indulgence of this blessed hope that you are to be like Christ will help you to purify yourself, “even as he is pure.” Therefore, beloved, have hope in God. Remember that it is one of Satan’s tricks and snares to try to discourage you, but it is God’s will to increase your hope, for thereby you increase in purity.
