I want you to open your Bibles
with me tonight to 1 John chapter 3. And without any introduction,
get right to the text. 1 John chapter 3. Behold. Behold. John writes. like one would be speaking openly
to someone and pointing his finger, saying, stop and look at this. Behold, behold, what manner of
love, what manner of love, what wondrous, marvelous, indescribable
love the Father hath bestowed upon us. He loved us with an
everlasting love. chose us in eternal grace, adopted
us as his own, and now he has bestowed this love upon us in
Christ Jesus in the marvelous experience of his grace. When
he calls you by his grace, calls you out of darkness into his
marvelous light, he bestows upon us that love he had for us from
eternity, causing the love of God to be shed abroad in our
hearts by the Holy Ghost. that we should be called the
sons of God. Imagine that. Bill Raleigh, God heaped his
love on us that we should be called the sons of God. He named
us his sons. Sons and daughters of God Almighty,
heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, one with his
son. one with his son, sons of God
in the sun. Therefore, therefore, because
God has heaped his love upon us, because God has caused us
to be called his sons, because God has made us his sons, he's
given us life and faith in Christ. Therefore, the world knoweth
us not. We're strangers in this world.
and the world will never understand us. Your sons and daughters will
never understand you. Your husbands and wives will
never understand you. Your mothers and fathers will
never understand you if you're among these who are made the
sons of God and they are not. They can never understand what
makes you what you are. They can never understand what
motivates you. They can never understand what
guides you. They can never understand the
way you live in this world. The world knows us not. No point
in trying to get them to. It's not going to happen. How
come? Because it knew him not. It doesn't know God, doesn't
know his son, and doesn't know his sons. The world is utterly
ignorant of God and of all things spiritual, of God and all things
righteous. Many women who are not born of
God and taught of God do not know the things of God and cannot
know them. They're spiritually discerned.
They're spiritually discerned. Don't expect them to know them.
Don't expect them to act like they know them. They don't. Beloved, Now are we the sons
of God. Now are we the sons of God. God
called us his sons in eternal election. Now he's called us
by his grace to life and faith in Christ and made us his sons
in the experience of his grace. Beloved. Now are we, this is
not something that's going to happen tomorrow. Now are we the
sons of God? We are right now in this world. All who are born again, all are
regenerated by the spirit of God. All are given faith in Christ. We are now the sons of God. Imagine that. Imagine that you're
looking at one who had been made the son of God in the sweet experience
of God's grace. And look at the next line. And it does not yet appear what
we shall be. It does not yet appear what we
shall be. wonderful, marvelous, sweet,
blessed as life in Christ is here. John seems to be saying, Merle,
it doesn't even compare with what it's going to be. It doth not yet appear what we
shall be. I've been adopted by God's free
grace, forgiven of all sin, made perfectly righteous in Jesus
Christ the Lord. His blood washed away all my
sin. His obedience to God is my obedience.
Not only that, he's given me his own nature, made me a new
creature in Christ Jesus, so that I walk on this earth before
God, free of guilt, free of condemnation, in hope of everlasting life.
But it does not yet appear what we shall be. It hasn't yet entered
into our minds that which we shall be when we've left this
world and enter into glory. It has not yet crossed our minds
what we shall be. Now that is some statement. That
is some statement. Brother John, we think about
heaven all the time. You preach about it We've we've been read
about in the scriptures, but it hasn't yet crossed our minds.
We don't have the ability We just don't have the ability to
enter into that which we shall be All we can do is hear about
it. Think about it and anticipate
it. We don't know But we know but we know We we who are taught
of God We who have the unction of God in us, we who have the
anointing of God in us and upon us, we know, we know by divine
instruction, we know by the teaching of God, we know by his word,
we know by God given faith that Christ shall appear. And when
he appears, Christ is coming soon. He will appear. And this,
we know when he shall appear, we shall be like him. completely conformed to the image
of god's son. Just like our savior. Exactly
like our savior. Body, soul, and spirit. Heart,
mind, and will. Exactly like our savior. We know we shall be like him We shall see him as he is. We shall see him as he is. You can't see him as he is if
you're not just like him. You can't see him who is holy
if you're not holy. You can't see him who's perfect
if you're not perfect. You can't see him who is righteous
if you're not righteous. You can't see him who is sinless
if you're not sinless. We shall be like him for we shall
see him as he is. That's my text. That's my subject. We shall see him. Heaven is set
before us in this book. by many, many pictures of bliss
awaiting God's saints in eternity. Heaven is described as a place
prepared for us, prepared for us by God, not by us, prepared
for us from the foundation of the world by God's free grace.
It is an everlasting kingdom. It is eternal glory. Heaven is
our purchased inheritance and our predestined inheritance.
It is the city of God and of the lamb, our home, our final
resting place. Many, many things are used to
describe heaven and by which it is named for us to draw our
hearts toward heaven. But other phrases beyond these
are used through the scriptures. But look at this. Here's the
greatest bliss. of the eternal state, the consummation
of heavenly glory, the very heaven of heaven, we shall see him as
he is. When the Lord God spoke to Moses,
Moses asked God to let him see him. He said, show me your face. And God said to Moses, no man
can see my face and live. No man can see my face in them.
And so he hid him in the cleft of the rock and passed by and
showed him his, his hinder parts, showed him the revelation of
his glory, that he would be gracious to him. He would be gracious
and be merciful to whom he would be merciful, that he would harden
whom he would harden, that he would forgive iniquity, transgression,
and sins. And yet by no means clear the guilty, that he would
forgive sin through the sacrifice of his own darling son. So it
shows him his glory. But the Lord God said, no man
can see my face and live. That's referring to a mere mortal
man yet struggling with sin on this earth. No man can see my
face and live. But here we're told that with
regard to those who have dropped this robe of flesh and enter
into heaven's glory, they shall see him as he is. We will see the Savior in the
coming glory land and every child of God shall see him and live. Indeed, it is this side of Christ
which is the essence and the glory of heaven for his people
face to face with Christ, my Savior. Face to face, what will
it be? When with rapture I behold him,
Jesus Christ, who died for me. Now our text is very simple.
Seven very simple one-syllable words, but it contains measureless
wealth of treasure for our souls. And it is a revelation of that
which is more valuable than anything we can imagine. Let's look at
it word by word. and pray that God the Holy Spirit
will write his word on our hearts. We, we. Who is John talking to? Who are those people who will
see the Lord Jesus as he is in heaven? Turn over to Revelation
chapter 22, Revelation 22. John gives us another picture
of these people and another declaration speaking of this same thing.
Revelation chapter 22 and verse 1 And he showed me a pure river
of water of life clear as crystal Proceeding out of the throne
of God and of the Lamb in the midst of the street of it on
either side of it of the river Was there the tree of life? which
bear twelve manner of fruits and yielded her fruit every month
and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations
and And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God
and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall serve
him, and they shall see his face, and his name shall be in their
foreheads. Look down at verse 27 of chapter
21, Revelation 21. Who is it that shall have this
vision? To whom is this promise made?
John tells us that those who see the Savior, those who see
Him as He is, see Him face to face, are none but they whose
names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Who shall see His
face? Those, all of those, and only
those, whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life, inscribed
in the Book of Life by the pen of divine election before the
world was made. All of them, none but them, but
all of them shall see the Lord Jesus as He is in His glory. Who are they? These are the ones
redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. Those who are called,
born again by God the Holy Spirit. They may have been the vilest
of the vile, while they walked on this earth in their rebellion.
They may have been the most ungodly of the ungodly while they lived
in rebellion against God. They may have been the most sinful
of sinful living on this earth without Christ. But being born
of the Spirit of God, washed in the blood of Christ, they're
sanctified, made holy, righteous before God, and they shall see
His face. Now, this is not the privilege
of a select few among the elect. There are those who have the
foolish notion that there are degrees of glory for God's saints
in heaven. Men are determined to slip works
in some way or the other. If they don't slip it in the
front door, they'll slip it in the back door. And they are determined
to give you something to do by which you get God to be your
debtor And they'll tell you now we're saved by grace But but
now we've got to work for crowns and we gotta we gotta strive
hard to earn rewards in heaven Will there be any rewards for
me any crowns for me when I get to heaven? Huh? You may as well
talk about purgatory There's as much basis for the myth of
the papist doctrine of purgatory as there is for the myth of degrees
of reward in heaven. Every sane sinner shall see Him
as He is and see Him face to face in all the bliss of heavenly
glory because heaven is altogether the gift of God's grace. all
the bliss of heaven, the gift of God's grace. It's earned for
us, not by our obedience, but by Christ's obedience. Purchased
for us, not by something we do, but by Christ's death. It is
that which is freely bestowed upon all God's elect in Christ
Jesus, the Lord. So the heaven is ours in the
Savior, with the Savior. He describes it this way, we're
heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. So that whatever
he possesses, we possess with him and in him. Look at the next
word. We shall see. We shall see. Now when you read in the book
of God, where God says shall, don't ever imagine that he means
maybe. When God says shall, he means
shall. And he says here with regard
to all who are born of God, all who are the sons of God, all
have been adopted by his grace, all upon whom he bestows his
love. We shall see him as he is. This is that to which we
were predestined before the world began. This is that which was
purchased for us by God's darling son. This is that to which we
are preserved in Christ Jesus. And this is that for which we
pay it day after day. The word see implies a clear,
full, undimmed sight of Christ. We will see Christ clearly. Because then everything that
hinders our sight of him, on this earth will be taken out
of the way. We can't see him clearly now. Now we see through a glass darkly. Now we just see a shaded image
of things because much interferes over much attachment to this
world, the care of this world. the lust of our flesh, our sin. The difficulties, the turbulence,
the trials, the tribulations, the afflictions, the falls, the
failures, the weakness of faith. We just can't see Him as He is. But then everything that hinders
us from seeing Him now will be removed. Look back at Revelation
chapter 21 again. Look at verse 4. God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes. That's just almost too much to
believe, isn't it? All tears. No crying for any
reason over anything. All tears. And there shall be
no more death, neither sorrow nor crying. Neither shall there
be any more pain, for the former things are passed away. Nothing
will stand between me and my Savior. Nothing will be a rival to Him
anymore. Nothing. Here, most things rival
Him. Constantly seek to push Him away. Constantly seek to draw behind
things that are lawful and legitimate Care for that woman I care for
you my my care for my children just like with you many things
would rival him but there Nothing shall rival him There'll be nothing
to draw my heart away from him or yours Job's words are proper
true confession for every believer I know that my Redeemer liveth,
and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms
destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. Job, that patriarch who lived
in the earliest of times, that man Job, lived way back in the
beginning, that man Job. He said I know that Christ my
Redeemer in the latter day is gonna stand on this earth and
Though this body of mine goes to the earth and returns to the
dust eaten of worms It shall be raised up like his body and
I'm gonna see him with my eyes I'm gonna see him as he is Whom
I shall see for myself and mine eyes shall behold and not another
though my reins be consumed within me Right back to first John chapter
3 Move on we shall see him We shall see our Savior in all
the fullness of his person and all the fullness of his work
Beholding him fully His glorious person we will see him who is
God over all, blessed forever, in the perfection of his godhood
and in the perfection of his glorified manhood. We will see
him in all the fullness of his covenant engagements. We will see him in all the perfection
of his mediatorial offices, prophet, priest, king, surety, substitute,
advocate, intercessor. We will see him in all the fullness
of his redemptive accomplishments, who by his self put away our
sins by the sacrifice of himself. We'll see him in all the fullness
of his saving grace and glory. And then we'll know the meaning
of electing love and the price of blood atonement. We talk about
it now, we sing about it now, but then we will know the meaning
of electing love, and we will know the price of blood atonement. Then we will know the power of
his priestly intercession, and then we will know his goodness
in preserving us in his grace. And when we see his face, our
eyes will be full of adoration just for him. will catch our attention but
Him. Nothing. Nobody will catch our
thoughts but Him. But pastor, we're going to see
the angels, those holy angels that are ministering spirits
sent forth to minister to those who shall be the heirs of salvation.
Yes, sir. We'll see them. We're gonna see
the patriarchs Abraham Isaac and Jacob sit down with Abraham
Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of God. That's right We're going
to see the Apostles and prophets and we will know them Immediately,
we'll know When Peter James and Java on map to transfiguration
They had never seen or seen a picture or heard a description of Moses
or Elijah But when they saw them on the map to transfiguration
immediately, they knew him And immediately we in resurrection
glory will know the saints of old, the apostles and prophets
and patriarchs. We will know and see those martyrs
by whose blood the history of God's church has been written.
We'll see our brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone before
us into glory. Those loved ones who've fallen
asleep in the Lord Jesus. Without question, in our glorified
state, earthly ties will no longer divide us. Earthly ties will no longer divide
us. How sad that they do now, but
not then, not then. and embrace our brethren, all
our brethren. See and embrace our sisters,
all our sisters delightfully. But we will see him as he is. Our seeing them will be in no
way a distraction from him. And their seeing us will be in
no way a distraction for them. And yet, here's the joy, the
bliss of heaven. We shall see Him. Whom have I
in heaven but Thee? Whom have I in heaven but Thee? Why, David could describe many
folks he had in heaven, but none but Christ Himself. Whom have
I in heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth
that I desire beside Thee. Here upon this earth. It was the sight of Christ that
first dispelled our darkness. It was the sight of Christ that
first gave us liberty. It was the sight of Christ that
first drew out our faith in him. It was the sight of Christ that
first drew our hearts to him. And even here, if we have Christ, we have enough. What shall it be to see him there? The paradise of God is a heaven
of intense, eternal, spiritual fellowship with Christ. I wrote that out today and I
thought, oh, would to God I could enter into something of what
I've just said. The paradise of God is a heaven
of intense, eternal, spiritual fellowship with Christ. We shall
see him and see him as he is. What a sight that shall be for
redeemed sinners. We will enjoy perfect spiritual
sight of Christ. There we will know even as we
are known. and we will see our Savior always. Always. Here, we often long to see Him and
don't. We often long to hear His voice and don't. He hides
His face for reasons according to His own wise judgment from
His own so that we might be drawn to look for Him and seek Him.
He refuses to speak so that we might long to hear his voice.
He refuses to let us know he hears us speak so that we might
long for him to hear us. But there we will see him continually
and never escape the blessed knowledge of his embrace. I don't know how else to describe
what I want to say, what needs to be said, except by comparison. Shelby and I have been married
for 45 years, like some of you, been married a long time. And
I have observed, actually I hadn't paid much attention to it until
I was preparing this message, but I have observed in recent
years We spend a lot more time just holding each other than
we ever did. Just holding each other. Just
holding each other. It's good. Isn't it good? That's wonderful. Sure beats
fighting each other. Sure beats being angry with each
other. Sure beats being apart from each other. Just holding
each other. Oh, what shall it be? to be constantly
in the felt embrace of our Savior with nothing between my soul
and my Savior. We shall never cease to be in
His embrace and never cease to embrace Him. We will forever be in the closest
possible, most intimate communion with Christ Jesus. For the last
three words, we shall see him as he is. We shall see him as he is. I think this is what caught my
mind as I was seeking God's message for you tonight, I don't think
I'd ever really given much consideration to those words, as he is. We now like to look back and
ought to look back. In fact, we're told to look back
and remember. In baptism, we remember him.
In the Lord's table, we remember him. And we look back and see
him as he was. and delight to do so. We see
him in Bethlehem, the humiliation of our Redeemer. We see him walking
the streets, a great physician, healing sick folks and raising
the dead just by his word. We see him feeding the poor and
the hungry. We see him, the weary Savior,
sitting at Jacob's well. We see him. weeping at Lazarus
too. We see him in Gethsemane's garden as he anticipates being made
sin for us in the agony of Gethsemane, crying, my father, if be possible,
let this cup pass from me. And we see the father, as it
were, pressed the cup to the lips of his darling son, And
he says, drink it. Drink all of it. He pours upon him and into him
all the fury of his holy wrath. We see him as he was when he
triumphantly cries, it is finished. and breathes out the spirit.
We see him buried, and we see him arising from the grave, justified
in the spirit. But we shall never see him in
heaven as he was. We'll never see him as he was.
I don't mean we'll not remember. Certainly we will. We'll know
all those things, but we will never see him as he was. We'll
see the nail prints in his hands. but the nails are gone. We'll
see his pierced brow, but the crown of thorns is gone. We'll
see his pierced side, but not the spear. We'll see all that
he's done for us and all the result of his accomplished redemption
on our behalf, but none of the sorrow, none of the pain, none
of the shame, None of the humiliation. None of the weakness. None of
the emptiness. The head that once was crowned
with thorns is crowned with glory now! And we will see him in his
glory. And we will see, oh my soul,
we will see, as we cannot possibly see now, that this, his obedience
unto death, was the path to his glory! By which he saves his
people from their sins. Satan, you see, Satan was defeated
with his own devices. He was foiled with his own power. He was crushed by his own hand. When he crushed the Savior's
heel, the Savior crushed his head and he became triumphant
over death, hell, and the grave. We'll see him. We'll see him as he is, as he is in his glory, no longer
girded with poverty or a poor man's garb, but now with a rainbow
for a crown and the nations for his girdle. Ruling all things
by the power of his might with kings and princes and nations
bringing tribute to praise and honor him Every enemy bowing
to him everything under his foot him crowned with glory Will see
him as he is God in our flesh God in our flesh and we will
see all that God is and Father, Son, and Holy Ghost in Him when
we see Him as He is. I told you I've gone beyond what
I can possibly explain. We shall see Him as He is. Now watch this next thing. Go
back to our text. Let me show you one more thing. 1 John 3, verse 2. 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, here's the reason, we shall
see him as he is. When we see him, we will be totally
like that man who lived for us, died for us, arose and reigns
in heaven for us. Totally like Him. Totally like
Him. Glorified with resurrection bodies. But there's more to this likeness
to Christ than good health forever. It's perfect health of the soul
forever. Utterly conformed to His image. so that he will present us before
the throne of his glory without spot or wrinkle or weakness or
infirmity or sin or defilement of any kind,
perfect in his holiness, perfect in his righteousness, perfect
in union with him. what manner of love the Father
hath bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of
God. Therefore, the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 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. Turn to the 17th Psalm, if you
will. The 17th Psalm. Here David sings in prayer to
God about his troubles, trials, difficulties, adversities and
opposition from the wicked. And it concludes the psalm this
way, As for me, as for me, I will
behold thy face in righteousness. I wonder if you can make those
words yours. I do. Lord God, as for me, Soon
I will behold your face in righteousness and the righteousness of God
that is Christ Jesus the Lord and the righteousness that God
has given me. I'll behold your face and it'll
be right for me to do so in righteousness. And what's this? I shall be satisfied. when I awake with thy likeness and until then
I can't be pressed toward the mark for the prize of the high
calling of God in Christ Jesus with this promise we shall see
him as he Amen.