Verse 2.— Beloved, now are we the sons of God. The announcement that we have the exalted privilege of being the sons of God is followed by a still greater and more important fact, which is connected with that relation­ship, viz.: that it does not appear what we shall be. Our future reward and glory are not yet manifest, yet we know something great is to follow. The revelation already is assurance enough to us, that when the Lord shall come we shall be like him, both in body and in moral character. We shall see him as he is in glory, and just such image as he possesses will by him be conferred on us, that where he is we may be also.