Manifest

 April 21, 2024

1 John 3 has what to me is an interesting repetition of words that propel John’s narrative towards its conclusion. Most translations miss the point because they translate the same word using different English words. The old American Standard Version comes closest to the original words:

”Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is. And ye know that he was manifested to take away sins; and in him is no sin. he that doeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.“

—1 John 3:2, 5, 8, 10 ASV

Today we would be more likely to translate the word “manifest” as “reveal.” Read it that way, and you’ll see that these verses are bookended with ourselves being revealed for what we truly are. No masks, no deception, no hidden secrets. If you’ve ever been the recipient of such duplicity, you will welcome these words.

But in between these two statements about our true selves being revealed, we read about how God intends to bring this about: Jesus was revealed to accomplish three things—make us like him, take away our sins, and destroy the works of the devil. Although John doesn’t explicitly say it here, these three goals are accomplished by the work of Christ upon the cross. Read them in reverse order, and you’ll see how it works: (1) On the cross, Jesus destroyed the works of the devil, conquering death by his death. (2) On the cross, Jesus took away our sins, and (3) Through the cross, we shall become like him in righteousness. When this happens, we shall be seen for what we really are in Christ, as distinct from the children of the devil who live unrighteously and don’t love others.

None of this is automatic, but it all happens by revelation. Apart from Christ, we don’t see life as it really is. In Christ, reality is revealed, sins are forgiven, the devil’s works are defeated, and we are being remade in the image of Christ himself. I don’t know about you, but that gives me something to chew on for awhile.