I John 3:2 “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 we shall see him as he is.”
In this context, the word “now” refers to a present state that points to a future Eternal State. Because we live in a world fraught with deceptions, confusions, deceits, and outright dishonesties; through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, John saw the need to exhort and encourage us by reminding us that “now are we the sons of God”. He contrasts our sure, present state to the idea some have that sonship is offered to people, that it can be acquired by some personal action, or that it depends upon a personal decision and acceptance. John presented two aspects of our sonship. In this text “we” are “the sons (Children) of God” by God’s decision, choice, and act versus the “power” given to “the sons of God” to “become the sons of God” (John 1:12). Notice that those who have the “power” to “become the sons of God” are those who already “believe” (John 1:12); that is, those “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:13). The point is, those who are “now” “the sons of God” were chosen by God to be His “sons”, sanctified as His “sons”, Justified as His “sons”, and given Spiritual Life as His “sons”. To these “sons”, He gives “power” to “become the sons of God”; that is, in practice, in obedience and submission to Him, in following Him, in being an active part of His Church-Kingdom (Bride), by openly declaring (by word and deed) that God is our Father and Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, and in showing their love to Him; that is, “power” to behave as sincere “sons of God”. Of all the things that we can know in this present life, the most grand and comforting point of knowledge of all is that “now are we the sons of God” and He loves us with such a “great love” (Ephesians 2:4) that absolutely nothing “can separate us from” His “love” (Romans 8:39) and “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalms 46:1) and He “careth for” us (I Peter 5:7).