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August 13, 2019

Bible Q&A: Will We See God the Father in Heaven?

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Psalm 23 Devotional by Pastor Colin Smith

Will we see God the Father in heaven? The Bible teaches we will be like Jesus after the resurrection, so if we cannot see God the Father then does that mean Jesus can’t see him either?

The answer to your question is less about us and more about the nature of God. The reason we cannot “see” God the Father has to do with His nature:

“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)

God the Father is spirit. That means he does not have a physical body. He is invisible. He is present everywhere. And, he is not localized like we are. Any change in our nature wouldn’t help us see God, because it would take a change in His (invisible) nature.

God the Son, Jesus, is different. At the incarnation, Jesus took on human flesh and He became the God/man. That is the reason why you will be able to see Jesus and not the Father.

It is important to remember that God the Father and God the Son existed together in love in eternity past:

“Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24)

All this love between the Father and Son presumably happened without them “seeing” each other.

Also, while it is true that we will be like Jesus after the resurrection (sinless), we will not be like Jesus in every way (divinity).

Photo Credit: Unsplash


Tim Augustyn

Pastor of Ministry Resources

Tim serves as the resident pastor, writer, and editor of Open the Bible. He was born and raised in northern Wisconsin, came to faith in his 20s while working in the business world, and received a Master’s in Divinity from Trinity International University. He is author of the children’s book Man on the Run, and co-author of The One Year Unlocking the Bible Devotional with Colin Smith. Tim and his wife, Janna, and their four kids live in Arlington Heights, Ill. Contact Tim at taugustyn@openthebible.org.
Tim serves as the resident pastor, writer, and editor of Open the Bible. He was born and raised in northern Wisconsin, came to faith in his 20s while working in the business world, and received a Master’s in Divinity from Trinity International University. He is author of the children’s book Man on the Run, and co-author of The One Year Unlocking the Bible Devotional with Colin Smith. Tim and his wife, Janna, and their four kids live in Arlington Heights, Ill. Contact Tim at taugustyn@openthebible.org.