We tend to believe what we see, but what about what we can’t see? Can we see God? How?
What does it mean that God is invisible?
God’s invisibility means that God’s total essence, all of His spiritual being, will never be seen by us; yet, God still shows Himself to us through visible created things. (John 1:18, 6:46; 1 Timothy 1:17, 6:16; 1 John 4:12)
How can we see God?
God can partially manifest like with Moses in Exodus 33. God used various physical forms to appear to people like Abraham (Genesis 18:1-33), Jacob (Genesis 32:28-30), the people of Israel (Exodus 24:9-11), Manoah and his wife (Judges 13:21-22), Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1) and others.
The greatest physical manifestation of God is Jesus Christ.
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” John 14:9 NIV
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” Colossians 1:15
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:3
Will we see or know all of God when we’re in Heaven?
Not all of Him. Psalm 145:3 says His greatness is unsearchable. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says the pure of heart will see God (Matthew 5:8). We will see Jesus’ human nature (Revelation 1:7), however, scholars are unsure how we’ll see Jesus’ divine nature, or God the Father’s, and God the Holy Spirit’s. The nature of how we’ll see is a bit mysterious.
We will see something of Him “face to face’ (1 Corinthians 13:12), and “as He is” (1 John 3:2). We will see and worship Him (Revelation 22:3-4).
What will it be like to see God?
We’ll realize that God is the perfection of all we long for or desire. Our greatest joy will be when we see Him.
“You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Psalm 16:11
Doctrine of the Bible Posts
How Did We Get The Bible?
Is The Bible The Word of God and Does It Matter?
Is The Bible Inerrant?
Is The Bible Necessary?
Is The Bible Sufficient?
Doctrine of God Posts
Is There A God?
How Can We Know God?
What Is God Like?
Does God Depend On or Need Anything To Exist?
Does God Change?
How Can God Be Both Infinite and Personal?
Can God Be Complex and Simple At The Same Time?
What Does God Look Like?
Sources
Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem
Chapter 12: The Character of God; “Communicable” Attributes of God Part 1
A Ronin's Journey 