“…as he is, so are we in this world.”
1 John 4:17 KJV.
Our verse today hinges on knowing and believing in God's love for us. This love, which we abide in, gives us confidence to stand before Him without fear of judgment because… ‘as he is so are we in this world.’
Following our commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, God’s purpose for our lives is that they be transformed. He calls us to transformation, not behaviour modification.
Transformation ultimately modifies our behaviour, and it begins with what we choose to look at: Him and His word.
Romans tells us we have been predestined to be conformed to the image of His son, Romans 8:28. From John’s first Epistle, we learn that while we are in the world, we are not ‘of’ it. Meaning that we do not derive our life from the things that are in this world.
‘As he is, so are we in this world,’ signifies that believers now have a position found in Christ. Discovering every spiritual blessing given to us in Christ begins our process of transformation. We are given His righteousness, His right.ness. We have been made acceptable in the sight of our Heavenly Father, because Jesus’ blood has cleansed us, sanctified us, and made us Holy. Jesus’ work has made a way for us to stand before the Father free from fear of judgment.
‘As He is, so are we in this world,’ places responsibility upon every believer to hold himself accountable to the standards the word of God sets for a believer. Every believer is charged to put off the old man and put on the new man, as Ephesians 4:24 states, who is created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
‘As He is, so are we in this world’ also calls on us to continue His work. From Mark 16: we find signs accompany those who believe in His name. Believers abide in Him and His words, knowing apart from Him they can do nothing, but with Him, they are able to do all things through the strength He provides.
In our human need to see and know the love and goodness of God, we, as transformed men and women, become their best opportunity to see Him reflected.