Written by: Dr. Ernest Fink (Senior Pastor| Director) City Harvest Family Church, USA
1 John 4:17 (KJV)
“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”
- This verse isn’t saying that we will be like the Lord someday, in the sweet by and by.
- This verse is saying that right now, we are like Him.
But no one should have the audacity to profess they are completely like Jesus in their physical actions or thoughts!
- That simply isn’t true. While we may have improved compared to our past selves or in relation to others, none of us can assert that we are like Jesus in our physical being.
- 1 John 4:17 refers to our born-again spirits that were created in righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:24 (KJV)
“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
The Greek word that was translated “put on” in this verse is “ENDYO,” and it means “to sink into (clothing), put on, clothe oneself” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon).
This passage illustrates how we can express our transformed selves through our actions, making them apparent to everyone around us. Just as our clothes shield our nakedness, our new attitudes and behaviors should be notably displayed, showcasing the positive changes within us as we walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh.
The New International Version translates the phrase “which after God” as “created to be like God.”
Today’s English Version translates this same phrase as “which is created in God’s likeness”.
That’s the point Paul was making.
Our “new man”
was created just like Jesus.
In our spirits, right now we are as Jesus is (1 John 4:17).
The term “created” indicates that as believers, our righteousness and holiness are not qualities we develop over time. Instead, we were created with these attributes at the moment of our rebirth (John 3:3).
Righteousness and holiness are in our new spirits that we received from God ( 2 Corinthians 5:17). However, we are still working out this righteousness and holiness in our actions (Philippians 2:12).
By mentioning “true holiness”, Paul indicates that false holiness exists. False holiness is derived from the good actions we perform. While it is significant to behave in a holy manner in our interactions with others (John 15:10), we need to remember that anything other than the “true holiness” that is the gift of God, is inadequate. God is a Spirit (John 4:24), and we must worship Him in spirit and in truth (true holiness). God looks at us through our spirits and deals with us based on this true holiness that is in the “new man”.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Our spirit is the only aspect of us that resembles Jesus in this world. What a powerful truth! Since God is a Spirit (John 4:24), we must approach Him in spirit and in truth; He can engage in fellowship with us because our born-again spirits are just like Him. What a Deal!