AS HE IS
“…As He is, so are we in this world.” —I John 4:17b
There is, perhaps, no more daunting text in the New Testament that this one. It defines in stunning language and with astonishing simplicity what Christians are, in the Divine plan. We are to be a manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ, reflections of His glory. “Mirrors” of His majesty, holiness and love.
On the eve of finishing His earthly ministry, about to give His life a ransom for many, the Savior uttered a great prayer to His Father which the Holy Spirit saw fit to record for our learning (See John 17). In that prayer He outlined the Father’s plan, and said, “I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work that Thou gavest me to do.” At the cross He finished His work, but the work was not finished. That which He came to do must be declared and demonstrated throughout the earth so that those for whom He did the work might have opportunity to hear of it, see it in operation and benefit from it. “Thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
Presently He said, “And now I am no more in the world, but these (“His own”) are in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee.” The clear implication is that the proclamation of that for which He had laid the foundation would be accomplished by “the men which Thou gavest me out of the world (Jn 17:6).
Obviously the church is to be the extension of His life and to execute the remainder of the Father’s will and plan; “That the world may know… (v. 23). This is confirmed by the Savior’s remark, “As thou hast sent me into the world,
even so have I also sent them into the world (v.18).” There is no other reason for our being here,except to manifest the Lord Jesus Christ and to make His salvation known. That is the reason for His declaration, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (v.15-16).
And again,confirming John’s emphasis in our text for today, “As Thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world (v. 18).” And what He here affirms to he Father in prayer He soon addressed to the disciples in person; “…as My Father hath sent Me. even so send I you [Jn. 20:21].” Years ago I heard a great message on this text in which the teacher said we are sent on the same mission (to reach the lost), in the same manner (totally dependent on the power of God) and by the same method (crucifixion!) And it might be added, under the same motive, the love of God. Given the sorry state of the church in the world today, one wonders if the task will ever be accomplished.
There is ample indication in scripture that the Savior, while carrying out His part of the mission, anticipated returning to His Father. When the Father’s will had been accomplished He was confident, “…I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do (v.4) [and] … I come to Thee (v. 11).” We also live in anticipation of entering the glory that shall be hereafter, but let us remember that in another place He said, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness, then shall the end come [Matt. 24:14].”
Despite the saturation of communication today, there still unnumbered multitudes who have no conception of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and who have never seen its transforming power demonstrated. We are not responsible to win them, but we are responsible to represent Christ to them. To the saints at Corinth (of all places!) the apostle Paul said, “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart [II Cor. 3:2-3].” What is the world “reading” of Christ through your life and mine?
We are not here to “eat, drink and be merry.” We are here to faithfully represent Him in a dying world, “doing always those things that please Him” in the workplace, the marketplace and any other place we may occupy. “As He is, so are we in this world.” Oh Lord, make it so!
For His glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
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