Today we continue our series entitled, “God Loves You”, under the overall theme for the year of, “Supernatural Manifestation.” We have been looking at the following passage for about a week. This weekend I was meditating on 1 John 4:17 over and over again. I feel led to teach on the phrase, “As Jesus is.” I am going to focus in on this statement all week and maybe into next week. It is critically important for us, as believers, to acknowledge the fact that we are NOTHING in and of ourselves, and that our sufficiency comes from Christ and Christ alone! Apart from Christ we can do nothing, but IN Him, we can do all things!
With that in mind, let’s look at the following passage from three different translations:
(1 John 4:16, 17 KJV)
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 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.
(1 John 4:16, 17 ERV)
So we know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love. God is love. Everyone who lives in love, lives in God, and God lives in them. If God’s love is made perfect in us, we can be without fear on the day when God judges the world. We will be without fear, because in this world we are like Jesus.
(1 John 4:16, 17 AMP)
We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him. In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are we in this world.
So what does this mean to you today? Instead of giving you major thoughts, with supporting ‘nuggets’, today I will give you 10 quick nuggets. Here we go…
- The Law was not given to make us right. Rules cannot make you right. Rules can only show you how wrong you are.
- The Law was given to show mankind that we are imperfect and flawed. The goal of this reality was to bring man to the end of himself.
- The Law was given to show a human that he/she needs a savior. That savior came, His name is Jesus, and He delivered us from the bondage of sin and the fear of death.
- Jesus was the only sinless human to ever walk the planet. Jesus was humanity’s perfection personified.
- You are not righteous because of what you do or what you fail to do. If you are in Christ, you are righteous, but ONLY because of what Jesus did.
- You are not holy because of what you do or what you fail to do do. If you are in Christ, you are holy, but ONLY because of what Jesus did.
- The only way you can stand boldly before God is because you are in Christ and Christ is in you.
- Before I stand up to preach, my prayer is, “Father, may I be hidden in Christ and may Christ be revealed in me.” I don’t want the people to hear me, because there is no power in me. May the people hear Jesus in me! This is how they will be inspired, edified, healed, delivered and set free!”
- Everything Jesus is, is what we are. Everything attributed to Jesus — righteousness, holiness, sanctification, power, truth, etc. — is attributed to us, because we are IN CHRIST!
- When satan looks at us, he sees sin. When God looks at us, He sees His Son! As Jesus is, so are we, in this world!
I will stop here for today and discuss this further for the next few days.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. I say this without reservation, because I am NOT basing it on my merit. I base my confidence on Jesus’ merit. All that Jesus is, is what I am, because I am IN Him and He is IN me. I am hidden in Christ. As I walk throughout each day, Christ is revealed IN me. It is Christ IN me, that brings me the hope of glory! It is Christ IN me, that has made me new. It is Christ IN me, that positions me for my purpose. I will change the world, because Christ is IN me and He lives through me! So I boldly declare, “As Jesus is, so am I, in this world!” I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
