As He Loves, So Do We

1 John 4:17

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.

The phrase "as He is" goes beyond just walking in the Spirit. The purpose of the Church—the reason God created mankind—was so that we could become the family of God, sharing His essence and being as He is.

John 17:21

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Jesus prayed, "Make them one, the way We are one." There should be no difference. I am one with God just as Jesus is one with God. If there were any difference, then Jesus’ prayer would not have been fulfilled. He would not have accomplished what He asked of the Father.

As a result of our oneness, we are now able to love with the same love Jesus did. Consider the scripture below.

Romans 5:6-8

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus was the only person on earth capable of loving the Father the way He desired to be loved because Jesus had the Spirit of love within Him. This Spirit of love is so potent that it enabled Jesus to willingly lay down His life for His enemies.

My brethren, we have received this same Spirit and abide in this same love. Therefore, we too are expected to love as He does.

AS JESUS IS SO ARE WE

Consider what the Scriptures say about Jesus: "All things were made by Him and for Him." Since we are members of His Body, it follows that everything made for Him was also made for us, because we are now as He is. We are the offspring of God, just as Jesus is.

Likewise, the Father said to Jesus: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." God made that statement about no one else. This is the testimony He desires for us: "These are My children, in whom I am well pleased." And God will not be denied of that. This is why He said, "Christ has no fellowship with Belial." God does not fellowship with any form of darkness.

Some people think God gives a pass to individuals they esteem or feel sympathy for. But He is not giving anyone a pass. If you are not what He has purposed you to be, you will not enter in. You will not spend eternity with Him.

2 Peter 1:10-11

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

It is required that we make our calling and election sure. In other words, although we have received the Holy Spirit, it is our responsibility to ensure that we make it into the Kingdom of Heaven. If we miss heaven, it will be because we failed to fulfill our purpose of loving God.

Nothing will enter heaven that does not fulfill this purpose. We were created to love and obey Him in the same manner Christ does. We are the only creatures in the universe designed for this purpose. As I mentioned before, everything else was created to serve. God requires us to love Him with all our heart, soul, and might even in the presence of great tribulation and temptation.

2 Thessalonians 1:4-5

4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

Even as Jesus endured the cross with its shame and suffering, so must we endure harsh trials that we may be counted worthy of heaven. This patience and endurance that the saints must manifest is the reason they had to be created in love in the first place. It is our love for God that enables us to stand for Him no matter what the devil throws at us.

Consider Stephen’s martyrdom. By him, God was making a powerful statement to Satan: "Look at what I’ve created! No matter what you do, you can’t change this man. He will preach about Me with his dying breath, and he will forgive even those who were trying to kill him."

That is God’s wisdom at work—He created a son who will never betray God, no matter the circumstance. This is the power of God’s love.

There is nothing in the universe like the sons of God. We do what no other creature would do—willingly, out of love. Angels might go into battle and die out of obedience, but we do it out of love for the Father, just like our brothers Jesus and Stephen.

We have a blessed hope—we know that when we die, it is not the end but the beginning.