#2080 – You’re Like Jesus

Good morning people who believe the truth by faith today

I want to think about our passage from yesterday a little more. Here it is again:

1 John 4:15-18 (NIV)If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Too many Christians fear the judgement seat of Christ. But this scripture contains some very good news: In this world we are like Jesus.

Now I am not saying, “anything goes and it doesn’t matter what you do.” Not at all. I remind you of the following verses:

Romans 6:1-2 (NIV) What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

Our choices are very important, but I want to lift our eyes today and empower us with truth: in our vision, it’s time for God’s righteousness to become bigger than our sin, God’s love to become bigger than our lust and God’s goodness to become bigger than our moments of wrong decision.

You might say, “Steve, I can’t do this because of how much I have failed – that would be lying.” My answer is, “You have just highlighted the truth that I am declaring: you are currently bigger in your vision than God is. It’s not lying, it’s declaring truth by faith and this pleases God.”

The truth is: when Father looks at us (those in Christ), He sees Jesus! It’s time for us to do the same. You might say “But I can’t do that yet because I am so unlike Jesus” Again I say to you, “How you see yourself needs to change first, then your life will follow. In Christ, you are like Christ!”