The text does not say, "As he was, so are we," or "as he is, so we shall be." The text reads, 'As he is, so are we in this world!" The meaning of those words cannot be mistaken - EVERYTHING THAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS IN HIS OFFICE CAPACITY, AS OUR MEDIATOR, REPRESENTATIVE, AND SUBSTITUTE BEFORE GOD, WE ARE IN HIM! Carry John's statement out as far as your measure of faith can stretch it. You will never stretch it beyond the point of the plainest statements of Holy Scripture.
1. As he is THE BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD, so are we! The man Christ Jesus is the Firstborn among many brethren (Rom. 8:29); but we are his brethren (Heb. 2:11; I John 3:1).
2. As our Savior is LOVED OF GOD with an everlasting love, so are we (John 17:23-24). Remember, John is talking about Christ the God-man, as our Surety and Mediator. In that sense, we are loved of God as he is, for the same reason (John 10;17), to the same degree, from eternity.
3. As Christ is CHOSEN OF GOD AND PRECIOUS, so are we (Compare I Pet. 2:6 with Isa. 43:4). "'Christ be my first elect,' God said, then chose our souls in Christ our Head."
4. As the Lord Jesus Christ is WELL PLEASING TO GOD, so are we in this world. Go to the mount of transfiguration and learn that God is pleased with nothing and no one but his Son (Matt. 17:1-8). But, blessed be his name, he is pleased with us in his Son, for he has made us "accepted in the Beloved."
5. As Christ is JUSTIFIED FROM ALL SIN, so are we (Rom. 6:6-11). Neither the law, nor sin, nor death have dominion over him or us!
6. As our Lord is a STRANGER TO THIS WORLD, so are we. "Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not."
7. As he is the SERVANT OF GOD, so are we. Believers are bond slaves to God in Christ because they want to be (Luke 14:25-33).
8. As Christ is the HEIR OF ALL THINGS, so are we, "heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ." All that Christ possesses as our Mediator we possess in him (John 17:5, 22). Yes, the God-man will bestow upon us the very glory he possesses as our Mediator!
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