The apostle John uses the phrase “as He is” several times in his first letter to Christians. It describes an affinity or oneness which is true of the individual believer in his or her relationship with the Lord Jesus. He has in mind something more fundamental than a similarity between the Savior and the saved, for that might suggest merely an external likeness. And it is not something to be reached simply by human effort to imitate Christ, even though believers are called to “follow His steps” (1 Pet. 2:21). John uses this phrase to describe both what is true of all believers (positionally) and what all who profess His Name should be (practically). It is a trademark of the genuine believer and at the same time a test for all who profess to be “in the light as He is” (1 Jn. 1:7).
IN THE LIGHT AS HE IS
That God is light raises no question in our minds, nor does the fact that our Savior is “in the light” surprise us. What startles us is that we are there also, even “as He is in the light.” Our first response might be, “Surely not!” as we think of the many times we poorly reflect His character. But here the apostle uses those three words “as He is” to speak not so much about what we ought to be, but about where we are: in the light. In contrast, those who wish to deceive themselves and others, deal with the problem of their sins by saying that they have no sin or have not sinned (1:8, 10). They walk in darkness. In contrast, those who are genuine confess their sins. It is their habit to do so. Nothing less would be true to the light in which they walk. (Note that John is not at this point thinking of the believer’s need to confess some particular sin as with David in Psalm 32:3-5, but an ongoing confession that characterizes those walking in the light.)
How then can we be at peace when the light uncovers our sins? (And it uncovers many more than those of which we are aware.) The same light which exposes them also reveals that which has permanently removed them: “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1:7). “Our sins are forgiven for His name’s sake” (2:12). We thus are enabled to enjoy a threefold fellowship: with the apostles, with other believers, and—even more importantly—with God Himself (1:3).
Note, then, the way the apostle uses “if” in this chapter. He is supposing two classes of persons: those who enjoy fellowship with the apostles and the truth they proclaimed, and those who do not. Observe the “if we say” in verse 8 and contrast it with verse 9. Throughout this letter, he is contrasting the confession or admission of believers with that of those who were trying to lead them astray. The ifs are those of reasoned argument—if this is characteristically what is believed and confessed, then that is also true of those who do so. Now please read
1 John 2:6 carefully.
JUST AS HE WALKED
The apostle has changed from the present tense to the past. In doing so, he brings us down from heaven to earth, so to speak. We are now to focus on current practice rather than permanent privilege. The emphasis has shifted from our calling to our conduct. It is now what those professing His name ought to do: to walk just as He walked.
In His walk on earth, the Lord Jesus gave us an example. It was a multifaceted example of obedience to His Father: love, faithfulness, humility, and sacrifice. In short, He was full of grace and truth. It should be plain from the Scripture and from experience that we could never approximate such a standard. Obviously it is not being suggested that we could do so. Any fancied success would be nothing but the presumption and arrogance of the human heart. This call to walk as He walked is not referring so much to the degree we, by grace, follow His example as to the direction we take, the path we are on rather than the progress we have made on the path.
Who then is especially in view in those words “to walk just as He walked”? It is written concerning those boasting of great attainment, who said they had no sin in them or had not sinned (1:8, 10) and claimed unbroken fellowship with Christ (2:6). Their conduct would be the test. Their bold assertions put them in great debt. Were these pretenders truly obeying His commandments and keeping His word (2:3-5)?
Let true disciples be encouraged by understanding that though they may stumble and sin (2:1), they have in Christ an unfailing Advocate. They are “as He is,” in the light, and they walk “as He walked,” following their Master’s steps, though not, of course, with the great and steadfast strides that marked His earthly path.
WE SHALL SEE HIM JUST AS HE IS
This is the blessed hope of the believer. Two apostles, John and Paul, provide similar testimony regarding the future manifestation of the Son of God, and in the mouth of two witnesses shall every word be established. In 1 John 3:1-3, John first points to what we are already: children of God, born into His family, imbued with the life of His Son.
Paul affirms that our life is “hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3) and also goes on to say, “when He appears then you also will appear with Him in glory” (v. 4). In the same way, John refers to the time when Christ will be revealed: “we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.” This glorious sight will bear indisputable and final witness to the oneness between the Redeemer and the redeemed. We shall be like Him and with Him forever (1 Thes. 4:17). Having such a hope, the believer purifies himself “just as He is pure.” This is further emphasized by the contrast in 3:4-9 where we are told that whoever continues to live in a lawless way “has neither seen Him or known Him.” Those who are born of God cannot help taking character from Him, just “as He is righteous” (3:7).
These references to the oneness or harmony between the disciple and His Master are not only a great encouragement to the believer but also a test to be applied to those professing His name. John calls on his readers to discern between deceivers and those they sought to deceive by paying attention to the things they say (1:6, 8, 10), the way they conduct themselves (3:7), and whose well-being they sought (the love test, 3:14; 4:12,21). These provide a sure guide. May we, in our measure, speak, behave, and love in true harmony with our Lord.
AS HE IS IN THE WORLD
Preceding the last use of these three words in 1 John 4:17, we have been reminded twice that His Spirit has been given to us (3:24 and 4:13). His presence seals us and guarantees our inheritance (Eph. 1:13,14). But of necessity, His indwelling also produces the fruit described in Galatians 5:22, the fundamental element of which is love. It is this grace which John has been focusing on from 3:10 up to this point. It is contrasted with the hatred of the world which was initially directed towards the Son of God and now, in His absence, is directed towards those born of His Spirit (compare John 15:18-21 and 1 John 3:13). So we are indeed as He is in this world. In a negative way, we experience the world’s hatred; and in a positive way, we love God and fellow believers (4:21; 3:14), a sure indication that we have passed from death to life.
The late C.F. Hogg would add another thought. He writes that believers “have boldness in (view of) the Day of Judgment; because as He is (beyond judgment, inasmuch as He endured what was due to sin at the Cross), even so are we in this world, that is here and now, for what is true of Him is true also of all that are in Him.”