'"In this hath been perfected the love with us, in order that boldness

we may have in the day of judgment, that as He is we also are (though)

in this world" (1 John 4:17 author's translation).

'God's love to us is the subject under consideration in the verse.  The

words translated "in this", are of constant occurrence in John's epistle.  In

this very chapter they are translated "hereby" (verse 13), "herein" (verse

10), and "in this" (verse 9).  To what does the apostle refer when he says

"in this" in verse 17?  Does he mean that God's love is perfected in this --

that believers shall have boldness in the day of judgment?  Yes, and yet no,

for this is but a part of the glorious goal.  We believe the verse should be

read as follows:

'"In this is the love with us perfected (in order that we may have

boldness in the day of judgment); that as He is so are we in this

'The love is perfected in this, that the believer in Christ is as He

is.  God Himself knows no higher goal for eternity than that the believer

shall be as his Lord, and when these bodies of our humiliation are changed

for bodies like unto the glorified Lord, then perfect love will have found

its goal.

'What grace wherein we stand!  Every believer equally perfect in

Christ.  The weakest as the strongest, the babe and the full grown, all are

equally and altogether complete in Him.  There are no "ifs" here.  This is no

more conditional upon our walk and life than is justification.  Results will

necessarily follow, but let it always be remembered that they follow, not

come before.  "He that is righteous (in Christ) doeth righteousness (as a

'As He Is -- We Are (1 John 4:17).

'As He Is -- We Shall Be (1 John 3:2).

'"We know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him".

'Again we deal with that which is absolute.  "We shall be like Him",

and perfect love will have reached its goal.  Can we not better understand

the reason why the apostle introduces this marvellous subject with the words,

"Behold what manner of love".  What is to be the outcome of this glorious

position?  "Every one that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself even as He

is pure".  According to many, possibly among them some who will read these

words, this certainty means licence.  They think that it is presumption to

"know" that which God has declared.  Scripture does not veil the fact that

there will always be those who "turn the grace of God into lasciviousness",

but this by no means alters the relations established between 1 John 3:2 and

3.

'The reasoning of the heart will be, am I as He is, by grace in Christ?

Oh, that I may be more like Him in practice.  Am I to be like Him in the

future?  Oh, for grace to be more like Him now.  Keeping 1 John 4:17 in mind

we turn to 1 John 2:5,6.  Again we shall read of God's love being perfected,

but this time dealing with the conditional side of sanctification:

'"But whoso keepeth His Word, in him verily is the love of God

perfected.  In this know we that we are in Him.  He that saith he abideth in

Him ought also so to walk, even as He walked".