Humanity was not created to live life in solitary isolation, but in community. Theologian Donald Fairbairn asserts, “Human beings as God originally created them were intended to reflect the life of the Trinity through their relationships with one another. If we apply these truths to the present situation of believers, we recognize that both among Christians, and between Christians and non-Christians, we are called to reflect the Father-Son relationship” In the garden it was as God intended, the Godhead and Adam, then with the addition of Eve, a human companion for Adam, the reflected image of the Trinity was complete. Throughout biblical history, it attests to God’s desire for his creation to “reflect both the character of God and the relationship
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However, the command of God has not changed and it is the responsibility of his creation to maintain a communal worldview even amid the changing world. Living a transformed life within community is a foundational characteristic of a follower of Christ. The behavior of believers should be vastly dissimilar from the non-believer and even different than new believer. The Christlikeness of Christians is to be the foundation of every community in which a Christian is living, demonstrated in loving interaction between believers and non-believers. As Jesus told his disciple in John 13:34-35, the difference should be evident not just among believer but among everyone. For the believer, looking to craft a framework for living in time of waiting, Jesus words offer a starting point, love others, following the example of Jesus’ love. The authors of the epistles admonishes believer to live holy lives, even the time of waiting for the parousia: Act as if the Lord’s day is here (Romans 13:12-14), be gracious to others by holding back on prematurely judging others (1 Corinthians 4:5), be faultless in faithfulness (1 Timothy 6:14), Let go of the world and “live a sensible, righteous and godly way in the present age” (Titus 2:11-13), Do not go back to the former ways but, “be holy because I (God) am holy” (1 Peter 1:13-15), “while you wait (for Christ’s return)…make every effort to be found at peace with Him without blemish” (2 Peter 3:11-15), be bold and unashamed (1 John 2:28), “and because you have hope in him you will work and desire to be “pure” like him” (1 John 3:2-3). Living transformed is a choice for the believer, but is an expectation of God’s for his beloved. For believers, the choice is after salvation is to submit to the transforming power of the blood of Christ and his Holy Spirit. The choice is then to work hard with the aid of the Holy Spirit
However, the command of God has not changed and it is the responsibility of his creation to maintain a communal worldview even amid the changing world. Living a transformed life within community is a foundational characteristic of a follower of Christ. The behavior of believers should be vastly dissimilar from the non-believer and even different than new believer. The Christlikeness of Christians is to be the foundation of every community in which a Christian is living, demonstrated in loving interaction between believers and non-believers. As Jesus told his disciple in John 13:34-35, the difference should be evident not just among believer but among everyone. For the believer, looking to craft a framework for living in time of waiting, Jesus words offer a starting point, love others, following the example of Jesus’ love. The authors of the epistles admonishes believer to live holy lives, even the time of waiting for the parousia: Act as if the Lord’s day is here (Romans 13:12-14), be gracious to others by holding back on prematurely judging others (1 Corinthians 4:5), be faultless in faithfulness (1 Timothy 6:14), Let go of the world and “live a sensible, righteous and godly way in the present age” (Titus 2:11-13), Do not go back to the former ways but, “be holy because I (God) am holy” (1 Peter 1:13-15), “while you wait (for Christ’s return)…make every effort to be found at peace with Him without blemish” (2 Peter 3:11-15), be bold and unashamed (1 John 2:28), “and because you have hope in him you will work and desire to be “pure” like him” (1 John 3:2-3). Living transformed is a choice for the believer, but is an expectation of God’s for his beloved. For believers, the choice is after salvation is to submit to the transforming power of the blood of Christ and his Holy Spirit. The choice is then to work hard with the aid of the Holy Spirit