To be like Him

To Be Like Him

 

What is the ultimate goal or rather what should the ultimate goal of Christians around the world be? Shouldn’t our goal be to be like Him, the author and finisher of our faith?

 

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so persistently harasses us, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

 

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2nd Corinthians 3:18

 

“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” 1st John 3:2

 

“But no, rather, I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold, since Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have laid hold; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and stretching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:8-14

 

The goal of a true Believer should be to become like Christ. Why? What does that mean? Let’s expound on the topic.

 

When a sinner comes to repentance and in faith receives Christ as their Savior, did not they forsake the former things in their lives?

 

“But Jesus said to him, No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62

 

Did we not die to our foolish, sinful lives and become alive in Christ?

 

“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:11

 

“And you being dead in trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all formerly conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others; but God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might display the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Therefore remember that you, being Gentiles in the flesh; who are called uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision made in the flesh by hands; that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2

 

We were dead! You thought you were alive, but you were dead! Dead in your sins, dead in your trespasses against an almighty Creator!

 

When we lived before being Saved, what did we live for, or to whom? Did we not live to fulfill our own lusts? Think about it.

 

The Holy Scriptures speaks of being Born Again, think of that for a minute, being Born Again.

 

“Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he is not able to see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

                                                              

All, every person on the face of this earth, are born once. But, in order to become a Christian, to truly serve the Most High God, to become holy, separate, righteous and a follower of Jesus, we MUST be born from above. For our nature, prior to Christ, was that of sin. Without Him, there was no hope, without Him we were not made alive.

 

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23

 

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

 

When we became Saved, we became free men. Not in the sense of rights that man is used to, but we are free from the enslavement of sin and slaves to Christ.

 

“But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves to God, you have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end, eternal life.” Romans 6:22

 

“For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave.” 1st Corinthians 7:22

 

We have died to our self, self-esteem is out the window, or should be. Our fleshly desires should be replaced with walking in the Spirit and doing the things that please Him, as Christ did as an example to us, while He walked upon the earth in human form.

 

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” Galatians 5:16-17

 

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25

 

As Christians, then our goal needs to be to be like Him. Christ has set the example to follow.

 

“I am able to do nothing from Myself. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” John 5:30

 

“And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” John 8:29

 

What is our responsibility towards the Most High? How are we to become like Christ?

 

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2

 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2nd Corinthians 5:17

 

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have affliction; but be of good courage, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

 

In Conclusion:

 

“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” 1st John 2:6

 

How are we to know how to walk, how to live holy and righteous lives, what examples Christ set for us? We must put on the armor of God, drink the milk of the Word and live Godly lives, in prayer, walking as He walked. We must strengthen ourselves daily and examine ourselves frequently so that we can be assured of our faith and walk properly before God amongst both the living and the dying.

 

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on all the armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies. Therefore take up all the armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand firm therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints; and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:10-20

 

“as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby” 1st Peter 2:2

 

“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know, yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you; unless indeed you are ones failing the test?” 2nd Corinthians 13:5