God In The Flesh: Our Example
The Godhead • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
Theme: The Godhead
Hope: To draw closer to God the Father, Son, and Spirit through a more comprehensive study of their unity and their specific personalities.
Last week, we studied “Jesus’ teaching on “The kingdom of God.”
How the kingdom of God that Jesus said would “come” did come and is the church of Christ, i.e., the church he said he would build (Matthew 16:18).
We also noticed that Jesus only has one kingdom and being king of that kingdom he is head of his body which is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23) which Paul declared was “singular as well” in Ephesians 4:4.
Today, we turn our attention to the life Jesus led in the flesh as “Our Example.”
In 1 Peter 2:21-25 we read…
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
It’s no wonder Paul would say in Philippians 1:21…
Philippians 1:21 (ESV)
21 For to me to live is Christ…
Or that Paul would declare in Galatians 2:20…
Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me…
So, the question is how do we accomplish this life successfully?
We do this when we walk as he walk by…
Keeping His Commandments
Keeping His Commandments
Jesus Kept The Father’s Commandments.
Jesus Kept The Father’s Commandments.
Jesus’ “food” was to do the will of the Father.
John 4:34 (ESV)
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”
Jesus came to do the Father’s will.
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
Jesus didn’t pray for “his will” but the Father’s will to be done.
42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
How do we accomplish Paul’s statement of living as Christ?
We Follow His Example.
We Follow His Example.
We pattern our life and speech according to to the will of God.
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
We seek the Father’s will not our own wants and then preconceived ideas of what God’s will is.
Matthew 7:21 (ESV)
21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
We do this because we love our Lord and Savior.
John 14:15 (ESV)
15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
We do this because God’s will is not actually burdensome.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
We do this because it is the only solid foundation by which one can live.
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Summary
Summary
When we seek to follow our Messiah’s example here on earth we will seek to keep his word, because it is that word that will judge us on the day of judgment.
48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.
How else do we accomplish living according to the example set forth by Jesus?
We follow his example of…
Serving Others
Serving Others
Jesus Washed His Disciples Feet.
Jesus Washed His Disciples Feet.
Truth be told this was a service or duty that “no one” really wanted.
It was reserved for those with prominence and could be used to demonstrate a disrespect when neglected (Luke 7:36-50).
When Jesus grabbed a towel and basin of water to wash the feet of his apostles he wasn’t just washing feet.
He was demonstrating or leaving them and us an example of service.
After all if God was willing to serve his creation how much more should we serve others.
12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
Jesus came to serve not be served so as to give us an example.
Mark 10:45 (ESV)
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Therefore, our great example has shown us how…
We Are To Care For Others Too.
We Are To Care For Others Too.
We are to place the needs of others ahead of our own needs.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
We are to work heartily for others.
23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
We are to serve and care for others as Christ did with love.
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Summary
Summary
When we follow the example left by our Savior in the flesh we will serve our neighbors out of love and a respect for them being God’s creation knowing our God is watching us.
Matthew 6:4 (ESV)
4 …And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Lastly, we follow Jesus’ example from here on earth by…
Enduring Suffering
Enduring Suffering
Jesus Endured The Cross.
Jesus Endured The Cross.
Jesus came to this earth, suffered, and died out of a love for us.
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
Jesus gladly suffered and died for us knowing the outcome.
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
He left each of us an example that…
We Endure The Cross.
We Endure The Cross.
Jesus left us this example of suffering knowing we would suffer for his name sake.
20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
That is why Jesus said to be his disciple, i.e., one that follows in Jesus’ steps, his example we will take up our cross.
Matthew 16:24 (ESV)
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Luke 9:23 (ESV)
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Summary
Summary
We endure this suffering because we have been promised a reward for fighting the fight of righteousness.
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Conclusion
Conclusion
We cannot say we are “Christians” or “Christ-like” if we are not striving to have Jesus “live in us.”
In other words, we cannot say as Paul said, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” if we are not living by the example Christ gave us.
And though we cannot live a perfect life on our own (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) we can live a sin free live through the blood of Christ.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.