Becoming Like Christ

Intro: When the wife of missionary Adoniram Judson told him that a newspaper article likened him to some of the apostles, Judson replied, “I do not want to be like a Paul or any mere man. I want to be like Christ. I want to follow Him only, copy His teachings, drink in His Spirit, and place my feet in His footprints. Oh, to be more like Christ!”

This theme of this text is our relationship with Jesus, there was a problem in Colosse.... the saints were acting like the world especially in regards to religion. Today it has become difficult to distinguish the Christian (little Christ) from the lost world around us and something must be done.

Today I will answer 3 questions that will help us become like Jesus.

I. How Do I Become Like Jesus? (1-2)

*Answer..... by fixing he totality of your being on Jesus, He must have preeminence!

A. Be Saved By Jesus

B. Be Set On Jesus

Set means to be firmly situated. Like how a Jeweler sets a stone.... it is fixated. Our builder sets a post.... (ramp building the other day)

1. Set My Heart on Things Above.

Seek those things which are above. Seek (v) means to desire. to long for! The NIV translates “Set your hearts on things above.” Above (adverb)(2x) anō -means upwards, heavenward. (same word in Phil. 3:14)

a. His Person. (More than we desire our loved ones … alive and passed.)

b. His Place. More than we desire our house. Jn. 1:38-39.

c. His Perfection.

2. Set My Mind On Things Above

Set your affection (v) phroneō, means to ponder, to set your mind on. Modern translation “set your mind on the things above.”

a. His Person

b. His Place

c. His Perfection

{Both verbs present active imperative, meaning to keep on.} Don’t stop!

II. Why Should I Become Like Christ?

*Answer...... He is Our Life! (Col. 4:1a) John 14:6, 11:25

A. We Have Died With Christ (3:3a, 2:20, Gal 2:20a)

By grace through faith the old is passed away.

B. We Have Been Raised with Christ (3:1a)

1. Raised with Him

“If ye be (Conditional Conjunction) risen” is the same as saying “SINCE ye have been risen”

2. Seated with Him

Seated with Christ (Eph. 2:6) in the heavenly places… exalted now. My feet may be on earth but my butt is in heaven!

C. We Are Hidden In Christ.

Hidden (v) kryptō, keep safe, protect. It can also mean made invisible, cause to be invisible. In this case both are true.

Our Spiritual Life is Kept Safe.

John 10:28, Eph. 4:30

ILL: Greek scholar, Dr. A.T. Robertson, said: “So here we are in Christ who is in God, and no burglar, not even Satan himself, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:31–39)” Jesus’ destiny and our destiny is inseparable, so the things of this world should not be our greatest concern.

2. Our Spiritual Life is Invisible to the World.

Our Spiritual Life is through Faith in Jesus, faith is Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Unsaved Men don’t understand the unseen, they can’t understand our thoughts, our motives, or our ways. Our Spiritual life is misunderstood because the world doesn't know Jesus..... 1 Jn 3:1. Why become like Jesus because the world doesn't get us but He does… So lets really become like Christ and give them something to scratch there heads about.... perhaps then they will want to know.

III. When Do I Become Like Jesus?

Answer.... When Christ Jesus is Revealed in Glory.

Our life is one of striving and abiding until the end of our days or until Jesus returns for us in the sky. Revealed (v) phaneroō, caused to be seen! Paul lived in constant expectation of Jesus’ return 1 Thes. 4:15-17 “We who are alive”

A. Be like Him Spiritually

When we die and we stand in His presence in Glory… we will become like Him in Spirit.

B. Be Like Him Physically

When He returns for His bride those who are alive and those who have died will be changed in an instant, then we will be completly like Him! 1 Cor. 15:52.

Conclusion: Until then, may we be heavenly hearted and minded, yet with our feet on the ground so that we can do earthly good.