Imitating Christ
Notes
Transcript
A Call for Imitating Christ
Imitating someone is not a bad thing because we all human being are naturally (intrinsically) inclined to imitate someone in our day to day life. Remember, it is not just the kids who imitate but folks from all ages are prone to do so. In other words, it is a natural phenomenon. Kids often imitate their parents. Students imitate their teachers. Employees imitate their bosses. Sports fans imitate their favourite players or coaches. Sometimes it is good, sometimes it is bad.
This morning the passage we have read from Philippians talks about having the mind of Christ. In other words, it speaks about imitating Christ. Here, it is significant to mention that this passage was highly admired and sung in the early church. Most scholars consider this passage as a hymn. They say that it is not prose but a poetry. Undoubtedly, this passage is significant, not only because of its genre but also because of its theme. Furthermore, this passage encapsulates almost the whole doctrine of Christology. (Christ’s humiliation and exaltation)
This passage has been translated in serval different ways. For instance, New International Version translates, “In your relationships with one another, have the mindset like Christ Jesus.” English SV, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” ASV, “have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” KJV, “let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” ISV, “have the same attitude among yourselves that was also in the Messiah Jesus.” All these translations talk about having the mindset, thinking, and attitude like Christ Jesus. Therefore, we must imitate our saviour Jesus Christ. Now, we need to find how can we imitate Jesus Christ, or we can ask ourselves how we can have the mind, thoughts, and attitude like Christ? This passage doesn’t leave us in a perplexing situation but provides the ideal example that of our saviour Christ Jesus. In these following verses from 6 to 8 onward, Paul reveals seven different steps of Christ’s mindset, thinking, attitude and character. Let’s explore these steps one by one.
Text:
Imitating someone is not a bad thing because we all human being are naturally (intrinsically) inclined to imitate someone in our day to day life. Remember, it is not just the kids who imitate but folks from all ages are prone to do so. In other words, it is a natural phenomenon. Kids often imitate their parents. Students imitate their teachers. Employees imitate their bosses. Sports fans imitate their favourite players or coaches. Sometimes it is good, sometimes it is bad.
This morning the passage we have read from Philippians talks about having the mind of Christ. In other words, it speaks about imitating Christ. Here, it is significant to mention that this passage was highly admired and sung in the early church. Most scholars consider this passage as a hymn. They say that it is not prose but a poetry. Undoubtedly, this passage is significant, not only because of its genre but also because of its theme. Furthermore, this passage encapsulates almost the whole doctrine of Christology. (Christ’s humiliation and exaltation)
Introduction:
It is my sixth study trip to the US. Interestingly, every time I head back to Pakistan, our kids are desperately waiting to receive their new gifts or toys. Last year, one of my friends from the US gave me a pair of Batman and Spiderman costumes. Both of our sons were so excited to have those costumes. I can’t express how delighted they were. They were not so excited to have their daddy back, but for the costumes. Immediately, they unpacked those boxes and started wearing them. Soon, both of my sons started imitating and behaving like Spiderman and Batman. Our youngest son Amos often wears his Spiderman costume and pretends to be a real Spiderman. The funniest part is that he often sleeps without changing his favourite spiderman outfit. Isn’t that funny?
This passage has been translated in serval different ways. For instance, New International Version translates, “In your relationships with one another, have the mindset like Christ Jesus.” English SV, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” ASV, “have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” KJV, “let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” ISV, “have the same attitude among yourselves that was also in the Messiah Jesus.” All these translations talk about having the mindset, thinking, and attitude like Christ Jesus. Therefore, we must imitate our saviour Jesus Christ. Now, we need to find how can we imitate Jesus Christ, or we can ask ourselves how we can have the mind, thoughts, and attitude like Christ? This passage doesn’t leave us in a perplexing situation but provides the ideal example that of our saviour Christ Jesus. In these following verses from 6 to 8 onward, Paul reveals seven different steps of Christ’s mindset, thinking, attitude and character. Let’s explore these steps one by one.
Imitating someone is not a bad thing because we all human being are naturally (intrinsically) inclined to imitate someone in our day to day life. Remember, it is not just the kids who imitate but folks from all ages are prone to do so. In other words, it is a natural phenomenon. Kids often imitate their parents. Students imitate their teachers. Employees imitate their bosses. Sports fans imitate their favourite players or coaches. Sometimes it is good, sometimes it is bad.
This morning the passage we have read from Philippians talks about having the mind of Christ. In other words, it speaks about imitating Christ. Here, it is significant to mention that this passage was highly admired and sung in the early church. Most scholars consider this passage as a hymn. They say that it is not prose but a poetry. Undoubtedly, this passage is significant, not only because of its genre but also because of its theme. Furthermore, this passage encapsulates almost the whole doctrine of Christology. (Christ’s humiliation and exaltation)
This passage has been translated in several different ways. For instance, New International Version translates, “In your relationships with one another, have the mindset like Christ Jesus.” English SV, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” ASV, “have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” KJV, “let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” ISV, “have the same attitude among yourselves that was also in the Messiah Jesus.” All these translations talk about having the mindset, thinking, and attitude like Christ Jesus. Therefore, we must imitate our saviour Jesus Christ. Now, we need to find how can we imitate Jesus Christ, or we can ask ourselves how we can have the mind, thoughts, and attitude like Christ? This passage doesn’t leave us in a perplexing situation but provides the ideal example that of our saviour Christ Jesus. In these following verses from 6 to 8 onward, Paul reveals seven different steps of Christ’s mindset, thinking, attitude and character. Let’s explore these steps one by one.
1st Step: “Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.” What does it mean to be in the form of God? Christ did not count equality with God. Being in the form of God means who he was. He was fully-God, co-equal and co-eternal. The author of Hebrews says, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being” (1:3). 100% God. No less or more. I wish, we could continue discussing more on the pre-existence of Christ, but I know that it is not a seminary class but a Sunday worship. The first part of this verse 6 reveals who Jesus was, and the second part deals with his attitude towards God the Father. He did not count equality with God, something to be grasped. He didn’t stumble or struggle on the issue of his equality with God the Father. But we human being often yearn for equality. We love to be equal with others, in our relationships, stature, position or rank. Sometimes people use unfair means to accomplish their goal of being equal with others. Here, we see, Christ willingly surrendered his equality with God. Here is the point, it’s like, leaving your home, high rank and position to serve others. Let me explain it another way.
“Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.” What does it mean to be in the form of God? Christ did not count equality with God. Being in the form of God means who he was. He was fully-God, co-equal and co-eternal. The author of Hebrews says, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being” (1:3). 100% God. No less or more. I wish, we could continue discussing more on the pre-existence of Christ, but I know that it is not a seminary class but a Sunday worship. The first part of this verse 6 reveals who Jesus was, and the second part deals with his attitude towards God the Father. He did not count equality with God, something to be grasped. He didn’t stumble or struggle on the issue of his equality with God the Father. But we human being often yearn for equality. We love to be equal with others, in our relationships, stature, position or rank. Sometimes people use unfair means to accomplish their goal of being equal with others. Here, we see, Christ willingly surrendered his equality with God. Here is the point, it’s like, leaving your home, high rank and position to serve others. Let me explain it another way.
Many of the former missionaries who served in third world countries like Pakistan, they left everything to obey their missionary call. They headed towards the countries where there was no electricity, no nice housing, no clean water, and no health care facilities. But they willingly surrendered their positions to imitate their Lord and saviour Jesus Christ and eventually laid the foundation of ARP Church, Pakistan. Today, we have more than seventy churches and pastors. Those missionaries left their comfort zones. I can name several missionaries, but I would prefer to mention the names of Mr. & Mrs. Ranson with great appreciation, the pioneer ARP missionary couple. I don’t know how they had travelled to India when there were no airlines. How had they tabernacled there for the first day? What had they eaten for the first day, and how had they slept for the first night missing their comfortable beds they would enjoy back in their home country? Can we just pause for a moment and stand to appreciate their matchless mission endeavors? You can give them a big round of applause, or you can just praise God for their eternal contribution. Knowing how God uses “means” to achieve His “ends”, we may actually do both.
Have you ever heard the name of Henry Martyn, who translated Urdu Bible for us? He was born and raised in England, served as a missionary to India. He had reached Calcutta after a 305-day voyage. This guy had an amazing zeal for providing the Bibles in native languages. He worked so hard supervising the translation projects, and he died at the prime of his youth. He could have grasped the equality with the fellow Anglican ministers back in England. He could have lived a better life in England and marry his fiancée who had refused to join him in India. History also reveals that Henry loved to hang with local people but some of his fellow missionaries didn’t like this. This shows Henry’s humility. Church history is full of such incredible stories. Can someone today leave his or his country, home, extended families, position and rank to imitate his/her Lord and savior Jesus Christ? Of course, we may!
Furthermore, I think that we all need to stop fighting for what “the world” fights for such as co-called gender equality, ethnic equality, and racial equality. Remember, when a tree is sick, you do not treat the leaves: you treat the roots. This is how you solve problems. Did Jesus fight for equality, or he did not count equality with God the father as something to grasp for? A true Christian always imitates Christ and doesn’t bother for equality. This is the mindset of Christ. Do you have such a mindset?
2nd Step: “Made Himself Nothing… Some translations say, “emptied himself.” Emptied…but what does it mean by emptying or making himself nothing? Again, this compels us to ask, ‘what did he do to come to this world’? This shows that he temporarily surrendered some of his divine attributes, such as glory. But why did he quit his glory? It was essential for him to achieve his mission; all human being are sinners and fall short of God’s glory. Therefore, if he would have appeared in his heavenly glory, could Mary, Joseph, Peter, John and James dare to touch him, talk to him, or speak to him? No way, impossible. So, he purposely made himself nothing. Deliberately, emptied himself so that human being could approach him and interact with him. This is what Paul was urging the Philippians to do. Asking them to follow the footsteps of their saviour. If we compare ourselves to Christ, ask yourself, how often do you purposely pretend to be something. Christ, despite being everything, made himself nothing. Would you like to be nothing, or you still yearning to be something?
3rd Step: Took the form of a servant. it means that he became a slave because the Greek word “Doulos” gives the same expression. The master became a servant. This is what we need to be, as well. But remember, it doesn’t mean he just dressed or pretended to be a servant, but he acted and lived like a servant. He practically demonstrated by washing the feet of his disciples. Do you think like a servant or a master? Paul, several times, called himself the servant of Lord Jesus Christ. So, we also need to be a servant like Jesus.
4th Step: Born in the likeness of men or Found in human form. God became a man. This is what the “Incarnation” is all about. What does Paul mean by being born in the likeness of men? Here, Paul is emphasizing about human limitations. Being God means, having all divine attributes such as being an Omnipotent, and Omniscient, an Omnipresent; and being free from all natural laws. But being born in the likeness of men means submitting to human limitations. Submitting to human authorities and social values.
5th Step: Humbled himself. What does it mean to be humble? Despite having all powers and authority, restricting from exercising those powers. This is what Jesus did in his earthly life. He could have used his infinite powers, but he deliberately chose not to utilize them. This is true humility. We can also see him giving a practical demonstration of his humility when he restricts himself, calling 12 thousand legions of angels to help him. He could have done so, but he didn’t do so. He could have also resisted and escaped from being scourged, beaten and crucified on the cross but he humbled himself. This could also mean his poverty. As he said, foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of man has no place to lay down. Being born in a human body doesn’t always imply humility because kings and queens often born and live in splendour and glory. Christ wasn’t born with a silver spoon but as a destitute child. He voluntarily chose the path of humility. What an attitude Christ had!
6th Step: Became Obedient. His whole earthly life was a perfect example of his obedience. He was obedient to his parents; He is obedient to the law and most importantly, he was obedient to his heavenly father. There was not a single moment when he disobeyed his heavenly father. Even, just before his final arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, he was praying “not my will but thy will be done…” Are we obedient to our parents, masters, country laws and God? If not, then we need to examine our hearts today and rush to be obedient like Christ.
7th Step: It is the climax of Christ’s humble attitude. Here, Paul talks about his death on the cross. Romans didn’t hang people without scourging or beating. So, Christ was also brutally scourged. We could hardly imagine the enormity of those excruciating pains our saviour had gone through. Matthew Henry comments, “His whole life was a life of poverty and suffering. But the lowest step was his dying the death of the cross, the death of a malefactor and a slave; exposed to public hatred and scorn.” But for whom? For you and me. We really need to follow him. I know it’s hard, but we are called to imitate him.
Appeal: Brethren, today, we pondered on the very mind of Christ. These seven steps we discussed help us to know the humble attitude of our saviour Christ Jesus. These all steps can entirely be defined under one word, and that’s humility. Sinclair B. Ferguson writes, once Augustine was asked to list the central principles of the Christian life, and he replied, “first humility, second, humility; third, humility.” Such a mind, attitude and character we all need to have and then we can start living like Christ, behaving like Christ. And this is what imitating Christ is all about. Are you imitating Jesus or someone else? Let each one of us pray, every day, O God almighty, enable me to think like Jesus, to talk like Jesus, to live like Jesus.