Christlikeness
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· 9 viewsThe process by which believers are conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ, especially in relation to obedience to and trust in God. Through the Holy Spirit, God refashions believers in the image of his Son, who is set before them as a model of the form of the redeemed life.
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Believers are to become Christlike
Believers are to become Christlike
1 Co 11:1; Php 2:5 Paul is arguing that believers must allow God to make them Christlike, which is the natural goal of their process of growing in faith. Christlikeness is not achieved by people merely trying to imitate Jesus Christ, but by God making believers more like his Son in sanctification, through the Spirit.
See also Jn 13:15; Ro 8:29; Eph 4:11–13; Php 3:8–11; Php 3:20–21; 1 Jn 2:6
The Holy Spirit makes believers Christlike
The Holy Spirit makes believers Christlike
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.
See also Ro 8:5–9; Ga 5:22–23; 1 Th 1:6
Christlikeness is the aim of discipleship
Christlikeness is the aim of discipleship
It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!
See also Lk 6:40; 1 Jn 2:6
Christlikeness is based on total commitment to Jesus Christ
Christlikeness is based on total commitment to Jesus Christ
Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”
And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”
But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”
And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”
But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
See also Mt 9:9; Mt 19:21; Jn 1:43; Jn 10:27; Jn 12:26; Jn 15:10; 2 Jn 9
The demonstration of Christlikeness
The demonstration of Christlikeness
In costly sacrifice
In costly sacrifice
Mk 8:34–35; 1 Pe 2:21–23
See also Mt 10:38; Lk 14:26–27; Jn 12:26; Jn 21:19; Php 3:10; 1 Pe 4:1
In humility and service
In humility and service
Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
See also Mt 11:29; Mk 9:35; Lk 22:24–26; Jn 13:14–15; Php 2:4–5
In love for other believers
In love for other believers
Jn 15:12; 1 Jn 3:16
See also Jn 13:34; Jn 15:17; Eph 5:2; Eph 5:25
In a readiness to forgive others
In a readiness to forgive others
bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
See also Mt 6:12
In sharing Jesus Christ’s mission to the world
In sharing Jesus Christ’s mission to the world
Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
See also Jn 20:21
By following godly examples that imitate Jesus Christ
By following godly examples that imitate Jesus Christ
Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
See also Eph 5:1; 1 Th 1:5–6; 1 Th 2:14; Heb 6:12; Heb 13:7–8; 3 Jn 11
Christlikeness is part of God’s re-creation
Christlikeness is part of God’s re-creation
Ge 1:26–27; 2 Co 4:4; Eph 4:24; Col 3:10
The process of becoming Christlike
The process of becoming Christlike
It is the purpose for which believers are saved
It is the purpose for which believers are saved
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
See also Eph 2:10; 2 Pe 1:4
It continues in the experience of believers
It continues in the experience of believers
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.
It will be complete when believers finally share Jesus Christ’s glory
It will be complete when believers finally share Jesus Christ’s glory
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. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
See also Ps 17:15; Jn 17:24; 1 Co 15:49–53; Ga 4:19; Php 3:20–21; Col 3:4; 1 Jn 4:17