TO BE LIKE JESUS CHRIST - PART ONE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN (Google Docs link provided at the end and in the comment for clickable Bible citations to open your Bible app for a fluid study experience) Simply put, Christianity is a call to be like Jesus Christ in every way. I mean it is even in the title “Christian”, which literally means “follower of Christ”. We'll expound further to highlight how and why God wants us to be like Jesus Christ, but for now we'll focus on establishing the fact that the call to Christianity is to be like Jesus Christ in every way. Let's begin with the following Passage: Romans 8:29 NIV @29 For those God foreknew He also predestined TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, that He might be the Firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines the intransitive verb “Conform” as: 1: to be similar or identical 2a: to be obedient or compliant So God’s goal for every believer is really simple, He wants to make us like His Son, Jesus Christ. Paul highlighted this same objective in his lamentation over the Galatian church: Galatians 4:19 NIV @19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth UNTIL CHRIST IS FORMED IN YOU, So conformity to Jesus Christ is the end goal for every Christian. It is a lifelong pursuit, and we must not settle for anything less (Phil 3:8-14). Indeed, we will fall short and stumble A LOT in this quest to be like Christ (Psa 37:23-24, Prov 24:16, [1 John 1:9, 2:1-2]); but we must never be discouraged, complacent, or somehow reduce the standard to accommodate our shortfalls. God is Holy, and He has called (invited) us to fellowship with Him in Holiness (1 Peter 1:14-16, Heb 12:14-15). Do not be intimidated by this, we'll discuss more on it in part two of this series. So instead of being discouraged when we fall short, we should rather tap into the empowering supply of Grace to keep pressing for the mark that Jesus Christ has called us to (Titus 2:11-14): Hebrews 4:16 NIV @16 Let us then approach GOD’S THRONE OF GRACE with confidence, so that we may RECEIVE MERCY and FIND GRACE TO HELP US IN OUR TIME OF NEED. So what does “Conformity” to Jesus Christ mean? Applying the dictionary definition of the word, it means we're to be “similar”, “identical”, “obedient”, and “compliant” in the very same way that Jesus Christ was while He was on earth. Again, for now, don't worry about the “how?”. I'd like us to see from Scripture how we've been made “similar” or “identical” to Christ in nature, and then subsequently we'll look at how we're expected to be like Him in character, i.e. obedience. John stated that in this world we are like Jesus, meaning we share the very same essence and nature (1 John 4:17). So just as He was baptized in the Holy Spirit (Matt 3:16, John 3:34), so are we (Acts 2:4). Note that it is the very SAME Holy Spirit and His power that Jesus had, that we've also been given (Gal 4:6-7, Eph 1:19-20, 2 Peter 1:3-4). This technically means that we possess the same ability to do all the miracles He did, and even more (John 14:12, Mark 11:22-25). Jesus Christ NEVER limited His disciples in terms of ability. He expected them to be able to do everything that He did. If they fell short, it wasn't for lack of ability, but inadequacy in their faith capacity (Matt 8:26), or unconformity to His practices of consecration, for instance fasting and praying (Mark 2:18-20, 9:28-29 NKJV). If for any reason the things that Scripture says concerning us are not a reflection of your life, it would be more prudent to self-examine if there are aspects in your life that are not in conformity to Jesus Christ and Scripture (2 Cor 13:5, James 1:22, Luke 6:46-49), than to blame God (Prov 19:3). So, just as Jesus was sent into the world, so also have we been sent (John 20:21). Just as He is the Light of the world (John 8:12), so also have we been made light to the world (Matt 5:14-16). We reflect His Light that has come to shine within us (2 Cor 3:18, 4:3-4,6). And just as Christ is a Priest (Heb 5:5-6), so are we (Rev 5:10 NKJV, 1 Peter 2:5,9). There are a number of other mirrored identifiers that we share with Jesus, like even laying down our lives (1 John 3:16), and such, but let's move on to character-wise. Jesus Christ exemplified HUMILITY and OBEDIENCE (Heb 5:7-9), and we're called to learn these traits from Him (Matt 11:29, Phil 2:5-11). Jesus Christ was obedient to the Tee in executing the will of God on earth, doing only what pleased the Father (John 8:28-29). In like manner, we are to do the same ([1 Peter 4:11, Matt 10:19-20, Jer 1:9, Isaiah 59:21], Eph 5:10,17). Obedience is an expression of Love. So just as Christ loved and obeyed the Father (John 15:10), so also are we called to obedience (John 14:15, 2 John 1:6, 1 John 5:3, Rom 1:5, 6:16-18, 2 Cor 9:13, Acts 26:19-20). So in every regard, we are to be like Jesus. But the question now is how? Stick around for part two for the answer. If you haven't already done so, please 🙏 download the Free book “Early Steps in Christianity”, link below 👇. Thanks for the privilege of your time. God bless and Shalom! For the Full Series: https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/TO_BE_LIKE_JESUS_FULL_SERIES/ For Current Part: https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/To_Be_Like_Jesus_Part_One/ For Part Two ⏭️: https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/To_Be_Like_Jesus_Part_Two/ For the Free PDF of "Early Steps in Christianity" (E.S.C): https://selar.com/EarlyStepsInChristianity For Paperback or Hardcover copies: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GKW4H91N For the Free PDF of "The Biblical Festivals of God" (TBFG): https://selar.com/TheBiblicalFestivalsOfGod For Paperback copies: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GKPP5N6J Follow-up Post to the book, TBFG: https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/BIBLICAL_CIPHERS_AND_CODES-FULL_SERIES/ I'd like to also encourage you to go through the following resources: https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/THE_ORIGINS_OF_EASTER/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/JESUS_CHRIST_THE_PASSOVER_LAMB-FULL_SERIES/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/HOW_CAN_JESUS_PAY_FOR_THE_SINS_OF_OTHERS/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/THE_OLD_TESTAMENT_IS_THE_SHADOW_OF_THE_NEW_COVENANT/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/WHAT_PAUL_MEANT_BY-THE_LAW_OF_SIN_AND_DEATH-ROM_7AND8/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/The_Premise_of_Christianity/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/Jesus_The_Redeemer/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/Building_on_Legacy/ #God #Jesus #JesusChrist #HolySpirit #TheLivingWord #Theology #BibleStudyWithDanielOlatunji #TheBible #Scripture #BiblicalTruth #ChristianTeaching #ChristianApologetics #SoundDoctrine #KingdomOfGod #Gospel #FaithInJesus #Salvation #EternalLife #Christlikeness #BeLikeJesus #SpiritualGrowth #Holiness #Sanctification #WalkInTheSpirit #LedByTheSpirit #DieToSelf #FreeBooks #EarlyStepsInChristianity #TheBiblicalFestivalsOfGod