More Like Jesus

“More Like Jesus”

Romans 8:28-30

28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.§ 30 Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.

What is God’s Will for His People?

To be more like Jesus.

Let’s look at the life of Jesus to see what that means.

1. He would often get alone away from the crowds, even His own disciples to pray and speak with the Father. All the other voices for a time were set aside.

Mark 1:35

35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there.

Do we make time for the Lord, and read His Word and pray? Have we sought the Lord over all other voices? Are we truly wanting God to speak to us and the Holy Spirit to guide us, or we living by our zodiac signs and making excuses for our behavior, based upon a false assumption that you can’t change because a printed piece of paper says so?

2. He did or said only the things God the Father commanded . What a statement for us to live by, only saying or doing what God commands.

Luke 5:19-30

19 Jesus therefore answered them, “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise. 20 For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires. 22 For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.

24 “Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. 25 Most certainly I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself. 27 He also gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man. 28 Don’t marvel at this, for the hour comes in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment. 30 I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is righteous, because I don’t seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.

3. He obeyed God no matter the cost. Many in the Church when it was started at Pentecost eventually lost homes, family, jobs, even their very lives. It was the cost of following the Lord. They were never promised comfortable lives, because the way they lived was noticeably different from the majority of the society and culture around them. They were kicked out of cities and people saw Christianity as a threat to their livelihood, for such occupations as idol building, or priests of other gods etc. The Gospel being preached everywhere caused these once popular religions to lose people.

Even in the Bible, after Paul was converted, God told another believer that suffering for the Lord’s Namesake was part of the future God had planned for Paul or Saul, (He was called by both names, the tradition that God changed his name isn’t true. He had a Jewish and Roman due to dual citizenship.)

Philippians 2:1-11

1 If therefore there is any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion, 2 make my joy full by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; 3 doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; 4 each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

5 Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Acts 9:10-16

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

He said, “Behold, it’s me, Lord.”

11 The Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judah§ for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying, 12 and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.”

13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

4. If it was just about God wanting us to be in Heaven when we die, then why don’t we go there immediately after accepting and acknowledging Jesus’ Lordship?

The Truth is we are supposed to be sharing the Gospel with others like Jesus did while on earth. He warned of Hell, maybe more so than talking about Heaven. He mentioned many times that though the numbers are beyond counting as we see in Revelation around the Throne, that it’s less than who shall be in Hell , by Jesus’ statement in Matthew. He shared Truth with Grace and Mercy.

Revelation 7:9-10

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could count, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. 10 They cried with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation be to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Matthew 7:13-14

13 “Enter in by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in by it. 14 How† narrow is the gate and the way is restricted that leads to life! There are few who find it.

5. Jesus never affirmed people in sinful lifestyles. He loved them enough to tell them the Truth and consequences awaiting them if they continued in sin and didn’t repent or turn away from such behavior.

John 8:2-11

2 Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the middle, 4 they told him, “Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.*What then do you say about her?” 6 They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of.

But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger. 7 But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger.

9 They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle. 10 Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, “Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?”

11 She said, “No one, Lord.”

Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.”†

Acts 2: 37-47 Peter even said this :

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

38 Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” 40 With many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls. 42 They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer. 43 Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 All who believed were together, and had all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need. 46 Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.

When He was on earth He cared about others well being physically, emotionally, and most of all spiritually.

6. Jesus is perfect, without sin, that’s why He is the only One whose blood can make us right with God. God could have just removed all temptation and sin and taken us to Heaven when we make Jesus Lord and Savior, but He desires a relationship with us. The process of letting go of sin is a lifelong one. Physically , we say “Life is in the blood.” There is life, when we turn from sin and follow God’s ways. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned, we are born with a sinful nature that automatically rebells against God’s commands. I mean we don’t have to teach a person to steal or lie. Kids do that on their own at young ages. Without Jesus involved in our lives, our attempts at goodness and good works are not enough to be right with God. Would we give filthy rags to a King as a gift , and expect Him to be happy and content to let us into His Kingdom without changing?

No, of course not. The scripture says our born this way nature trying to do good, is like filthy rags, and not just like a mechanic’s working rags, but the original word means bloody menstrual rags. Would we dare expect Him to let us enter without change and cleanliness that only Jesus can give us?

Isaiah 64:6-7

6 For we have all become like one who is unclean,

and all our righteousness is like a polluted garment.

We all fade like a leaf;

and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

7 There is no one who calls on your name,

who stirs himself up to take hold of you;

for you have hidden your face from us,

and have consumed us by means of our iniquities.

We will never be perfect this side of Heaven, but if the Holy Spirit dwells within our lives, then He has given us the Power to say no to temptation and sin. He equips us to live a life that pleases God.

Ephesians 2:3-14

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love, 5 having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire, 6 to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely gave us favor in the Beloved. 7 In him we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him 10 to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth, in him. 11 We were also assigned an inheritance in him, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who does all things after the counsel of his will, 12 to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ. 13 In him you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.

Romans Chapter 12

Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. 2 Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.

3 For I say through the grace that was given me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith. 4 For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another, 6 having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us: if prophecy, let’s prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; 7 or service, let’s give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, to his exhorting; he who gives, let him do it with generosity; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good. 10 In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor prefer one another, 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, 12 rejoicing in hope, enduring in troubles, continuing steadfastly in prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, and given to hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. 19 Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” *20 Therefore

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him.

If he is thirsty, give him a drink;

for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”*

21 Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

7. Jesus wasn’t passive or silent on matters that were important. He didn’t say sin was okay, but He shared Truth while showing Grace and Mercy. God spends our lives making us like Christ, if we listen and obey Him in the process. We all should be a work in progress, becoming like the Lord in our words and actions. To do so, the excuses of “this is just how I am. I was born this way. I have this personality..” all must fall at His Feet , as we surrender to His Way.