Imitating Christ
By John Woodward
March 16, 1998
In our zeal to defend the deity of Christ do we minimize the humanity of Christ.? We know that the Son of God became fully human through the virgin birth and continues to be human through His glorified body (1 Tim 3:16). Christ clothed Himself with human nature to secure our redemption and minister in heaven today as our High Priest (Heb 7:25). Jesus' amazing condescension has been rewarded by His supreme exaltation (Phil 2:5-10).
Our zeal to defend Christ's atoning work may also result in minimizing the value of His perfect example. Liberal theologians reject the true meaning of the atonement, while trying to maintain the importance of Christ's ethical example. Yet His example cannot be separated from His identity and mission ! (1 Pet 2:24, 3:18). Nevertheless, Christ's example is commended to us as a standard of righteousness to follow : "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps (1 Peter 2:21).
And 1 John 2:6 states , " He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
Thomas a Kempis' classic devotional book, The Imitation of Christ", is based on this theme. The difficulty of trying to imitate Christ's standard of living is that it typically results in failure and frustration., as Paul confessed , " I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (Rom 7:21-24).
While the motive of following Christ's example is good, the method is critical. When imitating Christ is attempted in the flesh, apart from abiding in Christ, this noble goal becomes unscriptural! Christ said "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5).
In his book, Sidetracked in the Wilderness, Michael Wells affirms " Abundant life is not something to work for, but rather is something to work from. My acceptance is not based on what I do but rather on what I am. Abundant life does nor require that I imitate Jesus, but rather that I participate in His life; it does not require that I work to believe, but that I work because I believe" (p. 14)
It is the grace of God that saves us, keeps us, and enables us (Eph 2:8,9, Rom 5:1,2) As our Lord said to Paul, " And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Cor 12:9).
Our Father, we thank you for the divine love that sent Jesus to be born with a sinless human nature. We rejoice that He was qualified to pay for our sins on Calvary's cross. We praise You for His present ministry as our living High Priest. Give us wisdom to appreciate Christ's perfect example, while discerning the way to abide in Christ. May the Holy Spirit have full sway in our lives to express Christ's life through us. In Your mighty name, amen.
JBW
March 16, '98
The purpose of Grace Notes is to highlight the dynamics of abundant living as summarized in Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (NKJV). Many articles are available online to freely use for personal ministry, newsletters, etc.. (To find an article by topic or key word, click "Grace Notes"/search.) Please pray for God's blessing on this internet ministry.
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