MAY WE BE MORE LIKE CHRIST – PART 2, LOOK TO JESUS

• God’s glory is the fullness of who he is in His invisible and eternal attributes and His character of compassion, mercy, patience, love, faithfulness, forgiveness, and justice (Exodus 34:5-7). This is God whom we are called to imitate.
• We can reflect a dimmer image of who God is. An image and a glory that can grow brighter and brighter as we mature spiritually.
• 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
• Ephesians 5:1-2 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

• Because the visible glory and character of God is Jesus Christ.
• Colossians 1:15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
• Hebrews 1:3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God…
• Colossians 2:9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.
• We should be constantly looking at Christ. We should constantly be looking to Scripture to see how Jesus lived, what he taught, and how he interacted with undeserving sinners, and make the necessary adjustments in our lives in order to live more and more like him.
• That is the purpose of being disciples of Christ, to be like him.
• In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told his disciples the kind of radical life they were expected to live. Included in those teachings were instructions not to hate anyone, to turn the other cheek, to love their enemies, not to judge others, and to treat others the way they would like to be treated. But Jesus did not only teach with words, he also taught by example.

• Luke 23:35-44 35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.” 39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” 40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

• • V. 35 – The crowd watched and shouted abuse (Mat. 27:39).
  • V. 35 – Religious leaders scoffing at Jesus.
  • VS. 36,37 – Roman soldiers mocking Him.
  • V. 38 – Roman soldiers mocking Him in written form.
  • V. 39 – One of the criminals also scoffed at Jesus.
• Jesus did not respond with hate or a desire for revenge to his accusers.
• Jesus wanted forgiveness for those who hated him (V.34), but he did not allow their behavior against him to keep him from ministering to the one person who was looking for redemption.
• Do we show our enemies the loving character that Christ showed those who crucified him? The heart of God is to reach the lost.
• Acts 2:22-24 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.
• Now that Jesus has resurrected and been glorified, what would he do to those who crucified him? Would he come now to give them the punishment they deserve? NO
• Acts 2:36-38 36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” 37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

• What if instead we are more like Jesus and show compassion, mercy, patience, love, faithfulness, forgiveness, to those who mistreat or hurt us, and preach to them Christ crucified on their behalf, and maybe, like with Peter’s preaching, their heart will also be pierced and they will repent from their sins and turn to God?
• Philippians 1:11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
• John 3:17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
• Love those who hurt you and show them the life Christ modeled for us and share the hope of Christ with them. This is what we are called to do.
• 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I know that the penalty for my sin is physical, spiritual, and eternal death. I acknowledge that I can’t do anything about my situation. But I know that You came to pay the penalty for my sin. I trust in You alone as the One who died in my place. I repent of my sin and trust in You alone as the only One who can place me in an eternal relationship with the living God. I receive joyfully receive Your gift of GRACE. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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