We are created to become like Christ. We can love as He loved (Ephesians 5:2); forgive as He forgave (Colossians 3:13); have the same mind as His (Philippians 2:5); walk as He walked (I John 2:6); die for others as did He (I John 3:16); follow His example (I Peter 2:21) ; and do the same as He did (John 13:15). How is this possible? Because He became like us, we have been blessed to become like Him. But I hear you say, this is impossible.
Christ Lives in Me
Because the Lord has given us the Holy Spirit it IS possible. This quote from William Temple explains it well.
"It is no good giving me a play like Hamlet or King Lear and telling me to write a play like that. Shakespeare could do it—I can’t. And it is no good showing me a life like the life of Jesus and telling me to live a life like that. Jesus could do it—I can’t. But if the genius of Shakespeare could come and live in me, then I could write plays like this. And if the Spirit could come into me, then I could live a life like His."
Being Transformed
As 2 Corinthians 3:18 reminds us, we are being transformed, changed into His image. Just as Moses' face was transformed after having been exposed to God's glory so that it had to be covered with a veil to protect the Israelites (Exodus 34), our faith in Christ removes the veil and allows us to see God's glory revealed through his Son. How does Paul say this transformation happens - through the Spirit of the Lord, God dwells in us.
Truly Alive
In Galatians 2:20 Paul says no longer does he lives but Christ lives in him. This is how Paul is truly alive and this is how we also, become truly alive. In Philippians 1:21 Paul says literally for him to have life is Christ. In baptism we see a representation of dying and rising in a new life. We die to sin and rise to a transformed life that is led by the Spirit of God to reflect Christ. Our suffering reflects Christ's suffering. As Christians we are daily required to die to self, to die to the flesh. We are to "put on Christ" (Romans 13:14).
Putting on Christ
When we put on Christ we clothe ourselves with His nature. This requires us to take off the old self and put on the new. It requires dying and rising. When others see Christ more than they see us it is proof that we have "put on Christ". John Chrysostom in the early days of the church, described it this way, “never to be forsaken of Him, and His always being seen in us through our holiness, through our gentleness”. To put on Christ is to show the fruits of the spirit in our lives.
As Jesus Did, So Should We
As Jesus served, so should we. As Jesus forgave, so should we. As Jesus humbled himself, so should we. As Jesus loved, so should we. Without the Holy Spirit this would be impossible. With the Holy Spirit we can reflect on our lives through prayer. How would God have us show Jesus today, this very moment? We strengthen ourselves by the Holy Spirit by putting on the "armor of God" ( Ephesians 6: 11-13). We gather with other believers in the body of Christ and work together to show Jesus to others.
Victory Through Faith
There is victory in living a life led by the Holy Spirit that reflects our Savior. In 1 John 5:4 John tells us this,
"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. "
In John 17 Jesus sends his disciples into the world just as He was sent into the world. The world sees Christ through us. How much of Jesus are we showing to others? How are we being transformed? Are we seeking victory?
Enjoy the words of this old hymn, I Want to Be Like Jesus by A.K. Miller
I want to be like Jesus,
So lowly and so meek;
For no one marked an angry word
That ever heard him speak.
Refrain: I want to be like Jesus,
God's well beloved Son;
I want to be like Jesus,
The pure and holy One.
I want to be like Jesus,
So frequently in prayer;
Alone upon the mountain top,
He met his Father there. [Refrain]
I want to be like Jesus,
Engaged in doing good,
So that of me it may be said,
He hath done what he could. [Refrain]
Alas! I'm not like Jesus,
As any one may see;
Thy gentle Spirit, Savior, send,
And make me like to thee. [Refrain]
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