Sermon Central
-
Created To Be Christ-Like
Contributed by Ray Ellis on Feb 9, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: When God created Adam and Eve and the human race His ultimate purpose was to have his creation live godly lives. We were created to be Christ-like. “For from the very beginning God decided that those who came to Him should be like His Son.”
Created to be Christ-like
Verse 5 – “Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ.” NIV
“Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus.” New King James Version
“Let Christ Himself be your example as to what you attitude should be.” Phillips
When God created Adam and Eve and the human race His ultimate purpose was to have his creation live godly lives. You were created to be Christ-like. “For from the very beginning God decided that those who came to Him should be like His Son.” Romans 8:29
God’s plan from the beginning of creation was for every person to have the character of Jesus. “God wants us to grow up … like Christ in everything.” Ephesians 4:15
You develop Christ-like character by first, “Loving God with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength.” (Worship) Second, by becoming active in God’s family. (Fellowship)
Philippians 2:1-11 gives an account of the character and attitudes Jesus possessed.
I. Jesus Humbled Himself and Became a Servant.
Jesus said he came to serve and minister and not to be ministered to. Mark 10:45 “For the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
In studying the life of Christ and his plan of salvation Jesus called people to repent of sin follow him. The first step was being “born again.” Jesus said to Nicodemus a good moral man, “You must be born again.” Nicodemus and all of us need a spiritual birth. We all need two birthdays. A physical birth and a spiritual birth.
After we experience the “New Birth” through confession of sin, repentance and turning from sin we follow Jesus as Disciple. A “Disciple” is a student and one learning to obey all that Jesus taught. Jesus said to his followers, “Go in to all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Discipleship involves teaching and obedience to the commands of Jesus. A disciple of Jesus is developing the same attitudes that Jesus possessed.
Philippians 2:6-8 As following of Jesus we are to have the same attitudes in our life that Jesus possessed. By his life and ministry Jesus demonstrated humility. The story of Jesus is one of riches to rags. Jesus “did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but make himself nothing.”
How does your attitude compare with the attitudes of Jesus? To Jesus greatness was a downward direction. Greatness to Jesus is not a matter of self-will, but rather self-abandonment. The more you lose, the more you gain.
Gene Wilkes in his book “Jesus on Leadership,” says that Servant Leadership in the kingdom is not about seeking possession and power. It is about following Jesus as he serves others and suffers on their behalf. Servant leaders follow Jesus by doing what he says to do first in whatever context they find themselves. P. 81
Jesus became a servant. Another word for servant – “doulos” – is slave. Being a slave involved several things:
The loss of property
Separation from family
Abuse by an unkind owner
Loss of individuality
And no freedom to choose
As a slave you give up your personal rights.
Who’s in charge of your life. You or God. It is either Ego or God. This is the opposite of American culture – where the individual is the center of the universe.
The Christian can say, Jesus is my Savior. He has forgiven my sins. The Disciple can say, “Jesus is Lord.” Jesus is master of my life. Jesus, not self is the center of my life and universe.
### Worship Team ""That’s Why We Praise Him"
II. Jesus Demonstrated the Attitude of Obedience during Trials and Suffering
V. 8 – Jesus “became obedient to death even death on a cross.”
As a disciple of Jesus one of our greatest challenges is to respond like Jesus did to trails and tribulations, persecution and suffering. Jesus responded with obedience. He refused to back off from his calling to fulfill God’s mission.
When you are faced with setbacks in life, pain, injustices, and crises, you either become “better” or “bitter.”
Romans 8:28 is a challenging verse from our human point of view. We would like to read it, “In most things God works for the good…” It reads, “In all things God works for the good for those who love Hi , who have been called according to His purposes.”
Trials and troubles often bring us closer to God. It is the depth of your commitment to the Lord and your character that come to the service depending on how you respond to adversity.
