Becoming Like Jesus
Scripture Reading: Romans 8:26-31
Scripture Text: Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Romans 8:29 [Living] For from the very beginning God decided that those who came to him--and all along he knew who would--should become like his Son, so that his Son would be the First, with many brothers.
Introduction:
We find, in many places in the Scriptures, that believers are to endeavor to become as much like Christ as they possibly can. For instance.....
1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Col. 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Col. 3:10 [Living] You are living a brand new kind of life that is continually learning more and more of what is right, and trying constantly to be more and more like Christ who created this new life within you.
2 Cor. 3:18 [Living] But we Christians have no veil over our faces; we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him.
If we are to become like Christ, then it is necessary for us to know what kind of person He is. Let’s see what the Bible has to say about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
I. Jesus Was A Man Of Obedience To The Father.
John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Romans 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Philip. 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Hebrews 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
A. To become like Jesus, we must also be obedient to the will of the Father.
1. Whole heartedly.
Deut. 26:16 This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
2. We may not always understand the reason, but we must obey.
Luke 5:5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
John 2:7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
3. Our obedience proves our love for Christ.
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father,
and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
II. Jesus Is Filled With Love For Others.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
A. Christian love is the evidence of true discipleship.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
Illustration: Love is
Slow to suspect -- quick to trust. Slow to reprimand -- quick to forbear.
Slow to belittle -- quick to appreciate. Slow to condemn -- quick to justify.
Slow to offend -- quick to defend. Slow to demand -- quick to give.
Slow to provoke -- quick to conciliate. Slow to hinder -- quick to help.
Slow to resent -- quick to forgive. -- The Baptist Challenge
III. Jesus Was Confident In His Faith.
John 11:41-42 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. [42] And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which
stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
A. We should be confident of our salvation.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
B. We must be confident of His promises and His power to keep them.
Acts 27:25 (Paul)Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
Romans 4:20 (Abraham) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: [15] And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
IV. Jesus Sanctified Himself.
John 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
John 17:19 [Living]...and I consecrate myself to meet their need for growth in truth and holiness.
A. It is the will of God for us.
1 Thes. 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
Ephes. 5:25-26 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; [26] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
V. Jesus Was A Man Of Expectation.
A. Jesus expected the Father to raise Him from the dead. Do You??
Matthew 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the
elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
1. The resurrection of the dead is certain.
Daniel 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Psalm 49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
1 Cor. 15:51-55 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. [53] For this corruptible must put on
incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on
immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. [55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is
thy victory?
B. Jesus expected to return to His Father. Do You??
John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. [2] In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Conclusion:
Jesus is coming again for all who have become like Him. Are you ready??
