Christ-likeness
Philippians 2:1-11
Some ideas of this sermon were gleaned from other SermonCentral sermons.
We have been in a study of “living for Christ.”
Some of the main points so far are;
That as believers we are to be in Christ, connected to Christ
Christ dwells within us, directing us, guiding us, empowering us to do service for Him through the Holy Spirit.
We saw that not only should our lives be worth living for Christ, but also so secrete that you are willing to die for Him also.
“For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Paul’s joy and life was wrapped up in Jesus.
He was all in!
“Whatever happens, conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Phil. 1:27
It needs to be reminded to us that the writer of these words was a follower of Christ that was chained to guards, and facing death not for what he did but for what he believed.
That verse carries over this week in to the text for this week as we look at the humility of Christ and being Christ-minded.
Philippians 2:1-2:4
Paul tells that if we are united in Christ, there should be encouragement, comfort, and a fellowship that is so strong that even in hard times, we can hold on.
We have joy that can only come from the Lord.
We hold tight to being Christ-like, and that nothing we do is self ambition, or vain conceit, which would pull us away from Jesus.
Like-minded, same love, one Spirit, one purpose.
He tells us that there should be unity in the body of Christ, and we are to have the mind of Christ.
We do not have to be robots but we have to have the same purpose and the same attitude and serve one another as we serve the Lord together.
When I say Jesus in a church setting like this, the idea of Christ is worship, gratitude, and a love to serve.
That is not how it is in most of the world.
Some places the name of Jesus is fighting words.
Some places Christians are called narrow-minded and brain washed.
Some areas you find yourself ostracized, criticized, and scrutinized for speaking and living your faith…wait that is happening here!
So before you can have the mind of Christ, you have to settle in your own mind who Jesus is too you.
Rage-
Jesus becomes fighting words
Narrow minded Christians who want to tell us what to do and who to do it with.
Anger/bitterness is evident.
Ridicule-
People making jokes about Jesus and what Jesus did for us. One website even making fun of Jesus on the cross and you can make Jesus on the cross as a ballerina, dog catcher, a clown, even Satan himself, all in the name of mockery.
Relegation-
Means “to assign to an obscure place, position or condition.
People want to assign Him an obscure position or place in their lives.
Saying that He is a good man.
Unitarian church calls him a good poet, but claims we cannot assume that He is the answer to everything.
Refusal-
There are some that don’t want His love, don’t care His sacrifice, and have no desire for Him to save them.
For us, as believers of Christ, we know who Jesus is. He was God. He is God. He will forever be God. He cannot be placed in any category less than God. Our mind and joy is complete in Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:5-2:11
Our attitude of Christ should be radically different than that of the world. (Repeat )
(6) “The very nature God”- Paul is affirming that Jesus is fully God, and the glory of God shows the very quality of God the Father before Jesus incarnation to this dying world.
Wither we admit it, accept it, or deal with it;
Jesus is Lord
Jesus is Savior
Jesus is God
To be Lord and Savior means that He is to be supreme in our lives.
It means that He is king and the king is master of our lives.
That is the first thought in a nutshell-
Before we can have the humility of Christ, we have to settle who Christ is in our lives.
Humility of Christ means that when we look at His life, we see a God that loves us, who came to this dying world and humbly became man and redeemed us by His sacrifice.
If we are to follow His humidity, we are not to be self ambitious, but be looking for ways we can bless others while serving God.
II. (Thought) Being like-minded to Christ
(2) “Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in Spirit and purpose.”
Illustration-
Example of Frankenstein- Igor dropped the right brain and brought the wrong one.
We don’t need a new brain, we need a new mind.
Our mind contains our attitudes , desires, and a will of weather we will follow God by surrendering our will to His.
Romans 12:2-
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may prove what is good and acceptable will of God.”
There are over 100 verses of Scripture in the Bible talking about Christ-likeness.
Of course we are not going to cover all the verses this morning but it does tell us that it was important to Jesus.
Here is the question we should be asking-
How can I become more Christ-like?
Short answer- becoming more Christ-like has to be your desire.
It is encouraging to know that it is God’s desire also.
He will help us through to the end if we will let him.
God transforms, God changes us, but we have to want Him to make the changes.
The process demands our cooperation with the Holy Spirit of God working in us.
Christ-likeness requires both divine power and our responsibility and commitment to Him.
When Jesus said “follow me”- it came with the assumption – that if you want to be a follower of Christ that you will follow Him.
Becoming more Christ-like is a result of Christian growth.
First we get saved, We begin a relationship with Him.
We are immature in wisdom and knowledge and inexperienced in grace and love.
Then we begin to grow by learning the word of God and following His ways.
There should then begin to see a change in our lives (Transformation)
“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:8
One day that process will be complete. We are working everyday with the Holy Spirit to transform our lives.
“When he appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2
“Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 1 john 3:3
Both words transform and conform have the same root word “form”.
Form means a pattern or mold.
Being transformed refers to the process
Conformed refers to the finished product.
Jesus is our pattern. We are to be transformed so that we will eventually be conformed to the likeness of Jesus.
No one has arrived yet! But we must allow God to make the necessary changes.
God likeness is a process that begins and ends with Jesus.
If we are to mirror-Christ, we have to be willing to come to the mirror and let Jesus transform the flaws found. (repeat)
Mirrors reflect light and project images.
Plane mirrors are used for grooming and spotting flaws.
Curved mirrors can magnify images.
Change the light, change the thickness of the glass
Reposition the glass, the mirror now throws a distorted view of the image in the mirror.
It changes the way you see yourself.
So if you are going to mirror Christ- Christ has to be in charge of the mirror so that you get a correct image coming back.
Let me pull this together as I close.
You cannot walk humbly with the Lord without the Lord.
You cannot be transformed by the Lord without letting Him do it.
You cannot be Christ-like and not allow the Lord to put you up to the mirror and make changes.
Here is the problem if we try to be Christ-like on our own. (Hold hands up and apart)
One hand is Jesus and one hand is the world. We Say in our mind that we certainly can’t be as good as Christ, but we are not as bad as the world. So we say that we are going to be somewhere in the middle.
Here is the problem, the world keeps moving more to the left and away from God. God does not change.
Your staying in the center keeps you moving away from God.
We are to shine like stars to those around us.
(12) He tells us to work out our salvation.
Meaning not that you can earn salvation but that you finish the race.
Start strong and finish strong. If you started our weak, finish strong.
(14-15)
“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God, without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”
No self-ambition. No self-centered motives. No vain conceit, but allowing God to transform you into the image of Christ and turn this community upside down for Jesus.
