BE AN EXAMPLE OF JESUS
1 Tim. 4:12, 15-16
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. Sometimes being close isn’t good enough. Like Bill, who ordered a cord of firewood to be delivered for $100.
2. When the firewood was delivered, Bill got upset. “That’s not a full cord of wood,” Bill objected. “That’s what I call a cord,” the man answered firmly.
3. Bill fished around in his pocket and thrust some bills into the man’s hand. “Hey wait a minute,” the woodsman complained after counting the money. “You only gave me $70!’
4. With a shrug of the shoulders Bill replied, “That’s what I call $100!”
B. SCRIPTURE TEXT
“Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity….Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers” 1 Tim. 4:12, 15-16
C. DEFINITION OF “EXAMPLE”
The Greek New Testament contains several terms that are translated by the English word “example.”
1. Jude 7. The word deigma denotes that which is shown, hence, a specimen. Jude declares that the permanent destruction of wicked Sodom and Gomorrah serves as an “example” of the eternal punishment of hell.
2. Hebrews 4:11. The term hupodeigma, literally, “to show under,” suggests a model, either for good or bad. We aren’t to follow Israel’s bad model.
3. The Greek tupos denotes a print (cf. John 20:25); or it can suggest a “pattern” (Hebrews 8:5). Thus, elders are to be “examples” to the flock of God (1 Peter 5:3).
4. 1 Timothy 1:16; 2 Timothy 1:13. Hupotuposis in secular Greek was an outline or sketch. In the N.T. it can denote a behavioral example or a pattern of doctrine.
5. 1 Peter 2:21. The word hupogrammos (literally “to write under,” was employed in ancient Greek for a child’s writing exercise in copying the alphabet. This term is used to describe the “example” of the sinless Christ who passively endured suffering and confidently committed His care unto the Father.
D. PAUL’S AMAZING CHALLENGE
1. We live in a mixed up world. People are so untrained in the Bible and mixed up about what a Christian is, that nearly anything can be labelled “Christian” and they’ll believe it.
2. What is a Christian? A person who is a disciple of Jesus and who is attempting to put His sayings/teachings (in the Bible) into practice.
3. Paul commands us in 1 Tim. 4:12 to be an example of what a Christian is. He even specifies the areas we need to concentrate on.
4. So look with me at this challenge “Be an Example of Jesus.”
I. THE NECESSITY OF BEING AN EXAMPLE
A. THE WORLD WANTS TO SEE JESUS
1. In these verses, Paul gives Timothy and us a sobering and unavoidable charge before God: to be an “example,” a visible representation of what Christ is to the unbelieving world.
2. If what we have is real, it ought to show. The world is crying to see reality. (John 12:21). You are probably the only Jesus/Bible those around you will ever see! “We are epistles, known and read of all men” 2 Cor. 3:2. We can’t lay it off on someone else to be a Christian; the responsibility falls on us.
3. It’s a terrible thought, but people will judge Christ by us. If we sin, it will demonstrate to those around us that Christ isn’t real or worth serving! The owner of a hotel chain regularly tells her employees, “Remember, my reputation is in your hands!”
4. HUMOR
a. Many nominal Christians are like the little girl who spent the night at a friend’s house. Her friend’s mother asked her if she liked broccoli. “Yes, I love it!”
b. When dinner was served and the broccoli was passed to her, she said she didn’t want any. “I thought you said you liked broccoli,” said the mother. “Yes I do, but not enough to eat it!” We need to be doers of the Word!
B. WHERE WE MUST BE EXAMPLES
1. We must be careful how we act. At home – in front of our kids; at our work – associates notice our honesty and integrity; on vacations – we are observed; the unbelievers around us notice our slightest indiscretions.
2. Paul said, “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.” 1Cor. 9:19-20.
3. ILLUSTRATION: “ALWAYS ON DUTY.”
a. The Duke of Wellington (a General) asked an officer in uniform, “Why do you stand there so slouchy, in non-military posture?”
b. The officer responded, “Sir, I’m off-duty.” Wellington replied, “A British officer is never off-duty. Always maintain your military bearing.”
4. Someone might respond, “Well, don’t I have the right to live like I want to?” The answer is, not if you’ve died with Christ and risen again! Dead men don’t have any rights or want any. My question is, are you crucified with Christ?
II. HOW TO BECOME AN EXAMPLE
A. MEANING OF THE GREEK WORD
1. The word for “example” is the Greek word “Tupos.” Here it means “an instrument used to stamp its image into others’ lives.” A “die” or signet ring was used to press an image into wax.
2. The impression left in the wax gave authentication to the document that it was a genuine transmission from the owner of the Ring.
3. God wants you and I to be formed into the image of Christ so that when we meet others, we’ll leave an impression on them, not of ourselves but of Jesus. Paul was saying to Timothy and us, “Be a copy of Christ.”
B. IS THE IMPRESS OF CHRIST ON YOU?
1. Acts 4:13 says about the apostles and the Sanhedrin, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”
2. Jesus had left his impression upon their lives. Has He left it upon you? Have you spent enough time with Jesus to be transformed to be like Him?
3. The world is tired of seeing frauds, imposters, fakes pretenders and phony examples. They are dying for genuine, sold-out, Jesus-loving Christians!
4. ILLUSTRATION
a. A Hindu trader in India once asked a missionary, “What do you put on your face to make it shine?” With surprise the man of God answered, “I don’t put anything on it!”
b. His questioner began to lose patience and said emphatically, “Yes, you do! All of you who believe in Jesus seem to have it. I’ve seen it in the towns of Agra and Surat, and even in the city of Bombay.”
c. Suddenly the Christian understood, “Now I know what you mean, and I will tell you the secret. It’s not something we put from the outside but something that comes from within. It’s the reflection of the light of God in our hearts.”
d. And the missionary succeeded in leading the trader out of Hinduism into Christ because Jesus showed through.
III. MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF A CHRISTIAN EXAMPLE
A. IN SPEECH
1. Our Lord Jesus said, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Mt. 12:34)and “By their fruit you will know them” (Mt. 7:16). Just as you can tell what kind of tree it is by its fruits (banana, apple, pear, orange, lemon, etc), so can you see if someone is really a Christian by what comes out their mouths.
2. Eph. 4:29; 5:4 addresses OBSCENITIES, DIRTY JOKES. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen….these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.”
3. WE WILL GIVE AN ACCOUNT. 36But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
4. We, as Christians, should speak words that bring life, hope, knowledge of God, purpose, direction. When you speak God’s thoughts and words you will bring healing, help, and direction to those around you. We should have a different kind of speech than the lost do.
B. IN CONDUCT
1. Our lifestyle must be worthy of the gospel. Philippians 1:27; “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”
2. We don’t want to be like the woman whose boss caught her goofing off. “Why aren’t you working?” She confessed, “Because I didn’t see you coming!”
3. Our conversations, business transactions, modes of dress, style of living, entertainments all are involved. There’s nothing which we do, or say, or purpose, that is exempted from the rules of the Kingdom of God.
4. Peter says, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us” 1 Pet. 2:12.
5. Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth. If the salt loses its saltiness, it is good for nothing but to be cast out and tramped on by men.” “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid…Let your light so shine among men that they may see your light and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Are we being the salt and light God wants us to be?
C. IN LOVE
Next Paul mentions love. Love is a powerful thing! Love is the strongest power in the world.
1. There is a kind of love that helps you raise your kids. Parents see the long picture of helping their kids grow from untrained, selfish little creatures into society-broken young adults who’ve learned to take care of themselves but who live for a higher purpose than themselves.
2. Marital love is not too much different: both imperfect partners learn to yield their rights and serve each other and grow up in God. Love is the binding force that holds them together when conflicts and differences arise.
3. The visible church needs a baptism of God’s love. Paul talked about love; “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Cor. 13:4-8.
4. In John 15:13 Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” God’s love looks beyond skin color or social standing; it’s a love which gives and sacrifices so that people might know Jesus.
5. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” Eph. 4:32.
D. IN FAITH
1. A person who’s an excellent example is consistently faithful, doesn’t swerve off the track or deviate from his course. The Apostle Paul was one of those.
2. Despite great suffering, he wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing” 2 Timothy 4:7-8.
3. Also we need to be people of faith. We need to see the things that be not as though they are; faith perceiving as real fact the things which are not yet revealed to the senses.
4. We need to believe the Angels are moving in answer to our prayers and that all things are working together for the good of them that love the Lord!
5. We need to be positive because the best is yet to come when our Lord Jesus blows his trumpet, we’re caught up together with Him in the clouds to forever be with the Lord in the city made of gold and precious stones!
E. IN PURITY
1. Paul ends the list with a rarely used term for virtue and chastity. The writer of Hebrews reminds us, “Without holiness, no one will see the Lord!” (12:14)
2. Moral or sexual purity, both in thought and act, seems to be the idea. Timothy was Paul’s appointed pastor to the Church at Ephesus, a city described in Revelation as “the seat of Satan” because in was the location of the massive Temple of Diana where there was a tremendous amount of shrine prostitution and immorality.
3. Moral impurity was a part of the fabric of that city and had to be resisted. We live in the same kind of morally corrupt society, so this instruction is especially important for us too.
4. We need to be careful to have pure minds, hearts, and mouths. Sexual or bathroom subjects are out of place with the child of God. Instead, Paul instructed Timothy to do the opposite – to "pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace..." (2Ti 2:22).
5. What a concept! If every Christian would purpose to go the opposite direction toward holiness, there wouldn’t be any or much chance of falling into immorality!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. Richard Wurmbrand, who spent fourteen years suffering in a Communist prison, reminds all believers with less than ideal circumstances that “if the heart is cleansed by the love of Jesus Christ, and if the heart love Him, you can resist all tortures.” He says, “God will not judge us according to how much we endured, but how much we could love.” The love of God demonstrated in the lives of his people is potent.
2. Wurmbrand gives an example: “A Christian was sentenced to death. Before being executed, he was allowed to see his wife. His last words to his wife were, ‘You must know that I die loving those who kill me. They don’t know what they do and my last request of you is to love them, too. Don’t have bitterness in your heart because they kill your beloved one. We will meet in heaven.’
3. These words impressed the officer of the secret police who attended the discussion between the two. Wurmbrand
heard this story from the secret police officer, in prison, where he had been put for becoming a Christian.
4. The Christian left such an accurate representation of Christ on the officer that he was indelibly marked. God wants to make you His signet ring as well (Haggai 2:23).
B. ALTAR CALL
1. If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Would people say that you were religious, or would they say that you were “a Christian?”
2. Do people see enough of Jesus in you that it seems unnatural for you to be the way you are? If Jesus is really in your life, He will show!
3. Do you walk like Jesus? Talk like Jesus? Love like Jesus? Reach out like Jesus? Do you need more of Jesus in your life?
4. Let’s pray.
