When Jesus prayed in John 17:3, He stated that eternal life is knowing the one true God and the Son whom He sent. But what if we really want to keep the English translation as we have heard it most often? They bear witness to what they have seen and experienced: Jesus’ death, resurrection, and offer of new life (Acts 2:32; Acts 4:33; Acts 10:40-41). What does incarnate mean? A Christian does not only know about Christ, but a Christian also knows Christ personally . Jason and Roger dig into Part 2 of a 4-part series exploring that question. 2. There are quite a few names throughout Scripture spoken about Jesus or given by Jesus himself. Theologians refer to the transformation process as Progressive Sanctification and others use the phrase Spiritual Formation, but I prefer to use the term Christ-formation because it is more descriptive of what is actually taking place. For example, the Bible contains the very words of God that are an essential part of Christ-formation. Let’s look at how the disciples would have understood Christ’s invitation, and what it means for us today. Check out the unique opportunities to actively live as salt and light serving with Jesus Film Project! The effort on my part includes making the time in my schedule and sitting down to read my Bible. Max Lucado in his book, “Just Like Jesus” makes this statement at the beginning of his. PREVIOUSLY IN THIS SERIES: Is It Even Possible? "Knowing" Jesus means having a relationship with Him. Spiritual Growth and Christian Living Resources, An Ash Wednesday Prayer to Remember God’s Merciful Love, 6-Year-Old Claire Crosby Ukulele Cover Of 'Can't Help Falling In Love, One-Sentence Summaries of Every New Testament Book, The Lenten Journey - Easter Devotional - February 17, Facing the Odds - Girlfriends in God - February 18, 2021, A Prayer for Changing the Way You Think - Your Daily Prayer - February 18, 8 Steps to Meeting God in Silence and Solitude, 10 Prayers of Intercession for Your Adult Children, "Minari" Is a Faith-Centric Film That's Winning Awards, 7 Warning Signs Your Schedule Is Too Full, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright © 2021, Crosswalk.com. Practically, the effort we are to exert in our Christ-formation can be identified as grace-sustained spiritual disciplines. In Christ Jesus you were given grace before the world was created. They wanted to know about death and eternal life. If we can rid ourselves of selfishness and empty conceit, if we can empty ourselves and humble ourselves to the will of God, than that, above all else, is being like Jesus. The second thing that we can do in order to become like those we want to reach is to empathize with them and try to truly understand who they are. His latest book, Unhindered Abundance: Restoring Our Souls in a Fragmented World, released from NavPress in February 2021. They wanted to connect with God. It’s the result of a partnership between us and the Holy Spirit and is the practical outcome of what Jesus invited people to when he called them (and us) to be his disciples.”. Jesus came so that we can have life because He is the embodiment of life. He’s calling them unbelievers. But what if we really want to keep the English translation as we have heard it most often? Hereby he not only reveals the character of God but also reveals what it means for us to be created in God’s image. The apostle Paul maintained that from the moment of salvation, every believer is in a process of being formed into the image of Jesus Christ: “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. Jesus likened our intimate connection to himself using the analogy of a vine and its branches: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, but the good news goes much farther than that. A farmer cannot make crops grow, but he can plow the soil, plant the seed, and water and fertilize the seed—and then it grows. Like both salt and light, our relationship with God should have an obvious impact on everyone who comes in contact with it. Then He bade them, "Follow Me." Does He begin living our lives for us? Article Images Copyright ©, 6 Ways to Keep Praying When Life Gets Chaotic, Unhindered Abundance: Restoring Our Souls in a Fragmented World, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The word Christian was given to the early followers of Jesus, and the name has 'stuck' to this day. He did this in a very literal way. What exactly do you mean? It is defined as: "embodied in flesh; given a bodily, especially a human, form." Christ-formation takes place in the context of intimate relationships with God and other believers. Furthermore, the sacrifices that we are called to give are so light in comparison to what Christ gave for us. We all know that to be like Jesus, we need to take on the kinds of qualities describes in the article. The secret of becoming like Jesus is to receive the image of Jesus by constantly beholding Jesus. I thought I would talk about the way we judge people. and (2) How does it happen? In fact, the Bible says that God “predestined [believers] to be conformed to the likeness of his Son” ( Romans 8:29 ). In Christ Jesus God has shown his true nature; this is what it means for Christ to be “equal with God” — to pour himself out for the sake of others and to do so by taking the role of a slave. Ephesians 1:7, “In [Christ] … Even if we choose to keep this word as perfect, we must look at the structure of this entire passage, not only this one verse.. This doesn’t mean you sacrifice self-care or allow others to walk over you like a doormat, but it does mean get the focus off yourself. What Does It Mean to Look Like Jesus? The word “forsake” literally means that they turned … First Jesus shows us, through His own example, that we must treat outsiders and sinners (even using this phrase makes me uncomfortable, as if I am not a sinner) as equals. Paul is clear that believers “are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. There are differences, of course—but both involve a decision to leave our old ways of living and commit ourselves completely to someone else. To such people Jesus frequently offered a simple invi… Jesus isn’t calling the Laodicean church “less devout,” and encouraging those Christians to be more on fire for him. Christ-formation is an active process that includes our direct participation. Question: "What does it mean to know Jesus?" The disciple of Jesus must be willing to give up anything and everything, even his or her own life, in service to Him. Answer: A Christian wants to be as much like Jesus as he or she can be. The growth that takes place is the work of the Holy Spirit. Read these Top 15 Bible Verses-Being More Like Jesus … 1 John 2:6 Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. The Church at the beginning was simple, everyone was following Jesus, acting so much like Him they were described by unbelievers as little-Christ-imitators or "Christ-ians". Jesus isn't just calling us to be devoted, He's encouraging us to have an influence everywhere we go. The moment he came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God’s Spirit, looking like a dove, come down on him. 3:18). “The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. It is about the MANY ways a True Believer is to be like Jesus Christ. We can be disciples of Jesus who follow him closely, learn from him, obey him, become like him, and represent him to the world. 5:22-23) and would also include qualities like “compassion” (Matt. No one comes to the Father except through me" . 9:36), servanthood (Mark 10:45), and humility (Phil. Because if you are a Jesus follower, you are the Church. The Lord’s half-brother Jude refers to himself in the same way (Jude 1:1). He wants you to be just like Jesus.” But what does it really mean to be like Jesus? What does it mean that Jesus is God incarnate? Bound to Christ. He did not look down on them, and he didn’t treat them as markers on His way to some evangelistic quota. Jesus is the model, par excellence, of what it means to be a Christian man. Does He begin making our choices for us? Answer: Becoming more like Christ is the desire of every believer, and it is encouraging to know that God has the same desire for us. Taking on the character qualities of Jesus is a relational process composed of four primary dynamics. What Does it Mean to ‘Follow’ Jesus? But it is a call to be serious about what God is serious about. Answer: “Do you believe in Jesus?” seems like a strange question. When we love like Christ does, this makes it possible for people to see and feel a genuine and intentional love for them. In fact, this was easily Jesus’ favorite topic. Jesus frequently encountered people with spiritual questions. https://spectrummagazine.org/article/column/2013/08/29/being-jesus Yes, in some ways making a commitment to Jesus Christ is similar to getting married. I thought I would talk about how we attempt to tell people to go and sin no more. God has a goal of conforming us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). Top 15 Bible Verses-Being More Like Jesus … How can we be more like Jesus? After all we are equals. 1. Adventist Forum, publisher of SPECTRUM and spectrummagazine.org, is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to promoting community through conversation in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. God intends His family to be made up of children who think and act as He does.To many human beings, becoming like God seems out of reach, completely impossible! Simply put, we take on the character qualities of the people to whom we are most attached. Part of what it means to become more like (the biblical) Jesus is becoming excessively generous with our material wealth and having the scent of poverty on our hands and feet. 4:8). We must strive to reflect God’s character in every way: in spirit, approach, nature, attitude and love. While there are many ways for us to recognize the nearness of Jesus as we walk through life, there are certain characteristics that … One of the main reasons people reject Jesus is pride; they believe they don’t need Him and can make it through life on their own. That new person is made to be like God -- made to be. Eventually, the disciples learned that they weren’t just following a rabbi—Jesus was the promised Messiah. With a DMin from Talbot Theological Seminary, Ken is the founder and CEO of IDT Ministries. Instead of asking what church should be like, ask what you should be like. A small price to pay for a step that may end in the salvation of someone’s soul. The Holy Spirit. If you are “in Christ” listen to what it means for you. What I mean is, if we are not in Christ, we are only into us. Answer: When people speak of “knowing” Jesus, they refer to having a relationship with Him. When Christ called His first disciples He simply said, “Follow Me.”. In a similar way, this is how we participate with the Holy Spirit in our own Christ-formation. It is breathtaking what it means to be in Christ. Paul was willing to forsake his freedom to understand the chains that bound others. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure” (1 John 3:1-3). To be incarnate is to have a fleshly body. In the book Ministry of Healing, Ellen G. White says something very interesting about Jesus’ method of evangelism. There are differences, of course—but both involve a decision to leave our old ways of living and commit ourselves completely to someone else. Taking on the character qualities of Jesus is a relational process composed of four primary dynamics. To know Christ personally means to get to know Him as you would a friend. Paul exhorted Timothy to train yourself to be godly (1 Tim. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him because we shall see him as he is. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. When God says in Genesis 1:26, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness,” He means what He says! Along with the Spirit, a voice: “You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.” Mark 1:9 MSG. So often all we have to sacrifice is time, treasure, talent, and selfishness. What following Jesus meant for the disciples . Jesus called us to find our value and purpose in him. Forgive: Forgiveness is a choice and not a feeling, which takes time and prayer. He said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. Recently I have been thinking about some of the most basic questions about Christianity that we often gloss over. As worthy as it is to have, say, a family or a good job or financial security, none of that is a sufficient basis for our self-worth and happiness. Christians talk a lot about following Jesus, but what exactly does that mean? JESUS’ IDEA OF LOVE. The first thing to recognise is that this verse sums up Jesus’ teaching on the fulfilling of the law. When a rabbi asked someone to follow him, it was an incredible honor. To be like Jesus is to be a person willing to put others before yourself, to seek wisdom, and to care about how you interact with all people you come across in life. We will be able to see Jesus Christ just like He really is (verse 2). United to Christ. Ken Baugh was a successful pastor before a crippling experience of burnout disrupted his career and set him on a journey to better understand the dynamics of spiritual health. The growth of crops is an indirect result of the farmer’s effort. 5 Powerful Ways to Love Like Jesus: 1. To be like Jesus is to be a person willing to put others before yourself, to seek wisdom, and to care about how you interact with all people you come across in life. You must stay in His light and keep focusing on the Lord Jesus Christ. As disciples of Christ, it is of the most important questions that we should answer. It might not mean you have to die for someone else but it does mean that we die to ourselves and serve one another, and like Jesus, lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters in Christ.