"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)
Introduction
Living the life of Christ is what Christianity is all about. Granted that we have all been saved by Christ and has received the new creation in Christ - "If anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation," (2 Cor. 5:17)
In the PCG Catechism during confirmation, a question is posed, "What makes you a true Christian?" We then respond by saying, "Being born by Christian parents, or living with Christians does not make me a true Christian. What makes me a true Christian is my faith and baptism in Jesus Christ."
Your faith in Christ is mainly seen in the Christ-like life you demonstrate and this life actually reveals the glory of God.
Surprisingly, living a Christ-like life has been tagged as difficult and unpractical. In the reflections, I pray this will bring us to the practicality of making it achievable.
Let me mention that, when the Basel Mission work began in our country, they sought to aid people who come to the saving knowledge of Christ by creating the Salem community. The major intention was to protect them from the bad influence of the sinful society. Today, we are not in Salem but we need to intentionally create the Salem walls in our minds and heart. This will filter the evil influence of our community.
Living the life of Christ is a pre-requite for the saved alone. Living the Christ-kind of life is born from the bond we build with Christ as Children of God (John 1:12,13) and not generated from a distance observation of Him. It is a call from God unto humanity to be like Christ. Let me explain this briefly in three parts.
One, Romans 8:29 "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters."
"Foreknew" here signifies the original design, or at the first formation of the scheme of men; to bestow the favour and privilege of being God's people. (cf.Rom 11:2). This is the first step of our salvation.
One of the questions posed during Confirmation goes as; "Do we still possess this image of God?"
And we respond by saying; "No! our first parents being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate in which they were created, by sinning against God, and as a result, all of human kind suffered its consequence (Genesis 3)."
The image of God with which He created us was distorted at the fall of humanity—the divine image that made us like God. In other words, the original image which intended to make humanity live the Christ kind of life was distorted.
But God has restored it in Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:49) making us like Christ. Therefore, to bear the original image of God in us is to become like Jesus: living the life of Christ. Christlikeness is actually the eternal predestined purpose of God.
Two, 2 Corinthians 3:18: “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.”
We should understand the truth of what goes on in the life of the Christian:
* That we are sinners, warped and twisted out of the image of God, far from being the persons we ought to be, or that God intends us to be.
* Jesus Himself enters the life of the Christian and we receive His own imperishable heritage (1 Peter 1:23).
* God is in the process of working His transformation in us as Christians; we "are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Cor 3:18).
So it is by the indwelling Spirit Himself that we are being changed from glory to glory. God’s eternal predestination now moves to His present transformation in us by the Holy Spirit. It has changed from God’s predestined purpose to His present work by His Holy Spirit to transform us into the life of Christ.
Three, 1 John 3:2. “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
The truth is that we do not know in detail what we shall be in the last day, but we do know that we will be like Christ. We are content with the glorious truth that we will be with Christ, like Christ, forever.
All three perspectives are pointing in the same direction: there is God’s eternal purpose, we are being transformed by the Holy Spirit; and God’s final or eschatological purpose, we will be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. This is the biblical basis for living the life of Christ: it is the purpose and a call of God for us as His children.
But how do we do this in today’s world, a world that often feels hostile to Christ-like living? How can we practically live the life of Christ when it seems contrary to modern values, and how do we balance personal desires with the call of discipleship?
Another confirmation question from the PCG Catechism is, "How can a Christian live a godly life?" in other words, How can you live the life of Christ?
"It is not by one's wish or thinking; neither is it according to the standards of the world, but according to the will and commandment of God."
Let me reflect on this with you in some key areas:
1. Living the Life of Christ: Surrender for Transformation.
Let me quote the apostle John to make a statement, "Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did." (1 John 2:6) In other words, if we claim to be Christians, we must live as Christ without any reservation.
Living the life of Christ begins with your personal surrender. Galatians 2:20 declares, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
This is what we learn from the Presbyterian Catechism when we are asked "What do you consider to be the benefit of His [Christ's] death?"
"Because my sins have cause great suffering and painful death to my Lord Jesus, I should no longer delight in sin, but denounce and abhor it, and dedicate my whole life to the service of my Lord and Saviour, and seek to remain His forever, ready to suffer and die for His glory, that at the point of death, I will with joy and satisfaction say; Lord Jesus, for you I live, for you I suffer and for you I die, I am yours, oh Lord Jesus, grant me eternal rest. Amen."
Two things I would like to share with you under this;
1. Crucifixion of Self:
To live the life of Christ, we must crucify the self-centered desires of the flesh. This means laying down our pride, selfish ambitions, and sinful habits.
"All who fear the LORD will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech." (Proverbs 8:13)
My dear Christian friends, the assumption of difficulty or impracticality of living the life of Christ comes from the conflict within - between the flesh and the Spirit. "For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want." (Galatians 5:17) If the flesh is winning the battle, the results are listed in Gal. 5:19-21.
Remember, this battle is the Lord's, all we have to do is surrender our mindset and heart condition to Christ. This is the crucifixion of the self. The Holy Spirit in us makes it possible. After the crucifixion of the self comes, faith.
2. Living by Faith:
Living by faith means trusting Christ in every decision, and allowing His Spirit to guide us daily. It’s an active partnership where we rely on God’s grace and power, not our own strength or other deity.
"By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence." (2 Peter 1:3)
When we are too weak to live the Christ-kind of life, faith unites, strengthens, and purifies our hearts. Every sincere Christian lives by faith and is justified in the sight of God.
Again, referencing the PCG Catechism, a question goes as; "Is it important to you that your faith is strengthened?"
"It is important to me because faith can be great and strong, producing zeal and joy. However, it can also be little and weak, impacted by doubt, fear and despair."
It goes on to add that, "Our faith is strengthened by our understanding, appreciation and partaking of the Lord's Supper."
Living by faith is our total dependence on the God Almighty who knows tomorrow from today. "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1).
i. Intentionally begin each day with prayer, asking God to lead your thoughts, words, and actions. Study the Word which is a lamp to guide your feet and a light for your path (Ps. 119:105).
ii. Have a renewed mindset. It is about being conscious and intentional with spending time in God’s Word for His continuous transformation works. Romans 12:2 reminds us, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Transformation starts with aligning our thoughts with Christ’s.
iii. Never forsake the company of faithful Christians. "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers." (Psalms 1:1-3).
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24-25).
If living the life of Christ is becoming difficult for you, check the people you associate with.
2. Balancing Personal Desires with Discipleship
One of the biggest challenges in living the life of Christ is balancing our own ambitions and desires with His call to discipleship. Always remember that being a Christian takes away your personal desire and relaces with God's own desire, plans, and will for your life.
Jesus said in Luke 9:23, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." This doesn’t mean do not plan, or abandon all ambitions or dreams. Instead, it means, by the leading of the Holy Spirit in you, consciously align them with God’s purposes. Here’s how:
- Subject your Desires to God. Pray about your ambitions or plans and ask God to shape them for His glory. Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." When our delight is in Him, our desires align with His will. You may not have to worry about how to balance your personal desires with God's call when those desires are already committed to His will.
Remember, if it is about plans for a good and great future, He has your back, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
- Seek First the Kingdom. Your priority should be the desire of God's Kingdom. Matthew 6:33 reminds us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. As we prioritize His work, God provides for all our needs and aligns our path.
- Integrate Faith into Your Ambitions. Whatever your career or calling, use it as an opportunity to reflect Christ. Let your work ethics, integrity, and relationships glorify Him.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
3. Revealing God's Glory: Love, Grace, and Truth
When Jesus walked the earth, His life revealed God’s glory through His love, grace, and truth (John 1:14). To live the life of Christ means reflecting these same attributes.
- Love: Christ’s love was unconditional and sacrificial. He loved even His enemies. In a world filled with division, we reveal His glory by loving others without prejudice. Practical steps include forgiving offenses, serving others, and showing compassion.
- Grace: Jesus met people with grace, offering them what they didn’t deserve. We reveal Christ’s glory when we extend grace to others—being patient, forgiving, and kind, even when it’s undeserved.
- Truth: Jesus didn’t compromise on truth, but He spoke it with love. In our society, where truth can be relative, we stand firm on God’s Word, sharing it with humility and gentleness (1 Peter 3:15).
Beloved, serve your community in tangible ways. Look for opportunities to feed the hungry, care for the sick, or encourage the discouraged. Speak truth in love when confronted with moral or spiritual challenges, but always do so with humility.
Conclusion
Living the life of Christ in this generation is challenging, but it’s not impossible. It begins with surrender, grows through a life of love, grace, and truth, and requires a constant alignment of our ambitions with God’s will. As we do this, His glory will be revealed through us, drawing others to Him.
Let’s take encouragement from Philippians 2:13: "For it is God who works in you to will and to act to fulfill his good purpose." God equips and empowers us to live as Christ did, revealing His glory in a world that desperately needs Him.
[Reflections] Ask God to show you one area where you can better live out the life of Christ. Whether it’s surrendering a habit, showing love to someone difficult, or aligning a goal with His will, take a step of faith and watch how He works through you.
Let us go forth to live the life of Christ, reflecting His glory to the world. Amen.
Shalom aleikhem...
