Becoming more like Jesus
Read this if you want to know the changes we should work on.
Between the day we're saved and the day we go to heaven.
1. Instant / gradual change
See the two diagrams above:
When we become believers, our eternal destination is instantly changed.
But the process of becoming more like Jesus LASTS A LIFETIME.
2. Four reasons why we should try our best to become more like Jesus
2.1 Being saved isn't the end of our spiritual journey - it's the beginning!
Hebrews 6:1 ~ Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ (= moving beyond the Christian beginner’s stage), let us go on unto perfection …
Illustration
It's like a new baby - the main growth & development happens after he / she is born.
Further reading
Matthew 5:48
1 Thessalonians 4:1
Revelation 2:19
2.2 God expects us to align our lives with His standards - not with the standards of the world
1 Peter 2:5-6
5Ye also, as lively (= living) stones, are built up a spiritual house …
6Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief Cornerstone …
--> Peter said that we’re like STONES:
Jesus is the Cornerstone (= the stone which is put in place first, when building - then the other stones are aligned against it).
We should align our lives with that of Jesus - not with the standards of the world / what we can get away with.
King Solomon ordered the stones to be shaped perfectly before they were taken up to Jerusalem, to build the Temple. (1 Kings 6:7)
Just like God shapes our characters on earth - BEFORE He takes us up to heaven.
So if we have a problem with e.g. impatience - He’ll put us into situations where we can learn to overcome this, and become patient!
The same goes for: anger, envy, anxiety etc.
That’s why things don’t always happen as we’d like them to!
1 Peter 5:10 ~ But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Further reading
‘Tough times’ message on WholeCounselofGod.com
In Psalms & Isaiah - God rebukes the people for NOT living their lives HIS way:
Psalm 95:10 ~ Forty years long was I (= God) grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known My ways.
Isaiah 55:7-9
7aLet the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD …
8For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD.
9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
--> God wants us to align:
Our thoughts & ways
with
His thoughts & ways
Further reading
Leviticus 18:3-5
Deuteronomy 10:12
Judges 2:17, 19 & 22
2 Samuel 22:20-25
1 Kings 2:3, 3:14, 8:58 & 61, 11:33 & 38
2 Kings 21:20-22
2 Chronicles 6:27 & 31, 7:14, 17:3-6, 34:2
Job 24:13, 34:26-27
Psalms 1:1-3, 10:4-5, 18:21-23, 25:4 & 8-9, 50:23, 51:13
Psalms 81:13, 86:11, 103:7, 106:3, 119:5, 9, 15 & 37, 128:1
Proverbs 2:20, 3:31, 4:14-19, 8:32, 10:29, 11:3
Proverbs 14:12 & 14, 15:9, 16:7, 21:8, 28:18
Isaiah 2:3, 30:21, 42:24, 65:2
Jeremiah 2:17, 5:4-5, 6:16, 7:5-7 & 23-24, 15:7
Jeremiah 18:11 & 15, 23:22, 25:5, 26:3 & 13, 36:7, 42:3
Lamentations 3:40
Ezekiel 7:27, 11:12 & 19-20, 13:22, 18:5-9, 25 & 29, 24:14, 33:11, 17 & 20, 44:23
Daniel 9:5
Hosea 4:9, 14:9
Zechariah 3:7
Malachi 2:8-9
Luke 6:40
Hebrews 3:10-11, 12:14
1 John 2:1
3 John 11
2.3 God's watching us
Psalm 69:5 ~ O God, Thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from Thee.
--> God knows & sees EVERYTHING about us.
It’s like having a CCTV camera watching us: 24/7 !
He even knows our thoughts:
Ezekiel 11:5 ~ And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD;
Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.
We’re all sinners, but if we continue to commit gross sin and don’t repent - we shouldn’t expect to ‘get away with it’.
God often seems to expose such behaviour - to others who need to know about it.
So we should follow this good practice:
Proverbs 16:6 ~ … and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Further reading
Genesis 6:5
2 Samuel 11:27 then 12:12
1 Kings 8:39
1 Chronicles 28:9
2 Chronicles 6:30
Job 1:5, 24:23, 31:4, 34:21-22
Psalms 1:6, 11:4, 14:2, 19:14, 33:13-15, 34:15-16, 38:9
Psalms 44:21, 90:8, 94:7-11, 119:168, 139:1-6
Proverbs 5:21, 10:9, 15:3, 11 & 26, 16:7, 21:2, 24:12
Ecclesiastes 12:14
Isaiah 29:15, 66:17-18
Jeremiah 15:1, 16:17, 17:10, 20:12, 23:24, 29:23, 32:19
Ezekiel 8:12, 9:9, 14:14 & 20
Daniel 2:22
Hosea 7:2
Amos 5:12
Jonah 1:2
Zechariah 4:10
Malachi 3:16
Matthew 1:18-20, 6:3-4, 6, 8 & 17-18
Matthew 10:26 & 29-30, 12:25 & 36
Luke 5:22, 7:39-40, 8:17, 11:17, 12:2-3 & 6-7
John 2:24-25
2 Corinthians 11:31
1 Thessalonians 4:6
Hebrews 4:13, 10:26-31
1 John 3:20-21
Revelation 2:19, 3:1-2, 8 & 15
2.4 We should think long term - not short term
1 John 2:15-17
Verse 15
15Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of (= love for) the Father is not in him.
--> If we love worldly ways (as described below, in verse 16) - we won’t love God.
Verse 16
16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
--> John highlighted the THREE main dangers we ALL face:
Lust of our flesh - e.g. eating too much food.
Lust of our eyes - e.g. always wanting a better: home / car / phone etc.
Pride of life - when we say: ‘Look at me, I’m important’.
Verse 17
17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
--> It’s VITAL that we plan for our future in eternity:
A. Where will we go - heaven or hell?
(See ‘The Cross’ and ‘What happens when we die?’ messages on WholeCounselofGod.com)
B. What will Jesus think of our life on earth?
Did we do our best to follow His example and commands?
Further reading
Genesis 25:29-34
Psalm 17:13-15
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Philippians 3:18-20
1 Timothy 4:7-9
Hebrews 11:24-26
Revelation 3:4
RECAP of the four reasons why we should do our best to become more like Jesus:
Being saved isn’t the end of our spiritual journey - it’s the beginning.
God expects us to align our lives with His standards - not with the standards of the world.
God’s watching us.
We should think long term - not short term.
Let’s now look at:
Three things we need to do - to become more like Jesus.
Three things we should avoid doing - because they’ll hold us back on our Christian journey.
3. Three things we need to do - to become more like Jesus
3.1 Take the initiative
James 4:8 ~ Draw nigh (= come near) to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.
We need to actively clean up our lives - it doesn’t just happen on its own.
That would be like waiting for our dirty dishes / muddy car to wash themselves - nice idea, but it doesn’t work that way!
This is what Paul advised Timothy - his fellow believer:
1 Timothy 5:22 ~ … neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.
It’s our job to keep ourselves pure.
Like when we learnt to walk, or to ride a bike:
Other people can help - by showing us what to do.
But then we had to put in the effort.
We need to take this seriously:
Revelation 18:4-5
4And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that (= so) ye receive not of her plagues.
5For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Further reading
Genesis 35:2
2 Chronicles 29:5-19, 31:18
Ezra 6:21
Nehemiah 9:2, 12:30
Job 27:3-4
Psalms 4:4, 34:14, 37:27, 101:2-4
Proverbs 3:7, 4:23-27, 11:20 & 27
Isaiah 1:16-17, 2:5
Amos 5:14-15
Zephaniah 2:3
Matthew 10:16
Luke 1:5-6
John 5:14, 8:11
Acts 24:16
Romans 6:11-15, 12:9, 13:12-14
1 Corinthians 5:8, 11:31-32, 15:34
2 Corinthians 7:1
Ephesians 4:22–25 & 31-32
Colossians 3:1-12
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12
1 Timothy 6:11
2 Timothy 2:19-22
Hebrews 12:1
James 1:21, 4:17
1 Peter 3:10-11
1 John 3:3 & 6-10, 5:18
Revelation 19:7
3.2 Build up our spiritual life
Galatians 5:16-17
16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17For the flesh lusteth against (= opposes) the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other …
--> If we build up our spiritual life - it helps us to overcome the lusts of our flesh.
--> Like strong reinforcements help an army to win a battle.
Q - How can we build up our spiritual life?
A - Three main ways:
Read the Bible. (Psalm 1:1-3, Jeremiah 15:16)
Pray. (Matthew 26:41 / Mark 14:38 / Luke 22:40 & 46)
Spend time with believers who strengthen & encourage us. (Psalm 101:6, Proverbs 27:17)
Further reading
These messages on WholeCounselofGod.com:
Prayer
Encouragement
Church
3.3 Think good / wholesome thoughts
Philippians 4:8 ~ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
The MORE we think about GOOD things --> the LESS we’ll think about BAD things.
Like we can overcome cravings for junk / unhealthy food by eating plenty of healthy food.
So when the devil puts a sinful thought into our mind - try singing a favourite praise song until the bad thought leaves.
Further reading
Romans 12:1-2
2 Corinthians 10:5
RECAP of the three things we NEED to do - to become more like Jesus:
A. Take the initiative.
B. Build up our spiritual life.
C. Think good / wholesome thoughts.
4. Three things we should avoid doing
Q - Why?
A - Because they’ll hold us back.
4.1 Don't look back nostalgically at our past life as unbelievers
Numbers 11:4-6 & 10
4And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting (= began to lust greatly): and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
5We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic:
6But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
…
10Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.
--> The people LOOKED BACK, to the life which they had in Egypt.
--> Instead of FORWARDS to the Promised Land.
John Wesley’s mother wrote: "I have long since shook hands with (= shaken off) the world".
We need to do the same - and not be nostalgic about our ‘good old days as unbelievers’.
Further reading
Genesis 19:26
Exodus 16:3
Joshua 23:10-13 & 16
Ruth 1:15
Proverbs 26:11
Ecclesiastes 7:10
Isaiah 43:18-19
Ephesians 2:2-3
1 Peter 1:14-16, 4:1-5
4.2 Don't spend too much of our free time with non-Christians
2 Corinthians 6:14–18
14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?
And what communion (= partnership) hath light with darkess?
15And what concord (= harmony) hath Christ with Belial (= Satan)? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel (= unbeliever)?
16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?
For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
17Wherefore come OUT from among them, and be ye SEPARATE, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
We shouldn’t neglect our unsaved family & people we’re trying to evangelise.
(Matthew 9:10-13 / Mark 2:16-17 / Luke 5:29-32)
But we shouldn’t spend TOO MUCH of our free time with unbelievers.
Otherwise their ungodly ways of thinking can influence us.
It’s like swimming in polluted water --> we come out of the water dirty.
God told us to live a separate / holy life:
So our lifestyle should be different from unbelievers - because we’re walking in a higher calling, with better values.
That means we shouldn’t go with people / to places which encourage us to sin.
Many TV programmes & films have sinful values in them:
They misuse the Lord’s name, and also send out messages that it’s OK to: lie, steal, commit sexual sin etc.
The danger is that we then come to accept these lifestyles as OK - when in God’s eyes they’re not.
And it’s God who will hold everyone accountable on Judgement Day.
Further reading - ‘What happens when we die?’ message on WholeCounselofGod.com
Further reading
Exodus 20:7 / Deuteronomy 5:11
1 Chronicles 5:25-26
Ezra 9:1-2 & 10:10-12
Nehemiah 10:28-31, 13:3 & 23-30
Psalms 1:1, 26:4-5, 50:18, 101:4-5 & 7-8, 106:34-36, 119:63, 141:4
Proverbs 1:10-16, 13:20, 14:7, 16:29, 22:3 & 24-25
Proverbs 23:6-9 & 20-21, 24:1-2, 27:12, 28:19
Ezekiel 11:12
1 Corinthians 15:33
Ephesians 5:3-11
James 1:27
4.3 Don't look where we shouldn't & don't dwell on sinful thoughts
Job knew what to do:
Job 31:1 ~ I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
Job made a covenant not to look at / think of others in a lustful way.
Because he recognized the dangers.
Jesus warned that what we allow in through our eyes affects our whole self:
Matthew 6:22-23
22The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single (= clear, pure, uncorrupted, healthy), thy whole body shall be full of light.
23But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
What the eye sees --> the mind savours --> the emotions feel --> the life does.
So when the devil tries to tempt us to sin, it’s best to just:
Look away.
Think wholesome thoughts / sing a favourite praise song - so we focus back on God’s standards.
We can’t avoid the first look / thought.
But we can always avoid the second look / thought.
Further reading
Genesis 39:7-10
Job 28:28
Psalm 101:3
Proverbs 16:17
Isaiah 33:15-16
1 Corinthians 6:20
1 Thessalonians 5:22
Q - What can happen if we DON'T look away and DON'T avoid those second looks / second thoughts?
A - Let’s learn from King David’s downfall in 2 Samuel 11
Verse 2
2And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house:
and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
David couldn’t avoid seeing the woman.
But he COULD avoid what happened next.
Verse 3
3And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
David should have LOOKED AWAY and left it at that.
But he didn’t:
Verse 4
4And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
5And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
--> The key to overcoming temptation is to look away / say 'No' - IMMEDIATELY there’s a danger of sinning.
For David - life went badly wrong after his sin with Bathsheba.
If we dwell on a sinful thought - we’ve started to lose the battle.
Q - So what should we do when Satan sends a sinful thought into our mind?
A - Kick it away: like the last defender boots the football back down the pitch. Then the attacking team can’t cause any problems.
As John Knox preached:
‘Those who have been washed from their former sins are bound to lead a new life, fighting against the lusts of the flesh, and studying to glorify God by good works.’
--> We're in a FIGHT - which we need to WIN!
Further reading
Genesis 3:1-8
Job 1:1 & 8; 2:3
Proverbs 16:32
Ecclesiastes 10:1
Luke 4:5-8
John 8:34
1 Corinthians 10:8 & 13
Galatians 5:19-24
1 Peter 2:11
RECAP of the three things we should AVOID doing:
Don’t look back nostalgically at our past life as unbelievers.
Don’t spend too much of our free time with non-Christians.
Don’t look where we shouldn’t & don’t dwell on sinful thoughts:
David got it wrong.
Job got it right.
5. In Leviticus chapter 11 - God classifies animals into two types
Clean / holy = Separated from the world = God likes
Unclean / unholy = Not separated from the world = God dislikes
These animals show how WE can choose to be:
Clean / holy = Separated from the world = God likes
Unclean / unholy = Not separated from the world = God dislikes
Let's now look at Leviticus chapter 11
Verse 20
20All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.
Birds are supposed to fly.
God uses birds which DON'T FLY as a picture of PEOPLE GLUED TO THIS WORLD = an abomination to God.
(‘Fowls with four legs’ in some Bible translations = Like we say ‘on all fours’ to describe two-legged humans crawling along the ground.)
Verses 21-22
21Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal (= as well as) upon the earth;
22Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.
God says that insects like grasshoppers - which leap away from this world - are good to eat.
Grasshoppers are a picture of how God wants us to OVERCOME THE WAYS OF THIS WORLD.
Further reading
Exodus 8:27-28
Joshua 24:14-18
Psalm 119:19
John 3:31, 17:14-18
Acts 2:40
Titus 2:12-13
2 Peter 1:3-10
1 John 5:4-5
Verse 27
27And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even.
Paws = Flesh in close contact with the world.
Paws = A picture of how living like the world / with worldly people, leads to living unclean lives which are displeasing to God.
Verses 29-30
29These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind,
30And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole.
Moles & tortoises = Hiding our faith from others: going underground or hiding in our shell.
Snails = Believers in close contact with the world.
Chameleons = Christians who blend into the world - with nothing to distinguish them from unbelievers.
--> God doesn't want us to be like these.
--> He wants us to be like grasshoppers and escape the ways of this world!
6. Progress check
How are we doing?
Every day we have opportunities to become more like Jesus - than we were:
Yesterday / Last week / Last year.
So let’s escape from the attractions of sinful / worldly ways - and do our best to live by Jesus’ heavenly standards!
Amen