Just Like Jesus

Just Like JesusColossians 3:10-14Colossians 3:10 (NLT)Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.As I grow older, the more I see resemblances of my dads nature and habits in myself (i.e. tackling things head on; nightly (CR) habits; footsteps; budgeting, etc.). I couldnt have realized that Im more like my dad when it comes to these things if (1) I hadnt known him and (2) I havent grown up (if I stayed as a baby, or even a little girl, I wouldnt know Im like my dad in terms of budgeting).The same goes in spiritual growth. We need to grow up, and we need to know the model our growth has to follow.

2#justlikeJesusThe goal of spiritual maturity is Christ-likeness.

You and I were made in the image of God (imago Dei). But the image was sullied when sin came. Gods purpose is to restore us back into the image He had in mind when He first created man. Thats why Jesus Christ came. He came to pay the price for our freedom and justify us before God. And the way He lived His life here on earth is to be our pattern for living. He is the perfect Man. He is the Real Man. He is whom we should aim to be like.

-Gen. 1:26 Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness

Romans 8:29 For from the very beginning God decided that those who came to himand all along he knew who wouldshould become like his Son (TLB)3Galatians 2:20 (NIV)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.I didnt try hard to be like my dad; it just came naturally because I had his DNA. In the same way, the first step to be #justlikeJesus comes from knowing that you already have His DNA (Gal.2:20). 4Galatians 2:20 (NIV)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.With this knowledge, acknowledge!

ACT LIKE IT!Then with that knowledge, acknowledge: act like it. As you yield to the Christ-life in you (via the Holy Spirit), the Christ-likeness should come naturally. So stop trying to be #justlikeJesus based solely on your own efforts because you will only get frustrated. Start yielding to the Holy Spirits leading (Gal. 5:16, 25) and be transformed.

5CURRENT FB CRAZE: #MAKEUPTRANSFORMATION6

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#makeuptransformation (Christian version)Colossians 3:10 (NLT)

1. PUT ON YOUR NEW NATUREPUT OFF OLD SELF / PUT ON NEWTake off the grave clothes John 11:44Cast off and throw away all these rotten garments of anger, hatred, cursing, and dirty language. Colossians 3:8Jesus said in John 11:44 Take off the grave clothesObject lesson: dirty, filthy clothing Ask someone to wear it on top of their clean, fresh clothes. Col. 3:8 Cast off and throw away all these rotten garments of anger, hatred, cursing, and dirty language.When youve taken it off, dont wear it again anymore. Throw it away. Burn it. Forget about it. Just as youve outgrown your old baby/toddler/kids clothes and dont wear them anymore, dont wear your old self/nature any longer. You are a new creation now. Start wearing clothes appropriate to your new stature. 12Max Lucado, Just Like JesusGod loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus.VICKY BEECHING Christian artist who recently admitted shes gay. And she refuses to change, saying that you dont have to choose between your faith and your sexuality. She claims that God loves her as she is.13

1. PUT ON YOUR NEW NATURE2. LEARN / KNOW YOUR CREATORLEARN TO KNOW YOUR CREATORCrave pure spiritual milk 1 Peter 2:2The best way to get to know God is through His Word. Read it, get to know what God is like. Learn from Jesus, how he lived while he was here on earth.*The more we learn about God, the more we see His love, goodness and faithfulness to us. The more we realize how much He loves us. That love is a powerful, transforming kind of love! 15

1. PUT ON YOUR NEW NATURE2. LEARN / KNOW YOUR CREATOR3. BE RENEWEDAs you spend time learning about your Creator through reading, studying and meditating on Gods Word, allow God to show you the areas in your life that needs correcting, improving. Dont fight it. Instead, act on Gods prompting, obey and apply what He teaches you and then you will be transformed into His likeness.

16BE RENEWEDBut we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Cor. 3:1817

1. PUT ON YOUR NEW NATURE2. LEARN / KNOW YOUR CREATOR3. BE RENEWED4. BECOME #justlikeJesus#justlikeJesusWHAT WAS JESUS LIKE?

Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)12Therefore, as Gods chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

COMPASSIONATECOMPASSIONATEFilled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. I am willing, he said. Be clean! Mark 1:41Jesus touched the leprous man. He didnt have to. The sickness went away with His command. But Jesus touched Him anyway. His touch was a salve to the lonely heart of the man who, for a long time, was one of the untouchables (unclean).KJV bowels of mercies (bowels Gk: splagchnon regarded as the seat of the more violent passions, such as anger and love; but by the Hebrews as the seat of the tenderer affections, especially kindness, benevolence, compassion)Touch Therapy: caregivers, doctors; Christians we are Christs hands here on earth today. Someone may be in desperate need of a touch of God. 24

COMPASSIONATEKIND, HUMBLE, FORGIVINGKIND, HUMBLE, FORGIVINGJohn 13:1-5Ephesians 4:32Philippians 2:3-8John 13:15John 13:1-5 Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.Jesus, the Creator of the universe, God, King of kings, humbled himself and served his disciples. He did not think of His position. He served everyone of them, showing them His love, even if some of them were going to betray Him.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.Philippians 2:3-8 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God,did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross!Has someone been unkind to you? Be kind. Has someone hurt you? Forgive. Are you in a position of authority? How can you serve and minister to those who are under your care?John 13:15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 26

COMPASSIONATEKIND, HUMBLE, FORGIVINGPATIENT, FORBEARING, GENTLEPATIENT, FORBEARING, GENTLEHe was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. Isaiah 53:7Amidst the wrong accusations, the shame and humiliation, the degrading treatment, the pain and suffering, the Lord Jesus took it all upon Himself. They struck Him with their best blow, still, Jesus did not waver in His obedience to the Fathers will. Not one curse word escaped His lips; nary a vile, murderous thought entered His mind. Instead, He patiently endured everything until His very last breath.

28John 16:33Acts 5:412 Timothy 2:3Rom. 8:181 Pet. 4:131 Cor. 16:13Eph. 6:10-18In this world, you will have trouble, Jesus said in John 16:33, but take heart! I have overcome the world.Stop complaining; praise God! Stop whining; sing to God! If you are suffering for the sake of the Gospel, rejoice that you have been counted worthy to suffer disgrace for the Name of Jesus (Acts 5:41)! Endure hardships like a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 2:3). The sufferings we have now is not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Rom.8:18, 1 Pet. 4:13) but we have to stand firm (1 Cor.16:13) and stand our ground (Eph. 6:10-18)

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COMPASSIONATEKIND, HUMBLE, FORGIVINGPATIENT, FORBEARING, GENTLELOVING(FLSB Notes on 1 Cor.11:1)Jesus demonstrated love by:1. Rebuking sin Mt.16:23, Mk. 9:19; Mk. 10:13-142. Expressing anger at those who were cruel, heartless, insensitive to the suffering and needs of others Mk.3:53. Warning us of hell Luke 12:5; Mt. 5:29-304. Offering Himself as a sacrifice John 13:1, 10:11, 17-18; Mt. 26:3830LOVING"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep... I lay it down on My own initiative. John 10:11, 18When the people in our lives are straying away from God / in error of ways / in danger of falling into false teachings, temptations, traps, etc., do we speak the truth in love (Eph.4:15) or do we keep quiet? Do we speak up for the oppressed, help the weak and poor and needy, address and minister to the needs of the suffering?Are we going out and preaching the good news of love, hope and forgiveness in Jesus Christ no matter what people will say or think about us?Are we offering ourselves as a living sacrifice unto God by serving Him and others? 31#justlikeJesusPARTNER / YIELD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

To live out our lives here on earth #justlikeJesus did, we need to partner with / yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit. Remember, Jesus was fully human when He was here on earth. He was able to do all that He did by the power and leading of the Holy Spirit.Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit led by the Spirit. Luke 4:1 That same Spirit who was residing in Him is the same Holy Spirit that has been shed abroad in our hearts.God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.Romans 5:5 So we can live and love #justlikeJesus as we walk and live by the power of the Holy Spirit in us. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.25If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

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