1 / 15

“Like the One who Serves ”:

“Like the One who Serves ”:. The Imitation of Christ for Real People . “Like the One who Serves ”:. The Imitation of Christ for Real People . Week 1 Preview. Definition Why we shouldn’t imitate Christ Why we should imitate Christ Why we can imitate Christ How we should imitate Christ.

tobias
Download Presentation

“Like the One who Serves ”:

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. “Like the One who Serves”: The Imitation of Christ for Real People

  2. “Like the One who Serves”: The Imitation of Christ for Real People

  3. Week 1 Preview • Definition • Why we shouldn’t imitate Christ • Why we should imitate Christ • Why we can imitate Christ • How we should imitate Christ

  4. Definition: What is “the imitation of Christ”? • A three-fold conviction: • 1. Christians should reflect deeplyon Jesus’ example, • 2. This should lead to sustained effortto be like him • 3. This is a central featureof the Christian life

  5. Why We Shouldn’t Imitate Christ • Leads to works righteousness • If we can be “good enough,” we don’t need grace • Superficial, moralistic view of “holiness” • Denies the uniqueness of Christ as divine Savior • Jesus is only an Example • We don’t need him to die as a sacrifice for our sin • Ignores the reality of human sin • Theoretical: wecan’t do this • Personal: Ican’t do this

  6. Why We Should Imitate Christ: The Historical Argument • “For when we have put on Christ, the garment of our righteousness and salvation, then we also put on Christ, the garment of imitation.” • Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, 26:353

  7. Why We Should Imitate Christ: The Historical Argument • “[Christ] invites each member of His body to imitate Him. …none can be considered Christ’s disciple who is not a true imitator of Him and prepared to run the same course.” • John Calvin, Calvin’s Commentaries(Matthew 16:24)

  8. Why We Should Imitate Christ: The Historical Argument • “[t]he imitation of Jesus has a fundamental place in Christian life; it is perfectly correct to represent Him as our supreme and only perfect example.” • J. Gresham Machen, Christianity and Liberalism, 93

  9. Abuse Does not Negate Proper Use

  10. Why We Should Imitate Christ: The Biblical Argument • 1 Corinthians 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. • 1 Peter 2:21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. • Mark 10:45 Foreven the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransomfor many. • John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

  11. The Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38) SandroBoticelli c. 1489

  12. Why We Can Imitate Christ JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD JESUS IS THE SECOND ADAM Divine Unique Savior Jesus is our Savior to be trusted, the one who does for us what no other could do Human Pattern Example Jesus is our example to be imitated, the model for what faithful human life looks like

  13. Jesus in Luke: Second Adam • The birth of the second Adam: 1:31; 3:23-38 • Like us, but different • A second start • The temptation of the second Adam: 4:1-13 • Like Adam: not born sinful, but able to be tempted • Unlike Adam: more harsh, more frequent, more faithful • The death of the second Adam: 23:43 • Jesus re-opens the way to the Garden of Eden • His faithfulness lets others share blessing, life, and joy

  14. Passion for the glory of God Passion for the good of others Patient endurance of hardship Willing denial of self How We Should Imitate Christ: Four Practical Priorities

More Related