The prescription for becoming like Christ in this life
2nd Peter 3:18
Every assignment from God is a challenge, some greater than others.
The assignment for becoming like Christ has to be the most difficult of all, because it is to change what is natural into spiritual.
It is natural from a human perspective to dislike, to hold grudges, be resentful, bitter and unforgiving toward people whom you think have harmed you in some way.
But to be Christlike is the exact opposite of what was stated, Matthew 5:44-45, “But I say unto you love your enemies, bless them that hate you, and pray for them which persecute you; that ye may be children of your Father which is in heaven.”
Well, that’s a tall order for human beings who are born in sinful flesh and are bent toward sinning, we have a propensity to sin.
Well, God is serious about us becoming like Christ in this life, therefore, He gives us what we need to become like Christ in this life.
God, who is the author and finisher of our faith, writes the prescription to become what our faith dictates, which is to become like Jesus, not to go to heaven when you die.
Ultimate power of salvation is changing, God gives us the prescription for changing in this text 2nd Peter 3:18
This prescription is not nasty medication, but spiritual nutrients that overpowers the flesh.
Most of us don’t like taking medicine for our physical health, but if you don’t take it, you will not get better
Most of us don’t like doing what God requires to become what he will have us to be.
Bible class, Sunday school, prayer meeting, and regular worship
To him be glory both now and forever!
God’s will is to be like Christ NOW! While I am living in this world of sin, living in this body of sin, and while Satan is doing what he can do, to keep me from being like Christ.
Our power for change comes from God through his word and by his grace!
We need more grace for living!
We need more of God’s Word for living!
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven feed me till I want no more!
If you want to please God, If you want to make God happy, become like His Son
Jesus is Wonderful, Marvelous, Magnificent Savior!
The assignment for becoming like Christ has to be the most difficult of all, because it is to change what is natural into spiritual.
It is natural from a human perspective to dislike, to hold grudges, be resentful, bitter and unforgiving toward people whom you think have harmed you in some way.
But to be Christlike is the exact opposite of what was stated, Matthew 5:44-45, “But I say unto you love your enemies, bless them that hate you, and pray for them which persecute you; that ye may be children of your Father which is in heaven.”
Well, that’s a tall order for human beings who are born in sinful flesh and are bent toward sinning, we have a propensity to sin.
Well, God is serious about us becoming like Christ in this life, therefore, He gives us what we need to become like Christ in this life.
God, who is the author and finisher of our faith, writes the prescription to become what our faith dictates, which is to become like Jesus, not to go to heaven when you die.
Ultimate power of salvation is changing, God gives us the prescription for changing in this text 2nd Peter 3:18
This prescription is not nasty medication, but spiritual nutrients that overpowers the flesh.
- We need grace from God to become like Christ
- We need the word of God to become like Christ
- Becoming like Christ brings glory to God
Most of us don’t like taking medicine for our physical health, but if you don’t take it, you will not get better
Most of us don’t like doing what God requires to become what he will have us to be.
Bible class, Sunday school, prayer meeting, and regular worship
- We need grace from God to become like Christ.
“But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to him be glory both now and forever. Amen.”
- Grace is more than favor from God, but power from God
- Grace is the dispensing of God’s power upon our lives
- Phil. 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
- Grace is not limited to salvation but is instrumental in growing spiritually.
- Grace gives us the desire to become like Christ.
- Desire is half the battle of becoming like Christ
- This happens when we love God more than ourselves, we want to please God more than pleasing ourselves
- Grace gives us power to change in becoming like Christ.
- For those of us who think we can’t change from being you, God says, “Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." (Eph 3:20)
- Not only is God able, He is willing to shape and mold us into the image of Christ
- We need the word of God to become like Christ
“But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen."
- The power of God is activated by the word of God through the Spirit of God.
- If there is no word at work in our lives there is no Holy Spirit at work in our lives.
- No word, no power, to change to become like Jesus
- A lack of the word of God is a lack of power to change to become like Christ
- The word of God is the prescription to becoming like Christ in this life
- The Greek word for knowledge is epignosis which is exact knowledge for changing
- The word of God is powerful to penetrate and saturate our lives with God’s word to become like Jesus
- Heb: 4:12, “For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
- Becoming like Christ brings glory to God
“But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to him be glory both now and forever. Amen.”
- Becoming like Christ is more than meets the eye
- It is a victory for Jesus over Satan in this life
- Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy
- Jesus has come that you may have life and have it more abundantly
- Becoming like Christ is a demonstration of the power of God in the lives of his people who were wretched and undone but now like Christ
- We bring glory to God when we start looking, talking, and walking like Jesus.
To him be glory both now and forever!
God’s will is to be like Christ NOW! While I am living in this world of sin, living in this body of sin, and while Satan is doing what he can do, to keep me from being like Christ.
Our power for change comes from God through his word and by his grace!
We need more grace for living!
We need more of God’s Word for living!
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven feed me till I want no more!
If you want to please God, If you want to make God happy, become like His Son
Jesus is Wonderful, Marvelous, Magnificent Savior!
