IMITATING CHRIST

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”  Romans 15:4

       It is widely accepted that the Old Testament scriptures were written by divine inspiration for a Christian’s benefit and use (1 Cor. 10:11; 2 Tim. 3:15–17; 1 Pet. 1:10–12)*.  If the Old Testament was written to teach us, what was the New Testament for?  We learn a great deal about the Lord, His Holy Spirit and His Son, Jesus, however, we also find that scripture calls out to us to imitate what we find in the New Testament.  More directly, we are to imitate Christ.  Jesus shows us how to deny ourselves.  He also teaches us how to love, then shows us by dying for us.  He is the one and only completely selfless man.  This is who we are to emulate; Jesus Christ, Son of God. 

       We are not perfect, no one this side of heaven is.  We start on the journey to holy, moral, godly living by acknowledging our need of a Savior.  Once we admit our need and accept God’s gracious gift of forgiveness, we are on our way.  Feasting on the word of God, we learn of God’s great acts of power and might throughout the Old Testament.  We see that God was faithful to the children of Israel and learn that we can expect the same type of faithfulness today.  We know this because Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  Jesus was God, so our Heavenly Father never changes, He is the same now and forever, for as it declares in Malachi 3:6 “I the Lord do not change.”  And again in James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

       Learn well the lessons offered throughout the Old Testament and strive to live like Christ each day.  That is the will of God for you.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resources:  Matthew Henry Commentary on the Bible and The Reformation Study Bible.

* 1 Corinthians 10:11 “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.”

* 2 Timothy 3:15-17  “… and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

* 1 Peter 1:10-12  “Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.”