14 Apr Modelling Christ-like Character

PRELUDE
It’s all about Christlikeness. Becoming more like Christ or Christlikeness is the will and call of God. Conformity to the image of God means to become like Christ. While we have been saved and received new life in Jesus Christ, the old has gone and new has come, yet the desire of becoming like Him remains as an attempt. Here are some ways and means to model Christ’s characteristics. To start with, we can learn the biblical basis for Christlikeness, next explore a few biblical models of Christlikeness and finally examine the biblical conclusions for such modelling in our lives. Modelling is not showing up or show casing but manifesting, testifying and exemplifying. There are several dimensions to emulating the characters of the Lord Jesus Christ. The characteristics and attributes of God are unique and are methodically assimilated throughout our life’s journey with Christ.

Biblical Basis: Rom 8:29 says, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” The chapter ends with, “Nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”. An eternal predestinating purpose and the providence of God grows us into Christlikeness. 2 Cor 3:18 says, “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” So, by the indwelling Spirit Himself we are changed from glory to glory. I Jn 3:2 says, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” We get a perspective of our past, present and future, in becoming like Christ. The eternal purpose, the historical transformation and eschatological hope combine towards the same end of Christlikeness.

What is Modelling: Modelling is an important part of the Christian life as we are called to be role models. 1 Jn 5:12 says, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life”. Representing something includes imitating the behaviour or characteristics. By following biblical standards, we are transformed into the image of Christ and we stand as living testimonies.

Biblical Models: The biblical heroes mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11 seldom set out to be heroic. But conviction mingled with courage and commitment enabled them to do spectacular things which history later called heroism. The dynamism seen in our biblical heroes were driven by a mysterious encounter with God that spurred them to attain God’s character. Such a faithful attempt of these heroes came very near to God’s character vis-a-vis Christ’s likeness. Even in each stage of the dramatic unfolding of Israel’s history there is a pivotal character through whom God seeks to move His people forward in the realization of being called chosen people. They were fallible, humanly inadequate but they discovered that following God’s attributes produce God’s characteristics. That is why Heb11:6 says, “it is impossible to please God without faith”. So, the power of the gospel challenges and changes people because it embodies Christ’s character.

Who is our Model: We come across excellent examples in the old and new testaments. The shepherd boy, King David is a typical example who exhibits the qualities of a man after God’s own heart. The Lord testified about him “that he would do His will”. The capacity of our heart to correspond to God’s heart synchronizes together and is moulded in the likeness of the divine nature. As a sculptor sculpts the likeness of something or a painter draws a portrait, so God’s heart is reproduced intellectually, emotionally and volitionally in His children. David longed for the heart of God and the Lord moulded his character like clay in the potter’s hand, shaping him into His likeness. David was a God-captivated man. 1 Sam 16:7 says, “The Lord looks at the heart”. David’s trust, prayer and longing for a right standing before God with a clean heart and loyal spirit reflects God’s heart.

Another excellent model is the Apostle Paul who said, “For to me, to live is Christ…” The one who was persecuting the disciples of Christ had become a disciple of Christ Himself. A Persecutor became a Propagator. Paul said, “I want to imitate Christ”. Paul spoke in and outside synagogues, undertook missionary journeys, mentored believers and was instrumental in the birth of the early church which proves that he was an exemplary model for you and me to follow to become Christ-like. In Acts 17:28 Paul declares, “For in him we live, we move and have our being”.

Paul carried the gospel to the ends of the earth. In Eph 5:1 Paul says, “Be imitators of God”, and in Gal 2:20 Paul says, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me”. Christ is the ultimate. When the Lord’s goodness, love, power and grace are implanted in us, we become like Christ. Paul said, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ,” 1 Cor 11: 1. Paul is urging us to be like Christ in His incarnation, to be like the foot-washing Christ and to be like the Christ of the cross.

Conclusion: King David and the Apostle Paul reflected God. Within the wide spectrum of God’s character, they exhibited a few characteristics. These characteristics ought to be assimilated, manifested, testified and exemplified by us. So, in conclusion, I wish to state that modelling Christ’s character solely depends on how we integrate, relate to God and His people.

CHRIST IS GOD AND LET US BE LIKE CHRIST.

Arul Jaya Prakash, a retired Genaral Manager from HMT, Bangalore. His wife Clara, Prof in Govt. Science College, has now gone to be with the Lord. They both involved in UESI ministries for 20 yrs in Tumkur. He was the former President of BEGF, former President of UESI-Karnataka and former Board Executive Secretary of National UESI. He can be reached at aruljayaprakash@gmail.com