The West (Europe and America) pretending and claiming to be Christian nations have not followed the steps and teachings of Jesus Christ for hundreds or even thousand of years to this day.
Jesus Christ is our Savior to save our souls, and to save us from dying in our sins. Jesus Christ is also our Example for Christians to follow in His steps.
This article is written to let you know what imitation of Christ really means. We have to be careful in using words respecting spiritual things or pertaining divine things. Jesus says, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”( Mat 12:37 ) It is dangerous and unsafe to use the words or concepts of man to depict the things of God. Nowhere in the Bible tells Christians to reflect Christ. In the things of God, sinners cannot be self-creative or self-reflective to say you reflect Christ. You must follow the Word of God. Sinners are a vessel of wrath can never reflect the glory of God. A little candle cannot reflect the Sun of Righteousness. However, the Bible teaches all believers to imitate Christ, no exception. Even the great Apostle Paul imitated Christ.
There is no doubt and it is very plain and clear, that all Christians who follow Christ and must imitate Christ. The two important questions are: What does it mean to imitate Christ? And how to imitate Christ? There was a good Christian and servant of Christ who wrote a book long ago called The Imitation of Christ , by Thomas a Kempis. He was a Catholic monk and it is a good and great book, in spite of some errors influenced by the Roman Catholicism.
This article is written by searching the Scriptures to find out the truth. What is the meaning of imitation of Christ? Fundamentally what do we imitate Christ?
I. The imitation of Christ involves three principles:
(A.) Imitate the Person of Christ.
1Co 11:1 , “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. ”
Note: Be imitator in Greek is mimētēs which means to be a follower, to follow as an example, model or pattern; to be or appear like; to copy; – which occurs 6 times in the New Testament. Apostle Paul wanted believers to imitate him just as he also imitated Christ.
The most important thing for Christians to do is to imitate Christ. To imitate Christ is to imitate the Person of Christ. We cannot imitate the power and glory of Christ in performing miracles and wonders. We cannot imitate Christ to turn water into wine. We cannot imitate Christ to take the five loaves and the two fish to feed the five thousand men . We cannot calm the winds and the sea. We cannot raise the dead. We cannot imitate Christ walking on the sea. Remember what happened to Peter when he tried?
Psa 100:3 , “Know that the LORD Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”
Note: To know God is to know the Lord Himself is God. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. We must know Jesus is our Good Shepherd and we are His sheep. This personal relationship is the basis to imitate the Person of Jesus Christ.
Luk 24:27 , “Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. ”
Note: Beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, Jesus explained to the disciples the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, the central message of the Bible is Jesus Christ. Explain in Greek is diermēneuō which means to expound, interpret, translate, unfold; to make known or plain; clarify thoroughly; – which occurs 6 times in the New Testament. The Scriptures is the Holy Bible. The Scriptures in Greek is graphē which means the Holy Writ, the Bible; – which occurs 51 times in the New Testament. To imitate the Person of Christ, we must learn from the things concerning Himself in the Bible. We do not accept the speculations and lofty ideas of unbelieving theologians or philosophers.
Jhn 5:26 , “For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself .”
Note: God has life in Himself, Christ also has life in Himself. To know Christ personally is to have life. Without life, you cannot imitate Christ.
Act 1:3 , “To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the Kingdom of God. ”
Note: After His suffering, Christ rose from death and presented Himself alive, by many convincing proofs and speaking of the things concerning the Kingdom of God. Convincing proof in Greek is tekmērion which means infallible proof; indubitable evidence; validity of fact; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. After resurrection Jesus appeared to the disciples over a period of forty days. It is based on the things concerning Jesus Christ written in the Bible which we are to follow and imitate Jesus the Person.
Gal 1:4 , “Who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father .”
Note: According to the will of our God and Father, Jesus gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age. How did Jesus rescue us?
1Pe 2:24 , “and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. ”
Note: Christ Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, it was not symbolic or imaginary. This personal Lord and Savior is who Christians follow and imitate.
(B.) Imitate the faith of your leaders.
Heb 13:7 , “ Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s Word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith. ”
Note: Imitate in Greek is mimeomai which means to follow, to come after, to be or act in accordance with; to obey; – which occurs 6 times in the New Testament. Apostles were Christian leaders who had spoken God’s Word to the Church. Christian leaders are those who speak God’s Word, not their own word or the word of man. To observe in Greek is anatheōreō which means to consider well, to look at attentively, to behold accurately, to look up; to watch carefully; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Outcome in Greek is ekbasis which means end, result, the manner in which they spent their life; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. Christians are to imitate the faith of their leaders including the Apostles. Preachers who seek fame and fortune or are greedy for money or commit sexual immorality are false preachers, not Christian leaders. Watch out the outcome of the lives of prosperity gospel preachers. Crystal Cathedral went bankrupt and was sold for millions of dollars to the Catholic Church and the work of its founder was discredited. Christians imitate the faith of our leaders such as Paul, Stephen, the Apostles and those described in Hebrews Chapter 11.
(C.) Imitate what is good.
3Jo 1:11 , “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.”
Note: No one can imitate Christ while he imitates what is evil. A liar and killer and robber cannot imitate Christ. A greedy capitalist, a warmongering imperialist and bloody militarist cannot imitate Christ. For hundreds or even a thousand years Western imperialism, colonialism and capitalism produce bad fruits although they pretend to be Christians. All evildoers imitate the Devil. The one who does good is of God. The one who does evil is of the Devil. Imitate Christ is to imitate what is good. We cannot imitate the power and glory of Christ.
2Co 10:5 , “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ .”
Note: Speculation in Greek is logismos which means imagination, thought; reasoning which is hostile to the Christian faith; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Lofty thing in Greek is hypsōma which means high-minded thing, elevated thing; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. As I study theology and philosophy, I become aware of the imagination and speculation of unbelieving theologians and philosophers. I am often infuriated by the speculations and loft things of liberal theologians and secular philosophers. Speculations and lofty things such as Higher Criticism, Textual Criticism, conviction of the supremacy and efficacy of human reason above the Wisdom of God. Higher criticism contradicts the Christian faith (as with the Gospels) or even the words of the Bible itself. Destroy in Greek is kathaireō which means to take down, pull down, put down, throw down, cast down, demolish; vanquish; – which occurs 15 times in the New Testament. So Christians must destroy speculations and every lofty thing raised up by secularists, unbelieving theologians and scientists and scholars against the knowledge of God. There are two kinds of knowledge: human and divine. Human knowledge is limited, incomplete, defined by time and place, often erroneous and tentative. Divine knowledge is absolute, infinite, perfect, ultimate and infallible. Just as the Heavens are higher than the earth, so the Divine Knowledge is higher than the human knowledge.Take captive in Greek is aichmalōtizō which means to bring into captivity, to lead away captive, to make captive, to capture one’s mind; to captivate; to subjugate; – which occurs 7 times in the New Testament. So Christians must take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Every human opinion must be subjugated to the Word of God. Obedience in Greek is hypakoē which means obeying, compliance, submission, conformity, subordination; – which occurs 15 times in the New Testament. We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
II. To imitate Christ is to learn from Christ.
Mat 11:29 , “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I AM gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. ”
Note: Yoke in Greek is zygos which means metaphorically, used of any burden or bondage, it is so transferred to the commands of Christ unlike the Mosaic Law; – which occurs 7 times in the New Testament. I believe it spiritually refers to the cross. So Jesus says, Mat 10:38, “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. ” Gentle in Greek is praÿs which means mild, kind, meek; not violent; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. 1Pe 3:4, “but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. ” Humble in Greek is tapeinos which means lowly, lowly in spirit, of low degree, not arrogant or haughty; – which occurs 8 times in the New Testament. In heart means not in appearance. As a comparison, there was an American prosperity gospel TV evangelist. He was so arrogant that he pushed a flight attendant and declared, Do you know who I am? Those who learn from Christ gentle and quiet and take up the cross to follow him will find rest for their souls.
Heb 12:2 , “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ” Endure in Greek is hypomenō which means to suffer, to take patiently; to persevere; under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one’s faith in Christ; – which occurs 20 times in the New Testament. So to learn from Christ is to take up the cross, endure the cross, fixing our eyes on Jesus and follow after Jesus. The people of the world fix their eyes on money, power, and sex.
John Calvin was a false teacher who taught a false doctrine of predestination. Listen to Christ who says whoever comes to Him, He will not kick them out.
(A). Christians must learn the obedience of Christ.
Heb 5:8 , “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. ”
Note: Learn in Greek is manthanō which means to understand, to increase one’s knowledge; to gain knowledge or understanding; – which occurs 26 times in the New Testament. Obedience in Greek is hypakoē which means compliance, submission, act of obeying; – which occurs 15 times in the New Testament. We can learn obedience from sufferings. To suffer is to feel pain. Sufferings cause pain. Pain makes man think. We learn many things from sufferings. Psa 119:71 , “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. ”
We learn obedience from the things we suffer.
2Co 2:9 , “For to this end also I wrote, so that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. ”
Note: Can we put ourselves to the test to prove our trustworthiness? Christians must learn to be obedient in all things the Lord commands.
Rom 15:18 , “For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed.”
Note: What Christ has accomplished for us are tremendous and precious and eternal. What Christ has accomplished through His servants are recorded in Heaven. What we have accomplished for Christ will be remembered forever. Our obedience to Christ must be proved by word and deed.
2Co 9:13 , “Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the Gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all.”
Note: Our obedience is to our confession of the Gospel of Christ. Our obedience to the Gospel of Christ glorifies God.
2Co 10:5 , “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
Note: All speculations and imaginations against the knowledge of God must be destroyed and we are taking everything thought captive to the obedience of Christ. To obey Christ we must reject all speculations and lofty ideas of unbelieving theologians and philosophers raised up against the Word of God. I have studied the so-called lofty ideas of theologians and philosophers, they are vain and not worthwhile. Christians are not only obedient to Christ in our will, we are obedient to Christ also in our thoughts.
(B). Christians must learn from the humility of Christ.
Phl 2:8 , “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ”
Note: Humble in Greek is tapeinoō which means to make low, bring low, metaphorically to bring into a humble condition; to abase oneself by humble living; to have a modest opinion of one’s self; to behave in an unassuming manner; – which occurs 18 times in the New Testament. Our glorious Lord became Man in appearance as a man; obeyed the will of the Holy Father by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Death on a cross was the cruelest form of Roman empire punishment. Our death on the cross means our self-denial in obedience to the will of God. The highest form of obedience is obedient to the point of death. Our obedience to the point of death means through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Jhn 13:12-17, “Then, when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? You call Me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’; and you are correct, for so I am. So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an EXAMPLE, so that you also would do just as I did for you. Truly, truly I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”
Jesus washing the feet of the disciples is an example of doing humility. Humility is a Christian virtue.
Phl 2:5-7 , “Have this mindset in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. ”
In my life experience having met all races of people throughout the years, I discover white and black supremacists are the people so full of themselves. They like to exalt themselves, never to empty themselves as Christ demands.
Note: Humility of Christ is revealed in the mind of Christ. Mind or mindset in Greek is phroneō which means thought, opinion, view, concern, affection; the complex of elements in an individual that feels, perceives, thinks, wills, and especially reasons; mentality; intellectual ability; mental capabilities; a mental attitude or inclination; a person’s way of feeling and thinking; – which occurs 36 times in the New Testament. God wants believers to have the mind or mindset of Christ, to deny oneself. Christ preexisted in the form of God, but He emptied Himself. Grasp in Greek is harpagmos which means to rob, seize, hold fast, retain; to clutch; to lay hold of; to take or seize eagerly; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Unbelievers live and labor to grasp fame and fortune, money, power, and pleasure. Empty in Greek is kenoō which means to make void, to make of no reputation, to abase; to lay aside; – which occurs 9 times in the New Testament. Jesus Christ emptied Himself so as not to grasp equality with God.
Christians must have the mind (or mindset) of Christ. We must learn to empty ourselves – empty our pride, position, pleasure, power, influence, possession, privilege, prerogative, perspective, prejudice, bias, preconception, prejudgment, presumption, pretext, purse, knowledge; etc. To be filled with the Holy Spirit, we must first empty ourselves.
2Co 10:1 , “By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! ”
Note: Most believers know about the power and glory of Christ, not many learn the humility and gentleness of Christ. Humility in Greek is praÿtēs which means meekness, gentleness of spirit, mildness of disposition, lack of pride or arrogance; – which occurs 11 times in the New Testament. The exalted Son of God has humility.
Act 20:19, “serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews .”
Note: Serving the Lord requires all humility.
Col 3:12 , “So, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Note: The elect of God must put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. How can a violent, oppressive, aggressive, arrogant, greedy and unjust warmonger claim to be a Christian?
Tit 3:2 , “to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. ”
Note: Most people think you need to show all humility to the rich and powerful and people of high position. Christians in imitating Christ show all humility to all men. Humility is a special quality: If you think you are humble enough, you are not humble at all.
1Pe 5:5 , “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. ”
Note: The reward of humility is the blessing God gives grace to the humble.
(C). Christians must learn from the sufferings of Christ.
Phl 3:10 , “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”
Note: To have fellowship of the sufferings of Christ is a higher level of knowing and following Christ. Fellowship in Greek is koinōnia which means communion, communication, joint participation, sharing, intimacy, partnership, social intercourse, association; companionship; – which occurs 19 times in the New Testament. To deny oneself is to be conformed to His death. The highest form of fellowship with Christ is the fellowship of His sufferings. I personally think Paul really did. You do not know the meaning of spirituality if you have never suffered for Christ. It is ludicrous for those preachers who get rich by preaching the gospel and think they are suffering for Christ.
Why we must learn from the sufferings of Christ? At least 4 reasons:
(1.) Col 1:24 , “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the Church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. ”
Note: To do our share of sufferings on behalf of the body of Christ which is the Church is to fill up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. This is a high spiritual truth. The meaning is what is wanting in Christ’s affliction on behalf of His body the Church is to be borne by me willingly in order to repay for all the benefits freely I have received from the Lord. Affliction in Greek is thlipsis which means tribulation, persecution, trouble, anguish, oppression, burden; – which occurs 45 times in the New Testament. To share Christ’s afflictions is to suffer with Him. Those who suffer for Christ will someday glorify with Him.
(2.) 1Pe 4:13 , “but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. ”
Note: To share the sufferings of Christ is a guarantee to rejoice with exultation at the revelation of His glory. To suffer for Christ now is to rejoice with Christ when He comes in great power and glory.
(3.) 2Co 1:5 , “For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. ”
Note: To have sufferings of Christ in abundance is to have abundant comfort through Christ. This is the abundant spiritual life. Do you think those American preachers who have assets of millions of dollars do any suffering for Christ?
(4.) Rom 8:18 , “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ”
Note: It is important to know what is worthy or not worthy. How can one know what is worthy or not worthy? By comparison. Comparison is to judge of one thing in connection with another. Comparison is a measure to wear the merit or value of something against another thing. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us when Jesus Christ returns to reign. So it is worthy to suffer for Christ.
1Pe 1:22, “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart .”
If I distort the truth and speak a lie that American imperialism, colonialism, capitalism, monopolism, militarism, hegemonism are good and right; I am sure American leaders and politicians would be glad. But I cannot do anything against the truth, but for the truth, and be obedient to the truth in Christ.
Note: Purify in Greek is hagnizō which means to make pure, cleanse; to sanctify morally; – which occurs 7 times in the New Testament. Obedience to the truth can purify our souls. Not only we must know the truth, believe in the truth, speak the truth, testify to the truth, listen to the truth, practice the truth, walk in truth, and we must also obey the truth. We must learn obedience to the truth. Jhn 17:17 , “Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth.” The more you know the truth in Jesus Christ the more you can be sanctified. The more you are obedient to the truth, the more you can be sanctified.
Heb 12:10 , “For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. ”
Note: Discipline in Greek is paideuō which means to train up, chasten, chastise, teach, instruct, correct, educate, penalize, punish; – which occurs 13 times in the New Testament. God disciplines His children for our good so that we may share His holiness. Heb 12:14 , “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Without holiness no one will see the Lord. European and American supremacists do not want to live in peace with every nation and people. They do and say anything to dictate and dominate the world. European and American warmongers do not want peace, they want conquest.
III. What does it mean to imitate Christ?
1. To imitate Christ is to follow Christ.
What does it mean to follow Christ?
Mat 4:19 , “And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Mar 1:17 , “And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”
Note: Follow in Greek is akoloutheō which means to become a disciple, to follow one who proceeds, to accompany, come after, walk behind, obey ; to be in the same way with; – which occurs 89 times in the New Testament. Beware of false teachers and false prophets who want people to follow them. True Christians only follow Jesus the Leader, not anyone who sets himself up as teacher. Jesus called Peter, John, James, etc. to be disciples to become fishers of men, to win people for Christ.
Mat 8:22 , “But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.”
Note: Allow in Greek is aphiēmi which means to let, leave, let alone, permit, not to hinder or prevent, lay aside; – which occurs 155 times in the New Testament. The first dead means the spiritually dead, the second dead means the physically dead. To follow Jesus is so important and even more important than to bury the dead.
Mat 19:21 , “Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Note: Complete in Greek is teleios which means perfect, mature, – which occurs 20 times in the New Testament. A rich man is not complete. If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven; and come, follow Jesus. Most people want to have treasure on earth. Do you know anyone who wants treasure in Heaven? False prophets and false preachers want to have treasure on earth. The funny part of preachers and followers of prosperity gospel is the fact they want to get rich in this world!!!.
Mat 10:38 , “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. ”
Note: Worthy in Greek is axios which means befitting, congruous, having weight, having worth, deserving, suitable; – which occurs 41 times in the New Testament. To take the cross means self-denial. He who does not take his cross and follow after Jesus is not worthy of Him. He who does not deny himself is not worthy to be a follower of Jesus.
2. To follow Christ is to deny oneself.
To follow Christ, one must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Christ.
Mar 8:34 , “And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. ”
Note: That is the problem with Supremacists (white and black) for they want to be no. 1 in the world, they want to dictate and dominate the world. For that reason they are warmongers, aggressors, trouble-makers, imperialists, colonialists, militarists, capitalists, oppressors.
Wish in Greek is thelō which means to will, desire, intend, purpose, determine, choose or prefer, want; – which occurs 212 times in the New Testament. Deny in Greek is aparneomai which means to forget one’s self, lose sight of one’s self and one’s own interests; disown; – which occurs 11 times in the New Testament. A self-centered and self-seeking person cannot follow Jesus Christ. If anyone wants to come after Jesus, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Jesus. To deny oneself is not to trust oneself, not to seek oneself, not to advance oneself. I discover all supremacists are self-centered persons.
Tit 2:12 , “instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age .”
Do you want to know how to live a Christian life on earth? The Bible has the answer: Live sensibly, righteously and godly in this present age.
Note: To deny oneself is to say no to oneself. To deny oneself is to deny ungodliness and worldly desires. Desire in Greek is epithymia which means lust, concupiscence, a forbidden longing or craving; – which occurs 38 times in the New Testament. Worldly desires include love of money, power and sex. Sensibly in Greek is sōphronōs which means soberly; temperately; discreetly; with sound mind; – which occurs 1 times in the New Testament. To get drunk or get high is not to live sensibly. Righteously in Greek is dikaiōs which means justly; honestly; properly; uprightly; lawfully; equitably; – which occurs 5 times in the New Testament. Corrupt politicians, lawyers, corporate executives, monopolists, and predatory and fraudulent doctors and hospital owners, etc. do not live righteously. Godly in Greek is eusebōs which means piously, devoutly; obeying God;- which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. To imitate Christ is to live sensibly, righteously and godly in this world.
3. To follow Christ is to take up one’s cross daily.
Luk 9:23 , “And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. ”
Note: Daily means all the days of one’s life. If anyone wishes to come after Jesus, he must deny himself, and take up his cross all the days of his life and follow Jesus. To be a Christian is not for one day, it is for the whole life.
Act 17:11 , “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. ”
Note: Noble-minded in Greek is eugenēs which means well born; high in rank; generous; noblesse oblige; notable; very good or excellent; lofty; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. The noble-minded want to know the truth, and so they examine the Scriptures. Eagerness in Greek is prothymia which means readiness of mind; willing mind; forwardness of mind; zeal; spirit; inclination; predisposition; – which occurs 5 times in the New Testament. Examine in Greek is anakrinō which means to search; ask question; investigate; scrutinize; inquire into carefully; determine; discern; – which occurs 19 times in the New Testament. To take up the cross to follow Jesus includes receiving the Word with great eagerness, and to read and examine the Scriptures daily. We must not use the things of the world to test the Word of God, we must use the Word of God to test the things of the world.
Eph 6:18 , “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.”
Note: To follow Christ, Christians need to pray at all times in the Spirit and be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. All the saints in this Scripture means all Christians who are living.
Mar 16:15 , “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation. ”
Act 2:46 , “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart.”
Note: The early Christians followed Jesus with one mind and with gladness and sincerity of heart. To follow Christ not only to take up the cross daily, to study the Bible daily, and to pray at all times in the Spirit, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and also to preach the Gospel to all the peoples. To follow Christ is a daily business, not just for Easter and Christmas.
4. To follow Christ is to minister to Him.
Mar 15:41 , “When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem. ”
Note: Minister in Greek is diakoneō which means to serve, wait upon; to supply food and necessities of life; to take care of; to attend to anything; to be a servant; – which occurs 45 times in the New Testament. There were many women who followed Jesus and supplied Jesus’ food and necessities of life as well as the needs of the disciples. To minister to the servants of Christ is also to minister to Him.
Mat 25:35-36 , “For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.”
Jesus was never sick, for He healed all the sick who came to Him. Jesus was never in prison. To take care of the sick in Christ is to visit Christ. To visit a brother in prison for the sake of the Gospel is to visit Christ.
Mat 25:40, “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.”
Whatever services we do to other Christians for Jesus’ sake, we do it to Jesus. So to minister our brothers and sisters in Christ is to minister to Jesus. To take care of them is to take care of Christ, because believers are the Body of Christ. To share in spiritual things and material things with our brothers and sisters is to minister to the Lord. Ministry of the Word refers to those who are called to preach and teach the Word. According to the gifts we can minister to the Lord. For example, believers ministered to Paul in his imprisonment for the Gospel.
1Co 12:28 , “And God has appointed in the Church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.”
So Christians minister to the Lord according to the gifts given. Do you know helps and administrations are also gifts. For example, taking care of the poor, the sick and invalid, providing financial aid, varieties of assistance, relief and services to the leaders and saints.
Luk 5:28 , “And he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him. ”
Note: Whatever hinders you from following Jesus, you need to forsake or leave behind or abandon it.
5. To follow Christ is to hear His voice.
Jhn 10:27 , “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. ”
Note: Hear in Greek is akouō which means to hearken, listen with attention; attend to; give ear to; understand; – which occurs 436 times. The Great Shepherd goes ahead of His sheep, and the sheep follow Him because they know His voice. To hear His voice is to hear the Word of God and accept it and bear fruit. Very funny about supremacists, not only they do not hear the voice of Christ, they want the world to follow them!!!
Jhn 10:4 , “When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. ”
Note: When you follow Christ, Christ goes ahead of you to lead you. Do not run ahead of Christ. Western leaders and politicians want Jesus Christ to follow them.
Mar 9:7, “Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!”
Note: The word hear in the original language in John 10:27 is the same word used in Mark 9:7 listen. To hear the voice of Jesus is to listen to Him. To listen to Jesus is to follow Him. To follow Jesus is to obey Him.
1Jo 4:6, “We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. ”
Note: Those who have the Spirit of truth listen to Apostolic teachings written in the New Testament. Unbelieving theologians and secular philosophers have the spirit of error and so they reject the Word of God.
6. To follow Christ is to serve Him.
Jhn 12:26 , “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. ”
Note: Serve in Greek is to diakoneō which means to minister to, to be a servant, to wait upon; – which occurs 45 times in the New Testament. A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ. A follower of Jesus is a servant of Christ. If we follow Christ we must serve Him. Honor in Greek is timaō which means to value, revere, venerate; to show great respect; – which occurs 21 times in the New Testament. If we serve Jesus Christ, God will honor us. Think how much it is if the head of a state honors you. In ancient time this was the way the man whom the king desires to honor:
Est 6:7-9 , “Then Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king desires to honor,let them bring a royal robe which the king has worn, and the horse on which the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown has been placed; and let the robe and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble princes and let them array the man whom the king desires to honor and lead him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, ‘Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.’”
Think how glorious it will be when the Lord of the universe honors a person who serves Jesus Christ. The world serves money, power and sex. Christians can serve only Christ our Lord and Savior.
Mat 6:24 , “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. ”
Note: No one can serve two masters, that is exactly what many church members and preachers do. In name they serve God, in fact they serve wealth, especially false gospel preachers such as prosperity gospel preachers and followers. Those who serve wealth cannot serve God.
Luk 4:8 , “Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’”
Note: Jesus demands those who follow Him serve God only.
Rom 1:9 , “For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the Gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you .”
Note: Those who serve in spirit in the preaching of the Gospel of His Son is serving Jesus Christ. For this reason we preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ absolutely free. We do not want donation.
Rom 7:6 , “But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. ”
Note: Those who serve Christ must serve in newness of the Spirit, not according to the flesh.
Gal 5:13, “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ”
It is absurd and ludicrous that American leaders and politicians distort the fact by calling it freedom of navigation. Freedom of navigation does not mean you violate the space and territorial waters of another sovereign state by your spy plans, bombers, war ships, etc. Ask yourself why American and Europeans aircraft carriers, spy planes, bombers, etc. are in the South China Sea, Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the Black Sea to provoke conflict.
Note: Christians serve Christ through love serving one another. Christians must love one another. Denominations divide the Church.
2Ti 1:3 , “I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day.”
Note: To serve Christ one needs to serve with a clear conscience. Imperialists, colonialists, supremacists, militarists, monopolists, capitalists, warmongers, oppressors, dictators, terrorists, greedy Wall Street and bank executives, corrupt lawyers, crooked doctors and hospital owners, etc. cannot serve Christ with a clear conscience. Conscience in Greek is syneidēsis which means moral consciousness; moral integrity; perception of what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter, commending the one and condemning the other; a feeling of obligation to do good and right; – which occurs 30 times in the New Testament. To imitate Christ is to serve Christ with a clear conscience and constantly pray night and day.
7. To follow Christ is to follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham.
Rom 4:12 , “and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised. ”
Note: To follow in the steps is to walk in the steps. Abraham is a pattern of faith. All believers in Christ have a claim to the title of sons or descendants of Abraham. To follow Christ is to follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham. Whenever I meet Jewish people, I always tell them I am also a son of Abraham.
Rom 4:16 , “For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.”
Note: It is by faith in Jesus Christ through grace we are saved and follow our Lord and Savior.
8. To follow Christ is to follow the example of the Apostles.
2Th 3:7 , “For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example , because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you .”
Note: To follow the example of Apostles, among other things, we need also to act in a disciplined manner.
2Th 3:9, “not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example. ”
Note: Follow in Greek is mimeomai which means to imitate, to behave in a similar way; to copy the behavior of; – which occurs 6 times in the New Testament. Apostles offered themselves as a model for believers. Christians ought to follow the example of Apostles like Paul and imitate them. How can greedy and rich American preachers be a model to American believers?
Phl 3:17 , “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. ”
Note: Observe in Greek is skopeō which means to look at; mark; notice; take heed; consider; contemplate; to fix one’s eyes upon; direct one’s attention to; watch carefully; – which occurs 7 times in the New Testament. Pattern in Greek is typos which means example, manner, form; fashion, model; a particular way; image; – which occurs 15 times in the New Testament. Christians walk according to the pattern of Apostles.
2Ti 1:13 , “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.”
Tit 2:7, “in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility.”
Note: The Scriptures provide three patterns: the pattern of life, the pattern of sound words, and the pattern of good works. False preachers and false prophets do not follow the pattern of life, the pattern of sound words and the pattern of good works. As I study theology and philosophy, I am often infuriated by their pattern of unsound words and unsound works. In the last days you find most people do not show integrity. Greed is prevalent.
What is the example of a servant of Christ?
Tit 2:7-8 , “in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us. ”
Note: Example in Greek is typos which means pattern, figure, fashion, manner, image, model, ; – which occurs 15 times in the New Testament. You have nothing bad about the example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, and sound in speech which is beyond reproach. If your pastor is like that, you have found a servant of Christ. Apostles acted in very disciplined manner. False teachers and false prophets remarkably do not have purity in doctrine or example of good deeds.
Phl 1:27, “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel.”
Note: Apostles acted orderly. The manner of life of Apostles offers a model as worthy servants of Christ for Christians and example for us to follow. Apostles offer believers a model so that we are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel.
9. To follow Christ is NOT to turn aside to follow Satan.
1Ti 5:15 , “for some have already turned aside to follow Satan. ”
Note: Turn aside in Greek is ektrepō which means to turn out of the way; go astray; fall from grace; to deviate; – which occurs 9 times in the New Testament. Many deviate from the truth to follow Satan. Satan has schemes to trap people. Beware, Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Satan deceives the whole world. Evil world leaders are influenced by the Ruler of the world, the Devil. To follow Christ is never to turn from the right way to follow Satan. Those who follow Satan cannot and do not follow Christ.
Psa 125:5 , “But as for those who turn aside to their crooked ways,
The LORD will lead them away with the doers of iniquity.
Peace be upon Israel. ”
Note: Crooked way in Hebrew is `aqalqal which means devious way; tortuous way; dishonest way; – which occurs 3 times in the Old Testament. If you watch TV and observe how corrupt world leaders speak and act you will realize the meaning of their crooked ways. They are the doers of iniquity, lying and killing and robbing. Those who turn aside to their crooked ways turn aside to follow Satan.
2Ti 4:4 , “and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. ”
Note: In the last days many will turn away their ears from the truth and turn aside to myths, rumors, fake news, disinformation. Unbelieving theologians and secular philosophers teach myths and turn aside to follow Satan. The West has turned aside from the truth, they have followed the way of Satan.
10. To follow Christ is to follow in His steps.
1Pe 2:21 , “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps .”
What does it mean to follow in Christ’s steps?
Years ago in America some presumptuous preachers fashionably preached the stupid and Satanic question WHAT WOULD JESUS DO specifically applicable to American general election. The idea that Jesus was an average man is blasphemous and facetious and fallacious. To compare a man with Jesus Christ is like to compare a worm with the Lord God the Almighty. Jesus was not an average man, Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, unlike any man. Being the Son of God, Jesus would freely do infinite things that we cannot do. We must do many things that Jesus would never do.
Some false teachers come up with the idea of asking the question What would Jesus do? – to follow in His steps. For example, in an election. Ask yourself whom would Jesus vote for. This is the most stupid and Satanic idea. Jesus would never vote for any candidate. Do you think Jesus would vote for any leader who is a liar and killer and robber? There are world leaders who claim to be Christians and yet they are liars and killers and robbers. How many American candidates claimed that God wanted them to run for the president? All of them failed. Do you think the Lord Jesus Christ is interested in the American empire?
Jesus says, Jhn 18:36, “Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My Kingdom is not of this realm .”
Do you really think Jesus Christ would join the Republican Party or the Democratic Party? Perish the thought that the Holy Redeemer would endorse any corrupt organization! Realm in Greek is enteuthen which means from this side, from this place, here; sphere, domain; area; – which occurs 11 times in the New Testament. The Kingdom of Christ does not belong to the domain of this world. This is not my own judgment, but based on the authority of Jesus Christ (Jhn 8:44) and the record of history, from Truman to Trump, I do not believe any American president was or is a Christian.
Jesus says, Mat 7:16 , “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?” Fruits mean deeds. A man is judged by his words and deeds. The United States, Europe and Japan are an open record for anyone to examine. In the last 500 years or more to the present, the world has been dominated by European and American imperialists and colonialists and Japanese militarists who killed hundreds of millions of people all over the world and robbed the resources and wealth of Asia, Africa, American Indians and Latin America. The Chinese national treasures, relics and antiques, etc. alone worth US$100,000 trillions can be found in European, American and Japanese palaces, libraries, public and private museums, etc. and in the hands of very rich private collectors all over the world.
In politics, you cannot intelligently ask what would Jesus do? You should ask what would Jesus want you to do. For example, Obama was the first American president who supported and legalized homosexuality and same-sex marriage which is condemned by the Word of God. You would not want to share his sins. In politics what should Christians do? The topic is not what I am writing now. Search the Scriptures how you should support justice and righteousness, peace and equality and not corrupted by the world order.
For a Christian to live in this world is not easy. There are many things you must do and prepare which did not concern Jesus personally in His earthly life. For example, education, employment, career, marriage, family, residency, health care, sickness, retirement, death, etc. did not concern Jesus when He was on earth.
Take education. Jesus never needed to be educated. The Son of God is the Wisdom of God and He did not need to be educated or go to university. Jhn 7:15 , “The Jews then were astonished, saying,“How has this man become learned, having never been educated?” Astonish in Greek is thaumazō which means to marvel, wonder, to be had in admiration; to strike with great wonder or surprise; – which occurs 45 times in the New Testament. The Jews were greatly surprised or amazed how Jesus become learned, having never been educated. Learn in Greek is oida which means to know of anything, to gain knowledge and understanding; perceive; to be skilled in; – which occurs 335 times in the New Testament. Educate in Greek is manthanō which means to learn, understand, increase one’s knowledge, to be trained; – which occurs 26 times in the New Testament.
Jesus could read the Scriptures having never been taught which no man can do. I want to assure you Hebrew is not an easy language.
Luk 4:16 , “And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. ”
Luk 4:17 , “And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,
Luk 4:18 , “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
Luk 4:19 , “TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.”
Luk 4:20 , “And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. ”
Luk 4:21 , “And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Luk 4:22 , “And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”
So never ask what would Jesus do with respect to your education. Once a pastor asked me what should his son study. I asked him what was his son good at. The pastor answered he did not know. You should study at a university what you are good at and interested in. The field of studies are vast. What you choose to study may determine your destiny. For example, if I choose to study Engineering, surely I would fail. Your education is to prepare you for a career or a profession. What you do with your life will determine your destiny. For example, Abraham Lincoln was a logger, but he wanted to be a lawyer. He studied law self-educated. The career as a lawyer prepared Lincoln to become an American president. Lincoln became the greatest American president. I thank God I am not an accountant. If I am forced by corporation to lie daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually and annually I would hate my life… I would never want to be a CPA. Thank God for leading me to study at a top American university where Dr. Harold Koontz, the King of Management, was a famous professor. Studying under Professor Koontz and knowing Dr. Koontz personally helped shaped my career and life.
You cannot ask the stupid question what would Jesus do with respect to your attending a university. There are many factors involved: your qualifications and test scores, your finance situation, your major and interest, your home town, acceptance of your application, etc., may determine what university you attend. I got my higher education the hard way by working my way. That was an American dream for a son of poor missionaries – working my way through college. That was the most difficult years of my life: getting up 5 o’clock in the morning and going to bed at 11 p.m. and lived like Robinson Crusoe. I earned my B.A. and Master’s degrees without owing anyone a penny. American dream was possible in my generation if you worked very hard and very thrifty. If I have to do it all over again, I could not succeed today. For the costs of higher education and living are so high now, it is impossible for one no matter how hard he tries to earn enough minimum wages to live and study at university in America today.
Where you want to live, your residency. One good thing about America, if you have money you can live anywhere. There is no legal residency requirement for an American citizen. However, beyond one’s control or imagination, I have learned where you were born, what language do you speak, where do you live, what university you attend, who do you know, and what you do for a living may determine your destiny. For example, if you were born in Africa, you may probably die of hunger or disease, or die as a victim of war. At university we had a joke, if Einstein were born in Africa, he would not be a nuclear physicist, he probably would become a head hunter.
With respect to your marriage, you cannot ask a blasphemous question who would Jesus marry. Jesus never married and never had sexual relation with any woman. Jesus never had a wife. The important thing is that you should marry the person who belongs to the Lord. Some preacher preached, Marriage is made in Heaven. This may not be true. The only marriages made in Heaven were those of Adam and Eve, Isaac and Rebekah, Boaz and Ruth, Joseph and Mary. I do not know if God would provide you a mate or let you find one successfully.
Regarding raising a family, don’t ask the stupid question what would Jesus do. I believe you should not bring children to this world if you cannot love and support them…We can learn from Apostle Paul: Phl 4:11-12 , “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. ” There are many things we may ask the Holy Spirit to lead and teach us how to conduct our lives on earth. Christians do not live for money, power and sex. The highest meaning and the supreme goal of a Christian life is to find out and do the Will of God. Blessed is the person who finds out what God wants him/her to do in this life and do it willingly. This article is written so that you may imitate Christ and follow in His steps.
Years ago Charles Monroe Sheldon wrote a Christian novel called In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do. It is a good book which I read many years ago. I could not remember what I have learned from the book. The author meant well when he proposed the question: What Would Jesus Do. False preachers have misinterpreted and misapplied the question presumptuously. The premise that Jesus Christ was an average man is absolutely false and spurious. Jesus Christ was not an average person. Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God. Therefore, it is presumptuous to ask WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? Jesus would do freely many things that we cannot do. We must do many things that Jesus would never do. The correct question to be raised is not WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? But WHAT WOULD JESUS WANT ME TO DO? I am not writing a fiction, I am writing about IMITATION OF CHRIST and rightly explaining the Word of God.
Mat 5:9 , “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. ”
Note: To follow in His steps is to be peacemakers. There are warmongers, imperialists, colonialists, militarists, supremacists, aggressors, robbers, oppressors, capitalists, monopolists, liars and killers and robbers, and terrorists who claim to be Christians–in fact they are children of the Devil.
1Pe 2:9 , “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light .”
Note: Christians have been called out of darkness into His marvelous light. Jhn 8:12 , “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I AM the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” Those who follow Jesus will not walk in darkness. Imperialists, colonialists, militarists, capitalists, terrorists, liars and killers and robbers walk in darkness. 1Jo 1:6 , “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth .” 1Jo 2:11, “ But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. ” So many evil world leaders walk in darkness and the darkness have blinded their eyes, and they do not know where they are going.
Gal 5:13 , “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ”
Note: To imitate Jesus, Christians serve one another through love. Do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh.
1Th 4:7 , “For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. ”
Note: God has called Christians for the purpose of sanctification. 1Th 4:3 , “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality.” Sanctification is the will of God for His children, that is, to abstain from sexual immorality. There are false preachers who act and think as if they were exempt from sexual immorality because of their fame and popularity. They think God won’t mind even they commit sexual immorality. Their followers even make excuses for them.
Eph 1:3-4 , “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love .”
Note: To imitate the Holy One of God, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. Blameless in Greek is amōmos which means without rebuke; without blame; without spot; without fault; without blemish; faultless; unblamable; unblemished; free from faultiness; not responsible for anything bad; – which occurs 10 times in the New Testament. Jesus Christ wants His followers to be holy and blameless before Him.
1Pe 3:9 , “not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.”
Note: To imitate Jesus, Christians do not return evil for evil or insult for insult. Those who give a blessing might inherit a blessing.
1Pe 5:10 , “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. ”
Note: Christians have been called. Called for what purpose? The sons of God are called to be peacemakers. Warmongers, imperialists, capitalists, militarists, supremacists and terrorists are not called by God. God has called a Chosen Race, a royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation, a People for God’s own possession, out of darkness into His marvelous light. Evildoers and the wicked are in the domain of darkness. Christians were called to freedom and through love serve one another. So do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh. God has called believers not for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. Christians were called for the very purpose that we might inherit a blessing. So we cannot return evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead. God called believers to His eternal glory in Christ after we have suffered for a little while.
Christ has suffered many things in the flesh for believers. The glorified Christ is leaving us an example for us to follow in His steps. What an example? Believers were called to emulate Jesus’ life. Jesus’ life on earth was a life of sufferings, the Man of sorrows, as prophesied by Prophet Isaiah:
Isa 53:2 , “For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,
And like a root out of parched ground;
He has no stately form or majesty
That we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. “
Isa 53:3 , “He was despised and forsaken of men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. “
Isa 53:4 , “Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted. “
Isa 53:5, “But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed. “
Isa 53:6, “All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him. “
Isa 53:7 , “He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.”
Isa 53:8 , “By oppression and judgment He was taken away;
And as for His generation, who considered
That He was cut off out of the land of the living
For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?”
Isa 53:9 , “His grave was assigned with wicked men,
Yet He was with a rich man in His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. ”
Mat 8:20, “Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
Note: Beware of mega-church pastors or TV evangelists who own multi-million-dollar mansions, fly private jet, drive Mercedes, have large bank account and live luxuriously. They do not follow in Jesus’ steps.
Christians were called to suffer, if it is God’s will. The mind of Christ exemplifies the submissiveness to the will of God. Jhn 6:38 , “For I have come down from Heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. ” The fact that Christ suffered patiently lifts Christian suffering to a new and higher plane. We are to imitate Christ in suffering. Christ did not only suffer for believers as an example, He did leave us His example for us to copy. Christians should follow in His steps. That Christians were called to suffer is a shocking statement contrary to the Western value in terms of “what is it for me?” For that reason prosperity gospel is popular and has fooled many Americans who seek health, wealth, pleasure and power in this world. Prosperity gospel is a false gospel but fashionable although Crystal Cathedral went bankrupt and the work of its founder was discredited.
1Pe 2:22-25 , “WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”
Apostle Peter points out 4 great truths connected with the suffering of Christ:
(A.) Christ is our example. 1Pe 2:21 , “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps .”
Note: Example in Greek is hypogrammos which means a pattern, copy for imitation, model, type, – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. Christ is the pattern or model we must copy.
(B.) Christ bore our sins in His body on the cross. 1Pe 2:24, “ and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. ”
Note: Bear in Greek is anapherō which means to carry up, to take upon one’s self; assume; endure; – which occurs 9 times in the New Testament. Christ bore our sins in His body on the cross. It was so heavy and painful that Christ cried out to the Father, Mar 15:34 , “At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” which is translated, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”
(C.) Christ’s work caused us to die to sin and live to righteousness.
1Pe 2:24 , “and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. ”
Note: Christ bore our sins so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.
(D.) Christ is the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls.
1Pe 2:25 , “For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”
Note: Stray in Greek is planaō which means to wander, err, go astray, roam about, depart from the truth; sin; to be out of the way; get lost; – which occurs 46 times in the New Testament. Sinners are like sheep that continually get lost. The prodigal son returned. All sinners who are lost in this world may repent and return to the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls who is Jesus Christ.
Some stupid preachers teach their followers to ask their cleverly devised question what would Jesus do? For example, false teachers teach their followers to ask how would Jesus vote in this election? Whom Jesus would vote for? Do you think Jesus Christ is interested in American election?
The right question is not what would Jesus do? The right question is what would Jesus want me to do?
1Co 11:1 , “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ . ”
1Co 4:16 , “Therefore I urge you, imitate me. ”
Heb 6:12 , “that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. ”
Heb 13:7 , “Remember those who led you, who spoke the Word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. ”
3Jo 1:11 , “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.”
Eph 5:1 , “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.”
1Jo 3:10 , “By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.”
Note: The children of God practice righteousness and love the brotherhood. The children of the devil do not practice righteousness and they lie and kill the masses.
11. To follow Christ is not to follow one’s sensuality.
2Pe 2:2 , “Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned.”
Note: Sensuality in Greek is aselgeia which means unbridled lust, lasciviousness, wantonness, licentuousness, insolence, filthiness, shamelessness; gratification of the senses; carnality; sexual promiscuity; – which occurs 10 times in the New Testament. Malign in Greek is blasphēmeō which means to speak evil of; blaspheme; defame; revile; rail at; calumniate; – which occurs 14 times in the New Testament. Is it not a fact that not a few American preachers, pastors or evangelists who were known to commit greed and sexual immorality give the enemies of truth an occasion to speak evil of the way of the truth and defame Christianity? A well-known fact is that many Catholic priests and nuns have committed molesting or raping Catholic children for years. Those who follow their sensuality cannot follow Christ. The way of Christ is the way of the truth.
Rom 13:13 , “Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. ”
Note: Properly in Greek is euschēmonōs which means honestly, decently, in a seemly manner; in an acceptable way; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. To behave properly is to conduct oneself in an acceptable way. Carousing in Greek is euschēmonōs which means reveling, rioting; drinking, eating and playing with males and females; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. Many American parties fit into carousing. Drunkenness is intoxication. Many do not know drunkards will not enter the Kingdom of God. Gal 5:21 , “envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. ”Sexual promiscuity and sensuality include fornication, adultery and homosexuality. Strife in Greek is eris which means contention, conflict, quarrel, wrangling, angry tempers; – which occurs 9 times in the New Testament. The fighting and wrangling of Taiwanese politicians in their meetings fit the description of strife. Jealousy in Greek is zēlos which means envying, indignation, malice; a feeling of anger and unhappiness because of someone’s success or possession; – which occurs 16 times in the New Testament. Sadly. Western nations are jealous of the recent great successes and spectacular achievements of China and so they want to suppress, sanction and destroy China.
To follow Christ is to behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
12. To follow Christ is to suffer for His name.
Act 5:41 , “So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. ”
Act 9:16 , “for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake. ”
Note: The Apostles had been flogged before the Council, taking the advice of Gamaliel, the Council released them. Rejoice in Greek is chairō which means to be glad, to be cheerful, to feel joy; to show happiness; – which occurs 75 times in the New Testament. Would you be glad if you had been flogged? Consider worthy in Greek is kataxioō which means to count worthy, to judge worthy; to deem entirely deserving; – which occurs 6 times in the New Testament. Suffer shame in Greek is atimazō which means to be treated with contempt, to be insulted; entreat shamefully; to render infamous; – which occurs 8 times in the New Testament. Apostles were flogged but they rejoiced because they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for Jesus’ name. To witness for Christ may be insulted by the world. Do you consider it is worthy to suffer shame for the sake of Jesus? Because those who suffer shame for His name will share glory with Him when He returns with great power and honor to reign with the saints.
13. To follow Christ is to suffer with Him.
Rom 8:17, “and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”
Note: There is a difference between suffering for Christ and suffering with Christ. Suffer with in Greek is sympaschō which means to feel pain together, to share troubles or persecution; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Being fellow heirs with Christ, we need to suffer with Him. To suffer with Christ is to make sure we may also be glorified with Him. Glorify together in Greek is syndoxazō which means to approve together; to join in approving; to exalt to dignity in accompany with; – which occurs 1 times in the New Testament. To follow Christ basically is to suffer with Him. 2Co 4:17, “ For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” Momentary in Greek is parautika which means but for a moment, at the very instant; continuing only for a moment; lasting for a very short time; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. Light in Greek is elaphros which means light in weight, quick, easy, not heavy; trivial; easily endurable; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Affliction in Greek is thlipsis which means tribulation, trouble, anguish, burden, persecution, oppression, pressure, persistent pain, distress, straits; – which occurs 45 times in the New Testament. Far beyond all comparison means far more excellent, beyond measure. The eternal weight of glory is far beyond all comparison with momentary light suffering with Christ.
Col 1:24 , “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. ”
Note: Paul had abundant spiritual life that he could say that he rejoiced in his sufferings. Ordinary people rejoice in pleasure and cry in suffering. On behalf in Greek is hyper which means for the sake of, in the interest of; – which occurs 67 times in the New Testament. Fill up in Greek is antanaplēroō which means to supplement, to fulfill requirements; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Are we like Paul for the sake of the Body of Christ (the Church) able to fill up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions? Are we willing to share the afflictions of Christ?
1Pe 4:13 , “but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. ”
Note: Share in Greek is koinōneō which means to be partaker, become a sharer, to be a partner; to enter into fellowship; to have a share; – which occurs 8 times in the New Testament. Rejoice with exultation means to be glad exceedingly, to jump for joy; to express with great pleasure. To the degree that we share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the coming of Christ’s glory we may rejoice exceedingly.
14. To follow Christ is to suffer for His sake.
Phl 1:29 , “For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.”
Note: To follow Christ is not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake. Believe in Greek is pisteuō which means to put in trust with; commit to one’s trust; commit to; place confidence in; to trust in; to accept something as true; – which occurs 244 times in the New Testament. Mar 1:15 , “and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.” To believe in the Gospel you need first to repent of your sins. Repent in Greek is metanoeō which means to change one’s mind; to think differently; heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins ; to feel very sorry for one’s sins; – which occurs 34 times in the New Testament.
To believe in Christ, you need to repent of your sins. To believe in Christ, you need to follow Christ. To follow Christ you need also to suffer for His sake. You do not really believe in Christ if you do not follow Him. You do not really follow Christ, if you are not willing to suffer for His sake.
15. To follow Christ is to suffer hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
2Ti 2:3 , “Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ”
Note: Do you know a Christian is a soldier of Christ Jesus? Soldier in Greek is stratiōtēs which means a warrior; one engaged in military service; a trained fighter; a champion of the cause of Christ; – which occurs 26 times in the New Testament. Every follower of Christ is a Christian soldier. Every follower of Christ needs to be a good soldier of Christ. As a good soldier of Christ Jesus, we suffer hardship with all fellow Christian soldiers. A good soldier fights for Christ. Fight the good fight of faith.
2Ti 2:9 , “for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned. ”
Note: A good soldier of Christ Jesus suffers hardship, does not live a luxurious life as some American preachers do. Paul suffered hardship as a prisoner of Christ. The New Testament records all the afflictions Paul had endured, anyone of them would kill me instantly. Some years ago I met a Chinese preacher called Wang Ming Tao in Shanghai and he suffered hardship even to imprisonment for the Word of God. Many servants of Christ fought the good fight of faith and suffered persecution and even death. Even today many Christians are killed by followers of evil religion.
16. To follow Christ is to suffer for doing what is right (righteousness).
1Pe 2:20 , “For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.”
Note: Credit in Greek is kleos which means glory, praise, honor, good report, good name; recognition; approval; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. If you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience – that is no honor or approval of you. Do what is right in Greek is agathopoieō which means to do good, to be a well-doer; to do something which benefits or profits others; – which occurs 20 times in the New Testament. Favor in Greek is charis which means grace, thanks, that which affords delight, joy, pleasure, loveliness, sweetness; – which occurs 159 times in the New Testament. But if when you do what is right and suffer for it and you patiently endure it – this finds approval of God. To follow Christ one may need to suffer for doing what is right. Most people think if one does wrong, he will suffer for it. In this evil world, the wicked thrive and flourish. Look at who are the most powerful and richest people in the world. Not only they do not suffer, they rule the world. Many do not know if you do good or do right, you may suffer for it.
Western powers claim to be Christian nations, but they have been doing wrong and doing evil in the world for the last 500 years or more.
1Pe 3:14 , “But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED.”
Note: Righteousness in Greek is dikaiosynē which means the condition acceptable to God; justice or virtue; moral goodness; – which occurs 91 times in the New Testament. Blessed in Greek is makarios which means happy; fortunate, well-off; supremely blest; bringing one blessing; – which occurs 50 times in the New Testament. Intimidation in Greek is phobos which means fear, terror, dread, threat, alarm or fright; – which occurs 47 times in the New Testament. Even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, do not fear their threat and do not be troubled.
17. To follow Christ is to suffer according to the will of God.
1Pe 3:17 , “ For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. ”
Note: Better in Greek is kreittōn which means more useful, more excellent, more servicable, more advantageous, nobler; – which occurs 20 times in the New Testament. For example, it is very much better to depart and be with Christ. Psa 37:16 , “Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many wicked. ” It is better to be a poor honest man than to be the richest crook in the world. Ecc 9:4, “For whoever is joined with all the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion. ” Will in Greek is thelō which means to desire, intend, would have, wish, purpose; to take delight in; have pleasure; to be inclined; – which occurs 212 times in the New Testament. If it is God’s will for you to suffer for doing what is right, it is better than doing what is wrong. Christians must do according to the will of God.
1Pe 4:19 , “Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.”
Note: Entrust in Greek is paratithēmi which means to commit the keeping of; entrust, commit to one’s charge; to commit to another with confidence; – which occurs 26 times in the New Testament. Christians entrust their souls to the faithful Creator. 2Co 7:10 , “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. ” The highest meaning and the supreme goal of a Christian life is to do the will of God. 1Jo 2:17 , “The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. ” God is the faithful Creator. 2Th 3:3, “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”
18. To follow Christ is to have something to share with the needy.
Eph 4:28 , “He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. ”
Note: Steal in Greek is kleptō which means to commit a theft, take away by theft, take away by stealth; to take the property of another wrongfully; to take away by force or unjust means; – which occurs 15 times in the New Testament. The English word kleptomania is derived from the Greek word. A monopolist robs and steals. Corrupt officials rob and steal the public funds to benefit themselves. Corrupt doctors and hospitals rob and steal by predatory practices, fraudulent charges, overcharges, and excessive charges. Corrupt officials rob and steal by not laboring and doing anything useful but get high pay, high pension and benefits. Wall Street crooks do not labor, they rob and steal by manipulating markets and gambling on investors’ money. Corrupt bankers rob and steal by establishing rules that favor themselves. For example, bankers pay almost zero interest for your deposits but charge you high interest for your loans. Do not fancy that you can be a Christian and still steal. Labor in Greek is kopiaō which means to toil; to work with wearisome effort; to do hard work; to exert oneself with strenuous efforts; – which occurs 28 times in the New Testament. Minorities are usually underemployed and underpaid in America. I earned every penny the old-fashioned way. When I worked my way through college I was paid the minimum wage of $1.25 an hour. It is terrible to observe many employees in big corporations are not performing, even more people at all levels of government are not performing yet they receive high pay, high pension and great benefits. Share in Greek is metadidōmi which means to give, impart, to grant what you have with others; – which occurs 5 times in the New Testament. Christians must labor and perform and share the fruit of their labor with the needy.
1Ti 6:18 , “Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share .”
Note: Servants of Jesus Christ instruct believers to follow the Word of God. Do good in Greek is agathoergeō which means to work good, to do well, act rightly, to exert one’s efforts on charity; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. Most people only know to be rich is to be rich in money, possessions and worldly goods. One can be rich in good works. Jas 2:5, “Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” Those who have the knowledge of God, heirs of the Kingdom, and love Jesus Christ are rich in faith. Those who are rich in this present world, without hope and without God, are really poor and naked and miserable. Generous in Greek is eumetadotos which means ready or free to share or distribute; – which occurs 1 time in New Testament. Followers of Jesus Christ must do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.
19. To follow Christ is to share with God’s servants in affliction.
Phl 4:14 , “Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. ”
Note: To share what you have with God’s servants in affliction is to share the sufferings of Jesus Christ. I used to fancy if I were living in the generation of John Bunyan with the salary of a manger I could support his family in affliction. Remember, if you support a prosperity gospel preacher who is a false gospel preacher, your resources are wasted. I do not believe a preacher should eat a $1,000 dinner, drive a Mercedes, live in a million dollar mansion, wear $10,000 suit, his wive wears $30,000 mink coat, having large bank account, flying a private jet, and living a luxurious life style, etc. A preacher who is greedy, seeking fame and fortune, and commits sexual immorality is not qualified to be a servant of Christ. Beware of false teachers and false prophets.
1Ti 3:15 , “but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Support of the truth. ”
Note: In these days of apostasy, it is shocking to find out that many so-called Christian churches do not belong to the Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Support of the truth. Therefore support only the Church of the Living God. Some churches support aggression, oppression and sanction of imperial powers, and accept imperialism and capitalism which are contrary to Christianity.
3Jo 1:8 , “Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth. ”
Note: Christians, support only such preachers so that we may be fellow workers with the truth. Prosperity gospel is another gospel, it is not the Gospel of truth. Therefore do not waste your money on false preachers, for God will not open the windows of Heaven to pour you out a blessing.
20. To follow Christ is to share His holiness.
Heb 12:10 , “For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. ”
Note: Discipline in Greek is paideuō which means to teach, instruct, chastise, chasten; to train children, to correct with punishment; t o chasten by the affliction of evils and calamities; to punish for enforcing obedience; – which occurs 13 times in the New Testament. Our earthly fathers discipline us for a short time as seemed best to them. Our Heavenly Father disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. Share in Greek is metalambanō which means to partake of, to participate, to have; – which occurs 9 times in the New Testament. We respect our earthly fathers when they disciplined us. How much more we should be subject to the Father of spirits and live. Heb 12:14 , “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. ” It is a most sober truth, without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Western leaders and politicians do not share God’s holiness, do not live in peace with other countries, they only want to dictate and dominate the world.
21. To follow Christ is to believe and obey Him.
Jhn 3:36 , “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
Note: Believe in Greek is pisteuō which means to put in trust with, to commit to, to place confidence in, to consider to be true, to trust in Jesus, to have faith in; – which occurs 244 times in the New Testament. To believe in Jesus Christ is to have faith in Him to be your Lord and Savior. To believe in Christ is to have eternal life. Do not obey is to disbelieve, refuse belief and obedience, absolutely of those who reject the Gospel. To believe in Christ is to have eternal life, not to obey Christ will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. Wrath in Greek is orgē which means anger, indignation, vengeance, a strong feeling of displeasure; – which occurs 36 times in the New Testament. Abide in Greek is menō which means to remain, to continue to be present, to stay on, dwell; – which occurs 118 times in the New Testament. The wrath of God stays on him who rejects Christ in this life, and eternal punishment in Hell. Faith is followed by obedience. It is impossible to believe in Christ and not to obey Him. Do not fool yourself by thinking you believe in Christ but not necessarily to obey Him.
Act 5:29 , “But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. ”
Note: To obey Christ is to obey God. Obey in Greek is peitharcheō which means to hearken to,to listen to,to comply with, to follow the command, to submit to authority; – which occurs 5 times in the New Testament. This is a basic doctrine: We must obey God rather than men. Sometimes to obey God is to disobey men. That is one of the major reasons why Christians suffer persecution. I could not keep a job which requires me to lie or violate the law. I could not participate in any form of corruption. I pity those marketing people who continue lying and exaggerating about their products and services in words or writings. I abhor politicians who lie and kill and rob as well as media that manufacture fake news, false views and misrepresentation. It was amusing to watch the EU leaders who complained that America was spying on them. However, in front of the sole superpower, they were quiet like a chicken. This tells the world that Might Rules. Might Matters in a world devoid of truth and integrity.
Act 5:32 , “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Note: We witness to the truth in Christ Jesus. God has given the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him. A liar and killer is without the Holy Spirit.
Rom 2:8 , “but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. ”
Note: Selfishly ambitious in Greek is eritheia which means contentious; a courting distinction, a desire to put one’s self forward, a partisan and fractious spirit which does not disdain low arts, intrigue or trickery; a self-seeking pursuit of political office by unfair means ; – which occurs 11 times in the New Testament. The description precisely fits American election and partisan politics today. So many selfishly ambitious politicians who do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness. Not a few self-seeking politicians even claimed God wanted to run for the American president. They will incur God’s wrath and indignation.
Eph 6:1 , “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ”
Note: Right in Greek is dikaios which means righteous, observing divine laws; virtuous; just; upright; approved or acceptable to God; – which occurs 96 times in the New Testament. Obey your parents in the Lord. However, for Chinese Christians, if your parents want you to worship your ancestors or marry someone who is not a Christian, that is not obeying your parents in the Lord.
Col 3:22 , “Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. ”
Note: I remember, an unbelieving politician mocked at the Scripture. Remember the New Testament was written in the world when and where there were masters and slaves. This does not mean the Bible endorses slavery. It was not the duty of Christians to change the world order or system or start a revolution… The Scripture commands Christian slaves in all things obey their masters on earth, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Even today, the Biblical principle still applies: Servants or employees obey your employers, fearing the Lord.
2Th 1:8 , “dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. ”
Note: Dealing out in Greek is didōmi which means giving out what is due or obligatory; to administer; to pay back; – which occurs 414 times in the New Testament. Retribution in Greek is ekdikēsis which means vengeance, punishment, repayment; revenge; dispensing punishment; – which occurs 10 times in the New Testament. When Christ returns in power and great glory, He will deal out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus.
Heb 5:9 , “And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation.”
Note: Jesus Christ is the source of our eternal salvation and so we must obey Christ. Once you are saved by Jesus Christ, you are saved forever.
Heb 13:17 , “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. ”
Note: To follow Christ we must obey our leaders (here refers to Christian leaders such as Apostles, etc.) and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account to the Lord. Watch out those Christian leaders who are only interested in raising money, not keeping watch over your souls. Prosperity gospel preachers are usually interested in your offerings. To waste your money on false preachers is unprofitable for you.
1Pe 1:2 , “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. ”
Note: Foreknowledge in Greek is prognōsis which means forethought, pre-arrangement, knowledge beforehand, knowledge of something before it happens; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. The omniscient God not only has foreknowledge, but absolute, supreme, complete and ultimate knowledge. True believers are called according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, born again by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ, so that we may grow to the fullest measure. Only God who has foreknowledge because God knows from the beginning to the end, from everlasting past to eternity. The smartest scientists don’t even know when they are going to die. The Holy Trinity works together so that we grow in grace and knowledge to the fullest measure.
22. To follow Christ so as to have confidence at His coming.
1Jo 2:28 , “Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.”
Note: Abide in Greek is menō which means to remain, dwell, to continue to be; to stay; endure; conform to; – which occurs 118 times in the New Testament. To abide in Christ is to remain in His teaching. No one can follow Christ and disobey His commandments. Confidence in Greek is parrēsia which means boldness, cheerful courage; assurance; feeling secure; being certain; – which occurs 32 times in the New Testament. The purpose of imitating and following Christ so as to have confidence at His coming, not shrink away from Him in shame.
1Jo 3:19-21 , “We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God.”
Note: How can a Christian be sure he has confidence before God at His coming? If your heart does not condemn you. Do the hearts of corrupt leaders and politicians, fraudulent and predatory doctors and hospital owners, insurance and drug executives, warmongering militarists and generals … do not condemn them?
Assure in Greek is peithō which means to persuade, have confidence, convince; give confidence; – which occurs 64 times in the New Testament. Condemn in Greek is kataginōskō which means blame; accuse; to find fault with; note against; convict; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. God is greater than our heart and knows all things. If our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God.
1Jo 4:17 , “By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. ”
Note: When love is perfected with us, we may have confidence in the day of judgment. The Day of Judgment is when Jesus Christ returns to the earth to judge the world.
1Pe 4:17 , “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the Gospel of God? ”
Note: Judgement in Greek is krima which means condemnation of wrong, sentence, ; – which occurs 29 times in the New Testament. Judgement here refers to judgment to come, the judgment of God. When God renders judgment, it will be eternal judgement.
In the Day of Judgment we are reminded of the facts:
(1.) Jesus Christ will be the Judge of the living and dead.
Jhn 5:22 , “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son .”
Note: In the Day of Judgment, the Father will not judge anyone, He has given all judgment to the Son. Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior has been appointed by God as the Judge of the living and dead. Many believe death is the end of everything. Wrong. The dead will rise to face the judgment of Jesus Christ. The punishment in Hell is not just the punishment of soul. Mat 10:28, “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.” Both soul and body of those who do not obey the Gospel of God will be tormented in Hell. After judgment, Jesus Christ will send those who disobey Him to Hell for eternal punishment. Eph 5:5 , “You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.” 1Pe 4:17, “ For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the Gospel of God?”
Act 10:42 , “And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. ”
2Ti 4:1 , “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His Kingdom.”
No one can escape the judgement of God. So many wicked world leaders have committed war crimes and atrocities like those of imperialists, colonialists, militarists, capitalists and terrorists, etc. Although they escape the International Court of Justice , not one will escape the Supreme Court of Heaven.
(2.) The judgement will begin with the household of God.
1Pe 4:17 , “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? ”
1Co 3:13-15 , “each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
2Co 5:10 , “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. ”
Note: Christians will be judged not of their sins, but the quality of each man’s work. What you do for Christ will be judged.
(3.) There is no judgement for those who have been saved.
Jhn 5:24 , “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. ”
Jhn 10:28 , “and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. ”
The salvation that Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross, believers will never perish — this is eternal security in Christ.
Act 10:43 , “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”
Rom 8:1 , “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ”
1Co 11:32 , “But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world. ”
(4). The Devil, the beast and the false prophet will be executed first.
There has been a wrong belief about the power of the Devil. In the final war, some believe, the Devil is a strong enemy, so Christ has to lead a great army of God to fight against the Devil. Wrong!
Rev 20:1-3 , “Then I saw an angel coming down from Heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. ”
Note: For Jesus Christ to establish the Millennium on earth, He sends an angel coming down from Heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. The angel lays hold of the Dragon, the Serpent of Old, who is the Devil and Satan, and binds him for a thousand years; and the angel throws the Devil into the abyss, and shuts it and seals it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years are completed.
Rev 16:13-16 , “Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the Dragon, out of the mouth of the Beast and out of the mouth of the False Prophet.They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. ”
Note: In the last war of Armageddon, when the thousand years of Jesus’ reign are completed, Satan will gather his followers, like the sand of the seashore together for the war. But Satan and his followers will lose for good.
Rev 20:7-10 , “When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the Devil who deceived them was thrown into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone, where the Beast and the False Prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. ”
Note: There will be hardly any battle. For fire comes down from Heaven and devours them. In the last Judgment, the Devil, the Beast and the False Prophet will be executed first and they will be thrown into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Apparently and probably the same mighty angel who threw the Devil into the abyss will finally throw the Devil into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone.
(5). The judgment of all the peoples.
Jhn 5:28-29 , “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. ”
Note: There will be two resurrections: the resurrection of those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, and the resurrection of judgment of those who committed the evil deeds. Evil deeds include wrath and anger to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth while obeying unrighteousness.
Psa 1:5 , “Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. ”
Note: The wicked and sinners are the same.
2Pe 3:7, “But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. ”
Note: The wicked, sinners and ungodly will face judgement and suffer destruction by fire.
Jde 1:15 , “to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
Note: The harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against the Lord Jesus will be judged as well as their ungodly deeds.
Mat 25:31-46 , “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Note: Eternal punishment in Hell will be the fate of the accursed ones. Eternal life is given to the righteous.
Rev 20:11-15 , “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the Lake of Fire. ”
Conclusively, the outcome of all peoples is clear and sure. Those who obey and serve Christ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven and reign with the Lord forever and ever. Those who do not obey the Gospel will perish and suffer eternal punishment in Hell.
IV. The New Testament gives reasons why Jesus Christ came into the world:
(A.) Christ came down from Heaven to do the will of the Father.
Jhn 6:38 , “For I have come down from Heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. ”
Note: Will in Greek is thelēma which means desire, pleasure, wish, purpose, choice, command, inclination, intention, determination, decree; – which occurs 59 times in the New Testament. Jesus came down from Heaven to do the will of the Father. The highest meaning and the supreme goal of a Christian life is to do the will of God.
Mat 26:42, “He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
Heb 10:8-10 , “After saying above, “SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS AND WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, NOR HAVE YOU TAKEN PLEASURE in them ” (which are offered according to the Law), then He said, “BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. ”
Note: Jesus Christ came to do the will of God, sacrificed His body once for all to save and sanctify all believers.
(B.) Christ came into the world to save sinners.
Mat 18:11, “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.”
Jhn 12:47 , “If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. ”
1Ti 1:15 , “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.”
Jhn 1:29 , “The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ”
Rom 5:6 , “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ”
Rom 5:8 , “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ”
1Co 15:3 , “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.”
1Pe 3:18 , “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit .”
Rom 5:6, “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ”
Rom 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ”
1Pe 3:18 , “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit .”
Note: Save in Greek is sōzō which means to make whole, rescue from danger or destruction; deliver from sin; – which occurs 123 times in the New Testament. How does Christ save sinners? Christ died for our sins, the just for the unjust, the righteous for the unrighteous – substitionary death to reconcile with God. He was the Lamb of God who sacrificed Himself to atone for our sins and save us from everlasting death.
(C.) Christ came to destroy the works of the devil.
1Jo 3:8 , “the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. ”
Note: Destroy in Greek is lyō which means to break up, break down, dissolve, melt, loose, put off, annul, subvert, overthrow, do away with; ruin, kill; annihilate, vanquish; – which occurs 45 times in the New Testament. Christ came to destroy the works of the Devil. Who is the Devil? Devil in Greek is diabolos which means a calumniator, false accuser, slanderer; a traducer, Satan; the supreme evil spirit; the evil force and enemy of God; – which occurs 40 times in the New Testament. Rev 12:9 , “And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. ” The Devil is also called the Great Dragon, the Serpent of Old and Satan. The Chinese unknowingly and proudly claim to be the children of the Dragon. What are the works of the Devil? Jhn 8:44 , “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ” The works of the Devil are to kill and deceive (lie). If you hear a world leader who is a liar and killer and claims to be a Christian, by the authority of Jesus Christ, he is a son of the Devil.
(D.) Christ the true Light came to enlighten every man.
Jhn 1:9 , “There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. ”
Note: Jesus Christ was the true Light who came down from Heaven, all founders of other religions are false lights. Enlighten in Greek is phōtizō which means to give light, illuminate, instruct, bring to light, make to see, light up, illumine, imbue with spiritual knowledge; to give spiritual insight; – which occurs 14 times in the New Testament. Every man and woman who comes to Christ will see the Light.
(E.) Christ came to explain God.
Jhn 1:18 , “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”
Note: God is Spirit, invisible. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son of God has very loving relationship with the Father because He is in the bosom of the Father. Explain in Greek is exēgeomai which means to declare, tell, unfold, to draw out in narrative; recount, interprete; to make known; clarify; make something clear; – which occurs 6 times in the New Testament. Jesus Christ has made God known. To see Jesus is to see God. To know Jesus is to know God.
Act 18:24 , “And a certain Jew, Apollos by name, an Alexandrian by birth, a man of eloquence, being mighty in the Writings, came to Ephesus, this one was instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in the Spirit, was speaking and teaching exactly the things about the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John; this one also began to speak boldly in the synagogue, and Aquilas and Priscilla having heard of him, took him to them, and did more exactly explain to him the way of God.”
Note: Explain in Greek is ektithēmi which means metaphorically to set forth, declare, expound; expose; cast out; to make plain; – which occurs 5 times in the New Testament. Apollos only knew the baptism of John, so Aquilas and Priscilla took him and explained more exactly the way of God.
Christ came to explain God more exactly than Moses and the Prophets because the Son of God reveals the Father.
(F.) Christ came to reveal the Father.
Jhn 14:9 , “Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ”
Note: Show in Greek is to deiknyō which means to expose to the eyes, give evidence of proof; exhibit; reveal; to make it to be seen; – which occurs 33 times in the New Testament. To know Christ is to know the Father. To see Christ is to see the Father.
Mat 11:27 , “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”
Note: Hand over in Greek is paradidōmi which means to deliver up, to give into the hands of; commit, commend; entrust; transmit; give over; – which occurs 134 times in the New Testament. The Father has handed over all things to the Son. No one knows the Son except the Father. Not anyone knows the Father except the Son. Reveal in Greek is apokalyptō which means to uncover, lay open what has been covered up; to make known, disclose; display; to take off the cover; manifest; – which occurs 27 times in the New Testament. Christ will make know God to anyone He wills.
Luk 10:22 , “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. ”
Note: Show in Greek is deiknyō which means to expose to the eyes, give evidence or proof of; exhibit; make to appear; – which occurs 33 times in the New Testament. To see Jesus is to see God, for Jesus is God. Reveal in Greek is apokalyptō which means to disclose, lay open, uncover, make known; make manifest; to take off the cover; – which occurs 27 times in the New Testament. The Son makes known the Father to whoever He wills. To know Jesus is to know God.
(G.) Christ came to be example for believers.
1Pe 2:21 , “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.”
Note: Christ is the example for Christians to emulate or imitate.
Some stupid preachers teach their followers to ask their cleverly devised question what would Jesus do? For example, false teachers teach their followers to ask how would Jesus vote in this election? Whom Jesus would vote for?
The right question is not what would Jesus do? The right question is what would Jesus want me to do?
1Co 11:1, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. ”
1Co 4:16 , “Therefore I urge you, imitate me.”
Heb 6:12 , “that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. ”
Heb 13:7 , “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. ”
3Jo 1:11 , “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. ”
Eph 5:1 , “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. ”
False teachers misinterpret and misunderstand and misapply a good book In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do , by Charles Monroe Sheldon. Jesus is not an average man. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. Instead of asking what would Jesus Do, in every case and situation, Christians should ask What Would Jesus Want Me To Do ?
V. Christ Is the Image of God.
It is stupid and Satanic to think Jesus Christ was an average man. Jesus Christ is the perfect Man and perfect God. Something is seriously wrong with any man who compares Jesus Christ with any man. Such a man evidently has no knowledge of Jesus Christ, just like a blind man does not see light.
Col 1:15 , “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ”
Note: God is Spirit therefore invisible. Christ is the image of the invisible God. To know Christ is to know God. To see Christ is to see God. For Jesus Christ is our great God and Savior.
Gen 1:26-27 , “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. ”
Note: Image in Hebrew is tselem which means likeness (of resemblance); a representative figure; a shadow; semblance; – which occurs 16 times in the Old Testament. Likeness in Hebrew is dĕmuwth which means manner, fashion, similitude; shape; similarity, model; – which occurs 29 times in the Old Testament. I believe image and likeness are hendiadys, the expression of single concept using two words; such as in the phrase “rough and tough.” Image and likeness are probably synonymous. However, to say God created man in His own image is quite different from saying Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God. Here in Jesus Christ not only represents the attributes of God, He is of the same nature of God, Col 2:9-10, “ For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the Head over all rule and authority.” In Christ the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form. Christ is the Incarnate God. Christ is the Head over all rule and authority.
Phl 2:6 , “who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped.” Jesus Christ preexisted in the form of God and has equality with God. Jhn 17:5, “Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” Jhn 17:24 , “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. ” Jesus Christ had the glory with the Father before the world was.
Jhn 5:18 , “For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. ” For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Jesus, because Jesus was making Himself equal with God. Jesus Christ made most startling statement when He was on earth, Jhn 10:30, “I and My Father are One.” Jesus Christ and God are One. There is only One God, and there is no other.
Col 3:10 , “and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— .”
2Co 4:4 , “in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ”
Note: The god of this world is the Devil who has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, this explains why otherwise intelligent scientists and philosophers could not understand the things of God. Unbelievers are blind so they cannot see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ. Image in Greek is eikōn which means likeness, figure, semblance; mental conception; incarnation; profile; resemblance; representation; a picture in your mind; – which occurs 23 times in the New Testament. Jesus Christ is the image of God.
How can you know that Jesus Christ is perfect Man and perfect God? The answer is Col 2:9 , “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.” Deity in Greek is theotēs which means Godhead, the state or fact of being God; the essential nature of being God; Divinity; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. For in Christ all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form. In other words, God manifested in the person of Jesus Christ. For that reason to know Christ is to know God. To see Christ to see God. Jesus Christ is our great God and Savior.
Jas 3:9 , “With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God.”
Note: Likeness in Greek is homoiōsis which means similitude, a making like; appearance, resemblance; assimilation; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament.
Phl 2:6 , “who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped .”
Note: Form in Greek is morphē which means external appearance, shape; portrait; figure; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. Jesus Christ existed in the form of God. It appears the three words, image, likeness and form have similar meanings. The most important truth is that God is Spirit, invisible. So what does it means the image of God, the likeness of God and the form of God. Jesus Christ is the incarnation of God. Jesus Christ is the image of God. For us to understand the image of God is explained by the Scripture.
Eph 4:24 , “and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
Note: Righteousness in Greek is dikaiosynē which means the condition acceptable to God, integrity; virtue; purity of life; rightness; justice; equity; uprightness; – which occurs 91 times in the New Testament. Holiness in Greek is hosiotēs which means piety towards God; godliness; sanctity; moral or spiritual integrity; – which means 2 times in the New Testament. Truth in Greek is alētheia which means verity, in reality; which is free from falsehood; actuality; what is true; – which occurs 110 times in the New Testament. To think of God one must think of the divine attributes or qualities. Divine attributes are righteousness, holiness and truth. So the image of God is righteousness, holiness and truth. What is contrary to righteousness, holiness and truth cannot be the image of God. To imitate Christ is to imitate God, to imitate God is to conform to righteousness, holiness and truth.
Rom 8:29 , “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.”
2Co 3:18 , “But 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. ”
Note: Transform in Greek is metamorphoō which means to transfigure; to change into another form; to transform; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. To imitate Christ is not to seek self-perfection or self-glorification, it is to be transformed into the same image of Christ by the Spirit. Now we behold the glory of the Lord as in a mirror. Then we will see the Lord face to face.
CONCLUSION
Imitation of Christ involves three principles of imitating the person of Christ, the faith of Christians leaders, and what is good. To imitate Christ is to learn from Christ. To learn from Christ is to learn the obedience of Christ, the humility of Christ, and the sufferings of Christ. To imitate Christ is to follow Christ. To follow Christ involves observing the 22 rules cited above.
Rom 12:2 , “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. ”
1Pe 1:14 , “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. ”
The final goal of imitating Christ is:
Phl 3:21 , “who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. ”
Note: Transform in Greek is metaschēmatizō which means to transfer in a figure; change completely; to change the figure of; to undergo fundamental transformation; – which occurs 6 times in the New Testament. Finally the Lord Jesus Christ will transform our lowly and humble body into conformity with His glorious body, by the exertion of the power that subjects all things to Himself.
1Co 15:42-44 , “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ”
Note: Christians who died in the Lord will have first resurrection when Jesus Christ returns to earth, and those who are alive will be transformed to meet the Lord in the space. Imperishable in Greek is aphtharsia which means incorruptible; immortal; unending existence; perpetual; pure; opposite of perishable; not subject to decay; eternal; – which occurs 7 times in the New Testament. Spiritual in Greek is pneumatikos which means non-carnal; supernatural; opposite of natural; belonging to the Divine Spirit; – which occurs 29 times in the New Testament. In the eternal state of believers, all who have been saved will possess an imperishable, spiritual and glorious body in conformity to the glorious body of Christ.
Rom 12:2 , “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is— His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Note: Those who follow and imitate Christ do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of their mind, to have the mind of Christ. Those whose mind has been renewed will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will. Jesus came to do the will of God, Christians follow the pattern of Jesus to do the will of God.
Eph 1:11 , “In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.”
Note: Predestine in Greek is proorizō which means to predestinate; determine beforehand; decide or appoint beforehand; predetermine; foreordain by God; God decreeing from eternity; – which occurs 6 times in the New Testament. God has a plan that works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will. In God’s plan believers were chosen and have been predestined. John Calvin was wrong. God did not predestinate some groups of people to go to Hell. Whoever comes to Christ will not be rejected.
Rom 6:5, “For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection.”
Note: Christians have become united with Christ in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection. United with in Greek is symphytos which means planted together; born together with; implanted by birth; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. As we have become united with the likeness of Jesus’ death, we shall be united also with the likeness of His resurrection. It is through the regeneration of the Holy Spirit that believers become united with Christ. Tit 3:5, “He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.” Christians are united by faith and in spirit with Christ.
2Co 4:4 , “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”
Note: Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe including unbelieving scientists, theologians and philosophers. The glory of Christ is the exact likeness of God.
1Jo 3:2 , “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. ”
Note: Some have the wrong idea in believing we who believe in Christ will become children of God in Heaven. Beloved, now we are children of God. All those who have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ are now, at the present time, children of God. Appear in Greek is phaneroō which means to be or come in sight; to make manifest; show; show one’s self; become visible or known; – which occurs 57 times in the New Testament. Appearances are deceptive. Do not look down at that lowly and humble man, he may be a son of God. Do not look up to a rich and powerful man, he may be a disguised angel of light, a son of the Devil.
Outwardly, Christians do not appear as children of God yet. For our lowly and humble bodies have not been transformed in conformity to the glorious and spiritual body of Christ. When Christ appears that is when Jesus Christ returns to the world, then the great transformation will take place. How this is going to happen?
1Co 15:50-57 , “Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Note: Mystery in Greek is mystērion which means a hidden or secret thing; something hidden from ungodly and wicked men; secret made known through divine relation; a truth that one can know only by revelation and cannot fully understand; – which occurs 27 times in the New Testament. The fact that believers will be changed is a mystery to the world, even scientists and philosophers. Moment in Greek is atomos which means an instant; the smallest unit of time; a point of time; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. Twinkling in Greek is rhipē which means a jerk of the eye; an instant; a moment of time; the time required for wink; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. In the twinkling of an eye means in a moment of time, instantly. The transformation of believers will take place in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. Immortality in Greek is athanasia which means deathlessness; unending existence; eternal life; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. How wonderful for the Elect to put on immortality just like we put on a coat. Eternal life is the ultimate victory the Lord Jesus gives to His followers.
What is the ultimate goal of imitation of Christ?
1Jo 3:2 , “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. ”
Note: Like in Greek is homoios which means resembling; corresponding to; similar; having the same character or quality; – which occurs 48 times in the New Testament. The end of imitation of Christ is to be like Christ.
1Th 4:17 , “Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. ”
Note: Always in Greek is pantote which means ever; at all times; evermore; forever; all the time; – which occurs 42 times in the New Testament. Children of God shall always be with the Lord.
Jhn 12:26 , “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. ”
Note: Those who serve Christ must follow Christ. Where Christ is, there His servants will be also. If anyone serves Christ, God will honor him.
Jhn 14:3 , “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”
Note: Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven to prepare a place for children of God. I believe the place has been prepared long ago, the Holy City, the New Jerusalem. Jesus Christ is coming again and receive His followers to Him. Where Jesus Christ is, there all the children of God may be also. Those who will be like Christ will always be with the Lord. Always is eternity without end, time with end, forever and ever. We who believe in Christ and follow Him, serve Him and imitate Him will be like Him and will always be with Him. The process of salvation encompasses from start to finish: regeneration, sanctification to glorification.
For the children of God, the ultimate purpose of imitation of Christ is to culminate in the blessed eternity: We will be like Jesus, and we will be always with the Lord.
You cannot imitate Christ if you are lost in sins. You must first be saved and become a Christian first to imitate Christ.
Rev 22:20 , “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Do you want to follow Jesus Christ? First accept the fact you are a sinner who cannot save yourself, but believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God, and the Savior of the world to save you. You can do it right now where you are.
WILLIE WONG THOUGHT
WILLIE WONG
AUGUST 5, 2025
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