CHRIST'S LIFE AND DEATH OUR EXAMPLE TODAY

By Pastor Art Watkins of Coden Bible Church (Coden, Alabama)

April 21, 2010

1 Peter 2:21 says that Christ; left us an example, that ye should follow his steps. Jesus Christ is not only our Lord and Savior, but he is our example. He not only died for us, but left us an example as to how to live. Can you think of a better example to follow than Christ? He is not only God's Son, but he is the Ideal Man. By Christ’s example we learn how to face every issue in our life under grace.

There are those (hyper dispensationalists) who say we can't follow the earthly life of Christ as an example today. But that is wrong. Paul and all of the apostles not only preached salvation through Christ, but they looked to him as their example to follow in conduct, behavior, morals, and practical living. Paul said Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Paul followed the example that Christ gave him in his life and death. By examining the life of Paul you will see that his life was modeled after the life of Christ. He not only received his doctrine from Christ, he received his pattern of life from Christ. Paul had many of the same attitudes, traits, and qualities in his life as Christ. And so should we.

To say we can't follow Christ's example while he was on earth is not only wrong, but it is unscriptural. Paul and all of the apostles not only preached salvation through Christ, but they hold him up in their epistles as the example for the church to follow in conduct, love, behavior, morals, practical living, humility, faithfulness and many other issues.

----Christ Is Our Example Of Humility.

Philippians 2:5-8 says; Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

These verses describe the earthly mind set of Christ and Paul said; let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. The mind of Christ is revealed in the life and death of Christ. What was the mind and life of Christ like? How did he act and behave? What kind of a person was he? From reading these verses I see that Christ;

----Made himself of no reputation.

That tells me;
He was not a proud, pompous person.
He was not a loud person.
He did not set out to make a name for himself.
He did not brag about his accomplishments.
He did not try to attract attention to himself.
He did not come to make a reputation for himself. He was low key and kept out of the lime light.
He was nothing like the so called religious leaders of today.

----He was a servant.

That tells me;
He did not demand men to treat him better than others.
He asked for no favors or special treatment.
He was a very modest man.
He did not live as nobility, but lived and acted as a servant.
He never got his way, nor asked for it.
He always took second place to his Father.
He put his Father’s will ahead of his, for he was a servant.

----He was made in the likeness of men.

Even though he was equal to God in every way, he made few claims to deity. He called himself the Son of Man more times then the Son of God. He did not try to appear as someone special or different from ordinary men. He suffered all the pain, hardships and temptations of ordinary men.

----He humbled himself.

He was a very meek, submissive and lowly person.
He was not haughty, arrogant, or demanding.
He was a quite person.
He did not have a charismatic personality. (See Isa. 53:2-3)
He put the needs of other people ahead of his own.
He made others rich by becoming poor.
He preached the truth even when it cost him friends and even his own life.

----He was obedient.

His life was spent doing what somebody else told him to do.
He was not a leader who gave orders, but a follower who obeyed orders.
He never got his way, for his will was to do His Father’s will.
He obeyed his Father’s word even though it cost him his life.

Jesus Christ is the supreme example of humility in the Bible. This world has never seen anyone as humble as Christ. If you want to know what a humble person is like look at him. If you want to be humble yourself, follow his example.

----Christ Is Our Example Of Love.

Ephesians 5:2 says; And walk in love as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.

When it comes to love under grace we are told to walk in love as Christ also hath loved us. The love that Christ demonstrated in his life and death nearly 2000 years ago is the example and pattern of what our love should be like today.

----What do we know about the love of Christ?

He loves bad people.
His love is always the same.
He loves with a pure motive.
Those he loves do not deserve nor earn it.
He is dedicated to those he loves.
He never forsakes those he loves.
He cherishes those he loves.
He endured hardships for those he loves.
He sacrificed his life for those he loves.
He forgives those he loves.
He does not hold grudges against those he loves.
He is tender hearted with those he loves.
He blesses those he loves.
Those he loves, he loves forever.
He is long-suffering and merciful with those he loves.

If every Christian followed Christ's example of love there would be no more divorces in Christian marriages; no more church splits over personalities; no fighting in the home; no discord among the brethren; more lost souls would be saved; and the morals and behavior of Christians would radically change for the better. If we loved the Lord as much as he loves us, we would never offend him again by canal behavior.

----Christ Is Our Example Of Bearing Burdens.

Romans 15:1-3 says; We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, the reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

When it comes to bearing the burdens, problems and infirmities of other people under grace, Christ again is our example. From these verses we see;

Christ was not a burden to men, instead he carried their burdens.
Christ did not trouble men with his burdens, instead he troubled himself with theirs.
Christ did not come to be ministered unto, he came to minister unto others.
Christ never put his needs ahead of others, he put the needs of others ahead of his.
Christ did not please himself by getting his way, he pleased others by giving them their way.
Christ did not get rich at other men’s expense, he made others rich at his own expense.
He did not cause his brothers to stumble and fall by exercising his liberties, he gave up his liberties to win them.

When it came to bearing burdens Christ put the needs of others ahead of his own, and so should we. In Philp. 2:4 Paul said; Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. We live in a very selfish society. We live in a day when we are told to look out for number one. We make self our number one priority. Christ was not like that. He made others number one. Christ did not live for himself, he lived for others. His priority was the needs of others, not his own. He was totally unselfish. He gave his time and attention to others.

Is that the way we live? Do we really bear the burdens of others? Do we put the needs of others ahead of our own? How much inconvenience are we willing to suffer for the benefit of others?

----Christ Is Our Example Of Faithfulness.

Hebrews 12:1-3 says; Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

We have a long, hard race set before us and we are commanded to lay aside any weight or sin in our life that would beset us from running and finishing our race. This race began the day we were saved and will end with the second coming of Christ. This race is the life we live between our conversation and Christ’s coming. At the end of the race God will judge how we ran the race. God will exam how we used our lives, bodies, time, money, mind and the talents that he gave us, to serve and honor him in this present evil world. The world, flesh and the Devil will do every thing in their power to knock you out of this race. They will try to wreak your life, ruin your testimony, destroy your zeal, and quench your Spirit to get you out of this race. Their hope is that when the race is over, you will be a total wreak on the side lines, out of service and out of fellowship with the Lord. They don't want you to finish the race with honors.

To show us how to finish the race with joy and honors, God gave us Christ as an example to follow. He ran the same race we now run and finished with honors. If you want to know how to run this race successfully follow Christ around the track. Richard Petty said he learned how to race at Daytona by following Fireball Roberts around the track. We learn how to run our race by following Christ. The main thing I want to emphasis is that Christ did not give up in spite of overwhelming odds. His race was a very hard race with many persecutions and troubles, but he finished the race with honors.

----How did he run the race?

He did not allow personal problems to beset him and get him down.
He did not allow disappointments to demoralize him and knock him out of the race.
He did not allow the denial of his disciples and the desertion of all of his followers to quench his zeal.
He didn't let the Devil knock him out of the race even though he hounded him throughout his public ministry.
He did not allow his burdens to beset him and make him quit.
When others quit he kept on running.
When others became weary and fainted he stayed in the race.

You say; I've tried to run this race but I have had so many wreaks and break downs I don't think I can make it any more. I feel like God is finished with me and my life don't count anymore. Dear friend, every good driver has his share of wreaks. Richard Petty said he could start a junk yard with all the cars he wreaked, but he didn't quit. He put the wreaks back together and got back in the race. He still holds the record for the most races won in Nascar. Did you know that at the same time that Babe Ruth was the home run king, he was also the strike out king? Did you ever strike out? Ruth didn't let his strike outs stop him from playing baseball.

If you have grown weary in your race take another look at Jesus. He got weary and tired like you, plus he suffered at the hands of lost people and was deserted by his own disciples, but he stayed in the race till the end. He kept his eyes on the prize. Paul said; For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

----Christ Is Our Example Of Suffering.

1 Peter 2:20-21 says; For what glory is it when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye take it patiently? But if when ye do well and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.
In these verses God shows us how to deal with our enemies when they threaten and persecute us. The example he gives us to follow is Christ's. What do we learn from the sufferings of Christ? When they persecuted him how did he respond? How did he overcome his enemies? We learn from Christ’s example that;

Good men suffer.
Good men suffer for doing good works..
Good works will not go unnoticed or unpunished by the Devil.
The Devils main target is the person who is closest to God.
Suffering is a part of the Christian's life, but revenge is not.
In Christ's life he didn't ask for persecution, but he never detoured around it.
Christ counted it joy and a honor to suffer for his Father’s sake.
When men cursed Christ, he never cursed them back.
When they threatened Him, he did not return their threats.
When men conspired against him, he did not conspire to get even with them.
Christ committed his enemies into the Lords hands.

This is the way that Christ responded to persecution and his enemies. This is the example he left us to follow today. When we got saved we inherited the enemies of Christ. His enemies became ours, and by his example we learn how to overcome them.

----Christ Is Our Example In Giving.

Acts 20:35 says; I (Paul) have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

These are the words that Christ spoke while on earth. He spoke these words while on earth and one of the apostles told Paul what the Lord said and Paul repeats it as an example for us. When it comes to giving what Christ said on earth is the example we should follow today. He said: it is more blessed to give than to receive. Today we are told that it is more blessed to receive than to give, but Jesus said it is the other way around. The blessing is in giving. Why? Because when you give you bring joy and blessing to those in need, plus you lay up treasure in heaven for yourself according to Matt. 6:19-21.

Most Christians have their priorities turned around. If they are not on the receiving end of giving they feel left out and disappointed. But Jesus said the blessing and the joy is in giving, not receiving. When you give, you bring blessing and joy to others, plus you reap an added benefit of laying up treasure in heaven for yourself where thieves, the IRS, inflation, and hurricanes can't blow them away. They will be waiting for you when you get there. That is why Christ said it is more blessed to give than to receive.

These are just a few of the many places in the scriptures where the apostles used what Christ said and did in his earthly ministry as an example for us to follow today. Remember, he was the ideal man and the ultimate model of humility, love, faithfulness, mercy, compassion, and longsuffering. You cannot find a better example to follow than Jesus Christ.