The Secret of Christlikeness

The Secret of Christlikeness
By John Woodward
April 6, 1998

" He who says he abides in Him (Christ) ought himself also to walk just as He walked. " (1 John 2:6) Yet the essence of following Christ is to appreciate our union with Christ and to learn how to cooperate with His purpose to live through us.

" It is not by any painful reproducing of another's spiritual history that (the believer) is to acquire the true comfort of spirit which he longs for. Outward imitation, though it be of the perfect Example Himself (Christ), has little place in the order of spiritual growth -- little because of its impossibility. ' for without Me you can do nothing.' (John 15:5). To abide in Christ is the only secret of Christlikeness. . . " A.J.Gordon, In Christ p.19.

Christ's example of perfect dependence on the Father points to some vital principles for our discipleship.

1. We cannot live the Christian life -- only Christ can live it through us!

"He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." (1 Thess 5:24).

" The One who calls you to a life of righteousness is the One who by your consent lives that life of righteousness through you! . . . This is the genius that saves a man from the futility of self-effort. . . If it were not for this divine provision, the call to Christ would be a source of utter frustration, presenting the sorry spectacle of a sincere idealist, constantly thwarted by his own inadequacy. " Ian Thomas, The Saving Life of Christ p.15.

2. As true believers, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor 3:16, 6:19). "Just so far as the Eternal Spirit has room in us, so far we are 'in the Spirit'. God's purpose is that the Spirit should possess us wholly, so that we may not only live by the Spirit, but walk each day step by step in the Spirit, not fulfilling the desires of the flesh" Jessie Penn-Lewis, The Cross - the Touchstone of Faith p. 29.

3. We are to yield to God's perfect will continually. (Rom 12:1,2, Luke 9:23)

"At this moment I would summon you to stand beneath the Cross and to see there One who entirely yielded up His own will. More than that, I want you to see your self-life nailed there, and to turn from it to God in adoration, saying that you are prepared to be weak and helpless so far as your own energies are concerned, that He may put forth in your life the mighty energy of that power which raised Christ from the dead. " F.B. Meyer, Our Daily Walk p. 93.

4. We are to completely depend upon Christ for His enablement and guidance. (Gal 2:20, 2 Cor 3:4-6).

"It is for you to BE -- it is for Him to DO! Restfully available to the Saving Life of Christ, enjoying' the richest measure of the divine presence, a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself', instantly obedient to the heavenly impulse -- this is your vocation, and this is your victory! (Thomas, p.151).

Our Father , we gain new hope when You show us that Christ indwelling us is more than adequate for all the challenges that we face in this life. We yield ourselves to Your perfect, wise will, and depend upon Your grace and power to flow through us daily. In Christ we pray, amen

JBW

April 6, '98

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