Yearns to be like Jesus

The "sincere desire and prayer" many devout Christians is "to become" like Jesus. That is, these people accept the life of Jesus as an example to be imitated or accept Jesus as a model to be emulated. However, the apostle Paul makes it clear that wanting to be like Jesus is in us, but do not, and this genetic-spiritual contradiction was the one who led the apostle to feel miserable and failed at being unable to rid the body of death ( cf. Romans 7:18-24). So we pretend to be like Jesus, it seems an impossible both genetic and biological-spiritual-biblical.

Not surprisingly, that old serpent was the first creature created that tried to become like God, and unable to do was furious trying to inject the poison of sin in the universe (Isaiah 14:14). Eve, the mother of all living, was deceived by the serpent and sinned by trying to become like God (Genesis 3:5). So to pretend to be like Jesus, there seems to be a biblical doctrine, but rather the old snake venom. Moreover, trying to be like Jesus is against the second commandment forbidding become similar to what is in heaven, on earth or under water (Exodus 20:4)

In another palabas, we could say that the Lord Jesus came into this world to be our model or example, but much more than that, Jesus came into this world to be our substitute, Jesus came to live our life and our death came to die . He lived a perfect life in our place, he died eternal death in our place, and he rose victorious in our place. His perfect life is imputed as our life, His sacrificial death as our death is imputed, imputed to his glorious resurrection and our resurrection and victory over sin is imputed as our victory over evil. Jesus Christ is our substitute, not our example. Our life is substituted for his life, our eternal death is replaced by his death, and our failure on our fallen nature, is replaced by his victory over sin. In fact, because the man can not become like God, God had to become a made man: Emmanuel (God with us). Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward mankind, and to the entire universe!

The following list of events in Eden, summarizes some of the fruits occurred by pretending to be human as God: nakedness, shame, fear (to hide from God), pride (accusing God), self-justification (fig aprons), thistles and thorns, sweat and tears, pain and death of an innocent lamb (fur coat), temporal death (Abel), eternal death (Cain). In contrast, the following list summarizes the spiritual benefits received by accepting Jesus' vicarious substitution: Immense gratitude, deep love, endless joy, immeasurable peace (with God through our Lord Jesus Christ), quiet patience, great kindness, abundant goodness , wonderful faith, meekness, warm, and calm self-control (cf. Galatians 5:22-23).

By accepting Jesus as our substitute, and not just our example, it is an invitation to live in a disorderly manner, incorrect and inappropriate, but on the contrary, is an invitation to live a life full of happiness and order, but relying on merits of the Master of Galilee, and not rely on our frustrated attempts to imitate him, because Jesus Christ is not our mere example, but our superior substitute. When you live watching and hoping the brazen serpent lifted on the cross of Calvary, no time or desire to have other gods, or to take his name in vain, nor look at your neighbor's wife, or steal , or lie, or kill, or to look at the fiery serpents, or poison, or the injuries sustained in the desert of life. So, looking to Christ, are considered holy because God is holy and sanctifies us look. Just as the stones and the burning bush in Sinai were considered holy, because God is holy, and because his holy presence sanctified.

It is understandable that at first the simple idea of ​​accepting that Jesus is NOT our example, but our substitute, may cause some stinging ecclesiastical doctrine, which is inevitably induced histamine release reactive-spiritual ... but the Bible suggests that , in the eyes of God, our works of injustice (bad deeds) are like manure (Malachi 2:2-3), and that our works of righteousness (good works) are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). So to God the only life that counts is the life of Christ imputed replacement as if our life. In the eyes of God hath not life value or "copy" of the young man nor ours (Matthew .... Revelation 3:17).

In short, accept that Jesus is our example, but our substitute, not intended to promote debauchery, but on the contrary, craves praise the immeasurable grace of God, expressed in the conception, birth, life, work, death and resurrection replacement of our Lord Jesus Christ. To Jesus be all glory, all honor and all praise, for ever and ever, so that no one boast in the presence of God, Christ Jesus has made unto our wisdom, our righteousness, our sanctification and our redemption, for it is written, the one who boasts, boast in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:29-31). Amen.

Dr. Jorge R. Talbot

Biblical Research Society