Being "Christ"like.

[B-A-C]

Are Christians supposed to be Christlike?
To some of you this may seem like an obvious question with an obvious answer.

Now of course Jesus was perfect without sin, I don't think any of us are perfect or without sin.
But can we be "like" Him?
Should we try to be like Him?
Does our salvation depend on being like Him? (probably a can of worms)

What does being "like" Jesus mean?
Now obviously we probably can't be exactly like Him in every way (or can we?)
But if not, then what ways should we or shouldn't we?

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?
Should we try to be disciples of Jesus?

1 Cor 11:1; Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

Matt 10:24; "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.
Matt 10:25; "It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household!

1 Pet 1:14; As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,
1 Pet 1:15; but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
1 Pet 1:16; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

 

[B-A-C]

Did Jesus follow the commandments?
Did Jesus love other people?
Did Jesus have compassion for the unsaved?
Did Jesus have contempt for the money changers and Pharisee's?
Did Jesus pray to the Father?
Did Jesus pray often?
Did Jesus put others before himself?
Did Jesus get baptized?
Did Jesus read the scriptures?
Did Jesus teach others about God?
Did Jesus sin?
Was Jesus tempted?

If we answer those questions (and others) about what Jesus was like, then maybe it's easier to answer if we can or should be like that.

 

[B-A-C]

John 13:15; "For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.

1 Pet 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,
1 Pet 2:22; WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH;
1Pe 2:23 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;

Php 2:3; Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
Php 2:4; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Php 2:5; Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

 

[norapture]

We always hear nobody is perfect, nobody can be , the only perfect one was Jesus, and the only one that ever will be.

But I would ask if greater is he , that is in me , than he that is in the world.
And I can do all things thru Christ which strength me.

Why do most people believe, that Satan has more power to keep us sinning, than Christ in us , has power to keep us from sinning

If all things are possible with God,
Why do so many say that it is impossible, not to sin.
Does the bible teach we can't be perfect, or that we wasn't

 

[B-A-C]

We always hear nobody is perfect, nobody can be , the only perfect one was Jesus, and the only one that ever will be.

But I would ask if greater is he , that is in me , than he that is in the world.
And I can do all things thru Christ which strength me.

Why do most people believe, that Satan has more power to keep us sinning, than Christ in us , has power to keep us from sinning

If all things are possible with God,
Why do so many say that it is impossible, not to sin.
Does the bible teach we can't be perfect, or that we wasn't

Good question. I don't know that it says we can't be. But it does say we aren't.

1 Pet 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.
1 Pet 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,

1 Jn 1:8; If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
1 Jn 1:9; If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 Jn 1:10; If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

This seems a simple question, but as usual, there is debate even about the simplest questions.

Some would say we can't be on own. But what does that mean?
Jesus takes care of it 100% ? Jesus takes care of only what He needs to when we make a mistake?

Others will say because we are "already" saved and our fate is "already" decided, we can't sin, because God refuses to see our actions as sin
because all our sins are already forgiven in advance.

I have never seen anyone who was totally able to keep from from sinning, even after they have been saved for decades. Billy Graham said
he sinned from time to time. Paul said he still struggled with sin. Peter denied Jesus 3 times after he already proclaimed Jesus was the messiah and the Son of God.

It does seem we are able to stop addictive lifestyle sins (such as 1 Cor 6:9-10; ) even if we can't stop sinning altogether 100%.
I would definitely say with Jesus help, we no longer have to be slaves to sin.

I know in my own personal walk, I have been able to completely stop doing some sins. I view it kind of like a graph that goes up and down everyday.
Some days are better than others, but even on my worst days now, I sin MUCH less than I did 20 years ago. So even those days are MUCH better than my best days
20 years ago. I think this is part of maturing as a Christian.

I think the danger may be, if we are ever able to truly conquer the flesh, we would get to the point where we don't need Jesus anymore.
I think God wants us to realize from time to time that we do need Him. That we can't do it on our own.

But to answer your question, everyone in the Bible except Jesus sinned.
Peter, Paul, David, Elijah, Jonah, Adam, Moses, Mary, all seem to struggle with sin at some point.

There are people like Joseph and Noah, who don't seem to have any sin recorded in the Bible, but I'm not sure that means they never sinned.

 

[RJ]

Why do so many say that it is impossible, not to sin.

norapture, do you still sin at all?

 

[norapture]

Yes RJ I do sin , but not willingly
If that makes you feel better, I'm not trying to condemn no one, did not mean it that way.
But let me ask you, do you believe Satan, has more power to make you sin, or does Jesus in you, have more power, to keep you from sinning?

 

[RJ]

Yes RJ I do sin , but not willingly

That is the key, not willingly is a true sign of regeneration. But when we do, there is Romans 8:1

If that makes you feel better

Yes, I am relieved.

But let me ask you, do you believe Satan, has more power to make you sin, or does Jesus in you, have more power, to keep you from sinning?

No. Jesus said the truth will set you free. ONE of these truths is that the Devil has already been defeated and has NO power over you!

 

[B-A-C]

Job 1:22; Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.
Job 2:10; But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

This is about the closest I can find that someone didn't sin. But even here, it doesn't say Job never sinned, it says he didn't sin "through all this". (time of trials)

Jude 1:24; Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,

1 Jn 2:10; The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

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In 1st John 2, it talks about little children, young men and fathers. But the text makes it clear it isn't literally talking about different ages, it's talking about different levels of Christian maturity.

1 Jn 2:1; My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;

1 Jn 2:12; I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name's sake.
1 Jn 2:13; I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.
1 Jn 2:14; I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

1 Jn 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.
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I think sometimes we get stuck on is God or Satan more powerful? Of course we know who is more powerful, we know who wins.
But I think that's the wrong question. The question is,, who do you choose to follow today?
God allows us to be tested and tempted. He allows us to go through trials to show us where our hearts are. @Chad had a good thread about this "Why does God allow tragedy".

Rom 6:16; Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?
Rom 6:17; But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed,
Rom 6:18; and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

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Heb 12:4; You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;

 

[RJ]

But I think that's the wrong question. The question is,, who do you choose to follow today?

That is understood among us on this thread.

 

[norapture]

Maybe the question, should be who do we choose, to follow everyday.
Cause many that followed in scripture, didn't continue to follow.

 

[rag4aCrown]

greetings in the Lord Jesus;
Yes, Jesus is perfect and without sin.
So, have you entered in through Him, or not?
HE is in me, I am in HIM, and we go unto the Father.

Everything in our past has been blotted out. It does not exist anymore; nor do you, because you are dead in HIM. It isn't about you (self), it is about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Are you still living for "you", or HIM? Do you go about your day being about HIS business or your own?

The Spirit told me once; All that is left of you, is the dirty, rotten flesh of what use to be, (past tense), but what LIVES inside has been made brand new. Amen. YOU are past tense. Thou I look exactly the same; my heart and mind, my passion and desires, my love and compassion, my mercy and longsuffering..........HIS will has become my will.
My life revolves around Him; and He revolves around and within me. Amen
All praise, glory and honor be to God. Amen