THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
“Whoever claims to live in God must walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6).
So says the Apostle John, in one of those quiet revolutions which he scatters throughout his writings.

IT SHOULD be obvious that Christians must model their lives on Jesus. The very word “Christian” comes from the word “Christ”: Christians belong to, follow, imitate, Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself was clear: “Anyone who wants to be My disciple must follow Me, because My servants must be where I am” and “Disciples are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master” (John 12:26, Matthew 10:25, New Living Translation). But how many Christians would be happy saying “I’m a like-Christ”?

There are many pious excuses for not even trying to live like Jesus. “He’s unique,” “the Son of God,” “He’s sinless” and so on. Like all good excuses, they’re all true – but beside the point. Full Christ-likeness may not be theirs this side of the glory roll-call, but Christians are still called to aim for it. And the power of new birth puts it within their grasp. Paul describes this lifestyle, with characteristic force, as “clothing yourself” with Christ (Romans 13:14).

Each time the word Christian is used in the New Testament (Acts 11:26, 1 Peter 4:15-16 and Acts 26:28), it speaks not just of belief, but also of lifestyle. Significantly, the early Christians were known as “followers of the Way” (Acts 22:4) – what’s that about, if not lifestyle?

Through the centuries this has often been obscured. Jesus’ emphasis on following Him has been replaced with believing the right things about Him. Even the great Nicene Creed, soaked in truth though it is, moves straight from Jesus’ virgin birth to His death under Pontius Pilate: no reference to either His life or teachings! Let’s be clear: right belief about Jesus is vital, but it must go hand in hand with actually following Him or it becomes empty theology, not true discipleship.

Not that this means being carbon copies of Jesus. Probably no Christians you know are called to move to Palestine and take up carpentry, and none at all are called to be crucified under Pontius Pilate.

“Walking as Jesus did” means living the same values, the same pattern and priorities: Jesus didn’t live for Himself, but denied Himself and lived for others; Jesus shared everything He had with His disciples, sharing a common purse; Jesus made Himself poor, but was rich in love; Jesus responded to violence with forgiveness; Jesus spoke out fearlessly for truth and justice; most of all, Jesus was devoted to His Father.

How about you? Want to be a Christian? Then get hold of God’s life-transforming grace and start – with others – walking like Jesus walked.

This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step. (Peter in his fist letter to the churches - 1 Peter 2:21, The Message)