EP 004 1st John 2vs4-6 The overall contours of Christlikeness

What does Christlikeness mean? The 20th century Dutch theologian, Berkhof, has a chapter on the imitation of Christ in his book on sanctification, and he opens it with these words: "It is impossible to write about sanctification without taking account of the imitation of Christ, for the entire life of believers can be epitomized as imitation.

Imitation in the sense of following the footsteps of another.

The imitation of Christ is not merely a form of sanctification among several, but a description of its essence." He then addresses the challenge I spoke of last time, and will mention it again, how to approach the issue of imitation of Jesus without infringing on his unique role as u- redeemer.

To encourage those who are nervous or hesitant about the idea of imitation, Berkhof quotes two great theologians of the past.

First of all, Augustine, fourth century, who said, "For what does it mean to follow if not to imitate?" A very good question.

Then he quotes the Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper, late 19th century, who said, "The life of the Church would be needlessly impoverished if, from an aversion to frequent abuse, it should neglect the precious truth offered to the believer in the imitation of Christ." So it can be abused.

Everything depends on getting the imitation concept in true scriptural perspective, and that is certainly my goal with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Now, if I were to ask you, what do you think Christlikeness means? Everyone will say it's about reflecting His character.

There's no doubt about that.

Love, wisdom, humility, the fruit of the Spirit.

I say 100% amen to that, but the question is, is there more? Now, some will say, yes, there's more.

They'll point to His ministry and how we too are called to serve.

But what is involved in that service? For example, Paul Miller, a modern writer, in his beautiful book on Ruth called A Loving Life, referring to Boaz as a redeemer and, uh, as a type of Christ, and then refers to Christians as everyday redeemers.

Would you be prepared to consider yourself an everyday redeemer? Well, I hope that by the end of these reflections, you will.

Then, of course, there are the things that we wouldn't say is necessary to Christlikeness, the concrete circumstances of His individual life.

You know, Jesus was single.

He was homeless during His ministry.

He did manual work for most of His life.

He didn't have an academic education.

His last three years were spent in full-time service.

You wouldn't include any of those as part of the universal or general meaning of Christlikeness, although some of them may be part of God's call to you individually, as they were to me.

Here's my working definition.

Christlikeness means the reproduction in us of the substance and pattern of the total human life of Christ through our union with Him.

And I'll read that again.

Christlikeness means the reproduction in us of the substance and the pattern of the total human life of Christ through our union with Him.