REAL CHRISTIANITY

1 John 2:6

WALKING AS HE WALKED, AM 5/16/99

REAL CHRISTIANITY #5 - Series on 1 John

We will be an example to others.

We tend to follow the example of others.

The best example we have is the Lord Jesus Christ.

He lived the perfect life.

He is God in the flesh.

He is the perfect example.

1 John 2:6 - He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

The reason we should want to walk as Jesus walked is contained in the verses that come before it.

1 John 2:3-5 - And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. [4] He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. [5] But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

We are assured that we know Jesus as Savior as we make a conscientious effort to keep His commandments. We are not sinless, but we will strive to obey if we are truly saved.

If we claim to know Jesus as our Savior and are not being obedient to Him, we lie and lack the truth dwelling in us.

The truth we lack is Jesus Himself. He said in John 14:6,

…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

As we keep God’s Word the love of God is perfected in us.

As God’s Word is perfected in us, we will have the assurance that we are in Christ.

We will be obedient as Christians and have assurance of salvation as we walk as Jesus walked.

If you and I claim to abide in Christ as Christians, we are to walk as he walked! We are to follow His examples!

My challenge to you is to "walk as He walked."

Follow the examples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This morning we will take all our examples from Matthew, as we show some of the examples of Jesus that we should follow.

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

JESUS WAS BAPTIZED. YOU SHOULD BE BAPTIZED Matthew 3:13-17

John the Baptist knew that Jesus was righteous.

John the Baptist was baptizing with a baptism symbolic for repentance of sin. Jesus had no reason to repent.

Vs. 15 - In order for Jesus to fulfill all righteousness, that is, all that God the Father wanted Him to do, He had to be baptized.

In baptism He was identifying Himself with us, those who are sinners in need of repentance. He was coming to our level of need. Baptism is symbolic for death, burial and resurrection. Check out Romans 6 sometime. Our Lord Jesus would go on to die for us, be buried, and rise again.

So what about baptism today?

Jesus was baptized, YOU should be baptized.

Jesus was baptized at an age he knew what he was doing.

We should be baptized at an age we know what we are doing.

Jesus did it to fulfill all righteousness.

We do it because it is something God wants us to do. We are doing what is right in the eyes of God.

Matthew 28:19

The pattern in the book of Acts was belief in Christ followed by baptism.

One example is found in Acts 10. Peter is sent to a Gentile named Cornelius. Cornelius gathered together his close friends and relatives. Peter preached the Gospel to them.

Before Peter stopped preaching, the Holy Spirit came upon them, giving evidence that they had believed on Christ. Acts 10:47-48

Notice, Peter commanded them to be baptized! It wasn't a suggestion. It was a command! In the early New Testament church, if you were saved, you were baptized!

Baptism does not get you into Heaven.

Belief in Christ saves you.

Baptism is your testimony that you are going to Heaven.

Baptism is the first step of obedience in the Christian Life.

Baptism is Your way of saying you are trusting Christ as Savior.

He identified himself with us through Baptism. We are to identify with Him through Baptism.

JESUS RESISTED SIN. YOU SHOULD RESIST SIN Matthew 4:1-11

Immediately following the Baptism of our Lord, was the temptation of our Lord.

He is sinless, and of course, though tempted came through this test having resisted sin.

Vss. 1-3 - He had fasted for 40 days, and Satan came to tempt Him. The first temptation was to do what Jesus could have done as God. He was tempted to make bread out of stones.

Why would it have been wrong for Jesus to make bread?

First, in Vs. 1, He had been led by the Spirit of God. He was without bread because God planned it that way.

Secondly, to make bread would have meant following the devil's directions instead of God's. Therefore Jesus refused.

Vs. 4 - Jesus quoted Scripture and resisted sin.

Vss. 5-6 - Jesus is taken up to the top of the temple and invited to jump off. Satan quotes Scripture about God protecting Him.

Vs. 7 - Jesus refused. He resisted, again quoting Scripture! For Jesus to jump off the top of the temple would have tested or tempted God!

This would be something like you and I jumping out in front of a car just to see if God would protect us or not!

Vss. 8-9 - Jesus is taken to a mountain. Satan shows Him all the kingdoms of the world. He offers them to Jesus, if He will but worship the devil. Jesus would have none of it.

Satan was offering Jesus a kingdom without going to the cross!

Vs. 10 - Jesus tells Satan to leave! And Again He quotes Scripture.

We are to walk as He walked. And although we as Christians are not sinless, we are to resist sin.

God knows that we can not do it without help. 1 Corinthians 10:13

When we are tempted, we are to ask for and look for God's way of escape. And if Jesus quoted Scripture when tempted, we should also quote Scripture.

JESUS WAS WILLING TO SERVE. YOU SHOULD BE WILLING TO SERVE. Matthew 8:1-4

In Vss. 1-4, a leper, a desperately sick man with a disease that was disgusting to look upon, come to Jesus.

Vs. 2 - He comes to Jesus and worships.

Then he says, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean."
In essence, this poor leper was asking Jesus for service, the service of healing.

As you go through life, people will ask you to serve. They might say, "If you will, you can…”

Vs. 3 - In Jesus' case, He was asked to serve, and he said "I will".

How do we answer when we are asked to serve?

Do we say, "I will", or do we make all sorts of excuses for not serving others?

All through life Jesus served.

He served by healing many.

He served by feeding the 5,000.

He served through His teaching and preaching ministries.

He served by washing the feet of the disciples.

His ultimate act of service was going to the cross.

Matthew 20:27-28 - And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: [28] Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Galatians 6:10 - As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

How do you follow the example of the Lord Jesus through service?

When Jesus found something that needed to be done He did it!

Find something that needs to be done and do it!

JESUS PLEASED THE FATHER. YOU SHOULD PLEASE THE FATHER. MATTHEW 17:1-5

Read Vss. 1-5,

Take note of Vs. 5. God is saying here, " I am well pleased with my son."

There wasn't a single thing that Jesus did to displease the Father.

There wasn't an action.

There was an attitude.

There wasn't a word that displeased our Heavenly Father.

If we are going to walk as Jesus walked, we should be concerned that we are pleasing our Heavenly Father in all we say, think and do!

The question we need to ask before we do anything is, "WILL THIS PLEASE MY HEAVENLY FATHER."

Another good question to ask - "IF I COULD SEE JESUS STANDING IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW, WOULD I DO THIS ACTIVITY? If the answer is no, don't do it.

JESUS CHRIST PRACTICED FAITH. YOU SHOULD PRACTICE FAITH - Matthew 17:14-21

After Jesus comes off the mountain, He discovers that His disciples are having trouble casting out a demon.

Read Vss. 14-17 - He calls them a "faithless and perverse generation".

Vss. 18-19 - Jesus rebuked the demon and the boy was cured. Later, the disciples asked why they couldn't cast out the demon.

Vs. 20 - The answer is very clear. It was their lack of faith.

Just a little faith will move mountains.

Jesus acted in faith. He said something and it was done.

Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Our faith should be based on seeking God in His Word and prayer, praying according to His will, acting according to His will, and believing that He will work in and through us.

More would be accomplished if we believed God!

JESUS HAD COMPASSION. YOU SHOULD HAVE COMPASSION. Matthew 20:29-34

Read Matthew 20:29-34

So what motivates you and I to witness?

What motivates you and I to do good works?

What motivates you and I to listen to others?

What motivates you and I to reach out to people in need?

One of the motives Jesus had was compassion.

Jesus truly cared what happened to those around Him.

That's why He healed these blind men.

That's why He went to the cross.

He had compassion on you!

That's why He sits in Heaven interceding for you!

He has compassion.

You and I, to walk as Jesus walked must have compassion on others.

When your neighbor sees you care, he will want to know more about Christ.

When other Christians see you care, they will be comforted, encouraged and strengthened, and more willing to care themselves.

Jesus demonstrated compassion.

You have received compassion.

To whom should you show compassion?

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

JESUS CHRIST WAS BAPTIZED. YOU SHOULD BE BAPTIZED.

JESUS CHRIST RESISTED SIN. YOU SHOULD RESIST SIN.

JESUS CHRIST SERVED. YOU SHOULD SERVE.

JESUS CHRIST PLEASED THE FATHER YOU SHOULD PLEASE THE FATHER.

JESUS CHRIST PRACTICED FAITH. YOU SHOULD PRACTICE FAITH

JESUS CHRIST HAD COMPASSION. YOU SHOULD HAVE COMPASSION.