{"id":13400,"date":"2015-07-15T08:00:37","date_gmt":"2015-07-15T12:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/?p=13400"},"modified":"2023-12-20T10:37:20","modified_gmt":"2023-12-20T15:37:20","slug":"jesus-example","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/jesus-example.htm","title":{"rendered":"Following Jesus’ Example? Cautions"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Following<\/a>
(Click to enlarge in Pinterest & repin.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Following Jesus’ example is more than a Christian fad like the WWJD craze. Following His example is\u00a0biblical<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Yet, we must raise some red flags so we are sure to understand God’s intent when it comes to following Jesus’ example.<\/p>\n

Cautions about Following Jesus’ Example:<\/h2>\n

1) Though Jesus is our example, He is so much more. He came to earth as Immanuel, God with us<\/a> (Matt. 1:23). He died on the cross to take our sin upon Himself so we can be made right with God — our Savior (Isa. 53:5; Jn. 14:6). He ascended back to heaven and one day every knee will bow to Him — our Lord (Phil. 2:10).<\/span><\/p>\n

Consequently, following His example is not going to gain us points with God. The only way we can be made righteous is by grace through faith because of the shed blood of Jesus (Eph. 2:5, 8-9; 2 Tim. 1:9).<\/p>\n

2) Becoming Christ-like takes more than self-effort or striving to follow His example. Rather, it comes through living or abiding in Him because apart from Him we can do nothing (Jn. 15:5). — “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him …” (Col. 2:6)<\/span><\/p>\n

Consequently, following Jesus’ example is more than outward conformity. Rather, it is a genuine transformation wherein He makes all things new (2 Cor. 5:17) as His Spirit works within us (Gal. 5:16-26) through the strength He provides (Phil. 4:13).<\/p>\n

3) We should be “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Heb. 12:2) but must understand that we will never be able to perfectly emulate Him as He is God and we are human. — “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (1 Jn. 1:8)<\/span><\/p>\n

Consequently, following Jesus’ example does not make us sinless and perfect like Him. Rather, it is an on-going process of submitting to Him and His ways (James 4:6-8; Heb. 12:9).<\/p>\n

Yes, follow the example of Jesus but keep your focus on Him. Take heed to these cautions so you guard against making it about you and what you are doing rather than about Him and His work in and through you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Following Jesus’ example is more than a Christian fad like the WWJD craze. Following His example is biblical. Yet, we must raise some red flags so we are sure to understand God’s intent when it comes to following Jesus’ example. Continue reading Following Jesus’ Example? Cautions<\/span>→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[74],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-misc-walk-with-god"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\t