{"id":2957,"date":"2021-05-12T16:36:51","date_gmt":"2021-05-12T22:36:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/integritysyndicate.com\/?page_id=2957"},"modified":"2022-11-13T01:23:28","modified_gmt":"2022-11-13T08:23:28","slug":"jesus-is-the-model","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/integritysyndicate.com\/jesus-is-the-model\/","title":{"rendered":"Jesus is the Model for Us"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
Jesus is the model for those who follow him. Many descriptions of Jesus also apply to those who are in Christ. Numerous statements pertaining to Jesus also pertain to his followers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Not only did Jesus say, \u201cI and the Father are one\u201d (John 10:30), he prayed to the Father for those that are his disciples, \u201cthat they may be one, even as we are one\u201d (John 17:11) and for those who will believe through their word, \u201cthat they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us\u201d (John 17:21) and, \u201cthat they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one.\u201d (John 17:22-23)<\/p>
Saying \u201cI and the Father are one\u201d is equivalent to saying \u201cthe Father is in me and I am in the Father.\u201d (John 10:30 + John 14:10) While Jesus prayed for us to all be one he also prayed for us to be in the Father saying, \u201cjust as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us.\u201d (John 17:21) And, \u201cI in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one.\u201d (John 17:22-23) Earlier in John, when Jesus speaks of the day when the Holy Spirit will be given, he alludes to the same sense of oneness when he said, \u201cIn that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. (John 14:20)\u00a0\u00a0The concept of the Father being in us and us being in the Father is also a major theme of the first epistle of John. The following verses in 1 John shed further light on how the author wants us to understand this concept of being one:<\/p>
It is in this context that we should understand what Jesus meant in John 14:9-11 when he said, \u201cIf you have seen me you have seen the Father. Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.\u201d So we see that Jesus was not claiming to be God but was claiming to be \u201cone with the Father\u201d as a servant and representative of God.\u00a0 In the same sense that Jesus was \u201cone with the Father,\u201d we are to be \u201cone with the Father\u201d. The Father is to be in us in the same sense that the Father was in Christ. We are to be in the Father in the same sense that Jesus was in the Father. God our Father, Jesus, and us\u2014we are all to be in each other. (John 17:21) We are all to be perfectly one. (John 17:23)\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
27<\/sup> My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28<\/sup> I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29<\/sup> My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30<\/sup> I and the Father are one<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p> 35<\/sup> If he called them gods to whom the word of God came\u2014and Scripture cannot be broken\u2014 36<\/sup> do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, \u2018You are blaspheming,\u2019 because I said, \u2018I am the Son of God\u2019? 37<\/sup> If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38<\/sup> but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p> 11<\/sup> And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.<\/strong><\/p> 20<\/sup> \u201cI do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21<\/sup> that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us<\/strong>, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22<\/sup> The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one<\/strong>, 23<\/sup> I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one<\/strong>, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.<\/p> 24<\/sup> Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father<\/strong>.<\/p> 28<\/sup> And now, little children, abide in him<\/strong>, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29<\/sup> If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him<\/strong>.<\/p> 23<\/sup> And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24<\/sup> Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us<\/strong>.<\/p> 12<\/sup> No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us<\/strong>. 13<\/sup> By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit<\/strong>. 14<\/sup> And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15<\/sup> Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God<\/strong>. 16<\/sup> So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him<\/strong>.<\/p> The gospel of John was written you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:31) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. (1John 5:1) We have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (1John 4:14-15) 30<\/sup> Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31<\/sup> but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.<\/p> 1<\/sup> Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God<\/strong>, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.<\/p> 14<\/sup> And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15<\/sup> Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God<\/strong>.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Jesus referred to himself as one \u201csent into the world.\u201d (John 10:36) but also said, when praying to the Father, \u201cAs you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.\u201d (John 17:18) We understand that being sent into the world is being raised up as a servant of God and being sent out into ministry (Acts 3:22-26).\u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 36<\/sup>\u00a0do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and\u00a0sent into the world<\/strong>, \u2018You are blaspheming,\u2019 because I said, \u2018I am the Son of God\u2019?<\/p> 18<\/sup>\u00a0As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world<\/strong>.<\/p> 22<\/sup>\u00a0Moses said, \u2018The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers<\/strong>. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.\u00a023<\/sup>\u00a0And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.\u2019\u00a024<\/sup>\u00a0And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.\u00a025<\/sup>\u00a0You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, \u200b\u2018And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.\u2019\u00a026<\/sup>\u00a0God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first<\/strong>,\u00a0to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Jesus stated, \u201cI am not of the world\u201d (John 8:23, John 10:36) but also said of his followers, \u201cyou are not of this world\u201d (John 15:19) and \u201cthey are not of the world, just as I am not of the world\u201d (John 17:14) when praying to the Father.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t He said to them, \u201cYou are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world<\/strong>.<\/p> I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.<\/strong><\/p> If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world<\/strong>, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.<\/p> \u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Paul wrote, \u201cin him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell\u201d (Col 1:19) and \u201cin him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily\u201d (Col 2:9). But Paul also wrote that he bowed his knees before the Father (in prayer) that, \u201caccording to the riches of his glory, he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being\u201d (Eph 3:16) and \u201cto know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.\u201d (Eph 3:19)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 19<\/sup>\u00a0For\u00a0in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell<\/strong>,\u00a020<\/sup>\u00a0and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.<\/p> 9<\/sup>\u00a0For\u00a0in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily<\/strong>,\u00a010<\/sup>\u00a0and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.<\/p> 14<\/sup>\u00a0For this reason I bow my knees before the Father\u2026\u00a016<\/sup>\u00a0that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being\u202619<\/sup>\u00a0and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,\u00a0that you may be filled with all the fullness of God<\/strong>.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Paul refers to the \u201cgospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.\u201d (2 Cor 4:3-6).\u00a0 Paul also refers to Jesus as \u201cthe image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.\u201d (Col 1:15)\u00a0 The context of these verses pertains to the gospel in which the Father has \u201cqualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light\u201d through which the Father has \u201ctransferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.\u201d (Col 1:12-15) The gospel thus provides the means for us to be presented \u201choly and blameless and above reproach before him.\u201d (Col 1:21-22) Paul later says in Colossians, \u201cWhen Christ who is your life appears, then you will also appear with him in glory\u201d and says to \u201cput on the new self which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.\u201d (Col 3:1-10) Indeed, God predestined us to be \u201cconformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first born among many brothers\u201d\u00a0 and \u201cthose whom he justified he also glorified.\u201d (Rom 8:29-30). \u201cAs is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven\u2014Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.\u201d (1 Cor 15:48-49)\u00a0 \u201cWe all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.\u201d (2 Cor 3:17-18) These references reveal to us that the \u201cgospel of the glory of Christ\u201d is the good news that we can be redeemed and transformed into the same image of Christ, who has been glorified and is the image of God. (1 Cor 4:3-6, Col 1:12-15)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 3<\/sup>\u00a0And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.\u00a04<\/sup>\u00a0In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the\u00a0gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God<\/strong>.\u00a05<\/sup>\u00a0For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.\u00a06<\/sup>\u00a0For God, who said, \u201cLet light shine out of darkness,\u201d has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the\u00a0glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ<\/strong>.<\/p> 12<\/sup>\u00a0giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified\u00a0you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light<\/strong>.\u00a013<\/sup>\u00a0He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and\u00a0transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son<\/strong>,\u00a014<\/sup>\u00a0in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.\u00a015<\/sup>\u00a0He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation<\/strong>.<\/p> 21<\/sup>\u00a0And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,\u00a022<\/sup>\u00a0he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death,\u00a0in order to present you<\/strong>\u00a0holy and blameless and above reproach<\/strong>\u00a0before him<\/strong><\/p> 1<\/sup>\u00a0If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.\u00a02<\/sup>\u00a0Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.\u00a03<\/sup>\u00a0For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.\u00a04<\/sup>\u00a0When Christ who is your life appears, then\u00a0you also will appear with him in glory<\/strong>.\u00a05<\/sup>\u00a0Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.\u00a06<\/sup>\u00a0On account of these the wrath of God is coming.\u00a07<\/sup>\u00a0In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.\u00a08<\/sup>\u00a0But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.\u00a09<\/sup>\u00a0Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices\u00a010<\/sup>\u00a0and have\u00a0put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator<\/strong>.<\/p> 29<\/sup>\u00a0For those whom he foreknew he also\u00a0predestined to be conformed to<\/strong>\u00a0the image of his Son, in order that he might be the<\/strong>\u00a0firstborn among many brothers<\/strong>.\u00a030<\/sup>\u00a0And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and\u00a0those whom he justified he also glorified<\/strong>.<\/p> 48<\/sup>\u00a0As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and\u00a0as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven<\/strong>.\u00a049<\/sup>\u00a0Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust,<\/strong>\u00a0we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven<\/strong>.<\/p> 17<\/sup>\u00a0Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.\u00a018<\/sup>\u00a0And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,\u00a0are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another<\/strong>. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Jesus said, \u201cIf I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, \u2018He is our God’ (John 8:54) and he asked of the Father, \u201cGlorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.\u201d (John 17:5) However, Jesus praying to God said, \u201cThe glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one\u201d (John 17:22) \u201cso that the world may know that you loved them even as you loved me.\u201d (John 17:23) The suffering of this present time is not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us\u2014the revealing of the sons of God (Rom 8:18-19). The secret and hidden wisdom of God is what God decreed before the ages for our glory (1 Cor 2:6-7). Those who will be saved are vessels of mercy, which God prepared beforehand for glory (Rom 9:22-24). When Christ who is our life appears, then we shall also appear with him in glory (Col 3:4). In Christ, we have obtained an inheritance according to God’s purpose for the fullness of time (Eph 1:11). We are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:10) The manifold wisdom of God is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord (Eph 3:9-11).<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Jesus answered, \u201cIf I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say,\u00a0<\/strong>\u2018<\/strong>He is our God<\/strong>.\u2019<\/p> 1<\/sup>\u00a0When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, \u201cFather,\u00a0the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you<\/strong>,\u00a02<\/sup>\u00a0since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.\u00a03<\/sup>\u00a0And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.<\/strong>\u00a04<\/sup>\u00a0I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do<\/strong>.\u00a05<\/sup>\u00a0And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed<\/strong>.<\/p>John 10:35-38 (ESV), The Father is in me and I am in the Father<\/h3>
John 17:11 (ESV), That they may be one, even as we are one<\/h3>
John 17:20-23 (ESV), That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they might also be in us<\/h3>
1 John 2:24 (ESV), If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father<\/h3>
1 John 2:28-29 (ESV), Abide in him – everyone who practices righteousness<\/h3>
1 John 3:23-24 (ESV), By this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit<\/h3>
1 John 4:12-16 (ESV), If we love one another, God abides in us<\/h3>
Additional Notes<\/strong><\/h4>
<\/strong><\/p>John 20:30-31 (ESV), That you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God<\/h3>
1 John 5:1 (ESV), Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God<\/h3>
1 John 4:14-15 (ESV), Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God<\/h3>
2. Like Jesus, we are sent into the world<\/h2>
John 10:36 (ESV), Whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world<\/h3>
\u00a0John 17:18 (ESV), As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world<\/h3>
Acts 3:22-26 (ESV), God having raised up his servant, sent him to you first.\u00a0<\/h3>
3. Like Jesus, we are not of this world<\/h2>
John 8:23 (ESV), I am not of this world<\/h3>
John 17:14 (ESV), They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world<\/h3>
John 15:19 (ESV), You are not of the world – therefore the world hates you<\/h3>
4. Like Jesus, we may be filled with all the fullness of God<\/h2>
Colossians 1:19 (ESV), In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell<\/h3>
Colossians 2:9-10 (ESV), In him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily<\/h3>
Ephesians 3:14,16,19 (ESV), That you may be filled with all the fullness of God<\/h3>
5. Like Jesus, we may become the image of God<\/h2>
2 Corinthians 4:3-6 (ESV), Glory of Christ, who is the image of God<\/h3>
Colossians 1:12-15 (ESV), He is the image of the invisible God<\/h3>
Colossians 1:21-22 (ESV), To present you holy and blameless and above reproach<\/h3>
Colossians 3:1-10 (ESV), You will appear with him in glory- put on the new self – being renewed after the image of its creator<\/h3>
Romans 8:29-30 (ESV), He predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son<\/h3>
1 Corinthians 15:48-49 (ESV), We shall also bear the image of the man of heaven<\/h3>
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (ESV), We are being transformed into the same image<\/h3>
6. Like Jesus, we share in the glory that God had planned from the beginning of creation<\/h2>
John 8:54 (ESV), It is my Father who glorifies me\u00a0<\/h3>
John 17:1-5 (ESV) , Glorify me with the glory that I had with you before the world existed<\/h3>