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Answer: Becoming more like Christ is the desire of every believer, and it is encouraging to know that God has
the same desire for us. In fact, the Bible says that God “predestined [believers] to be conformed to the likeness
of his Son” (Romans 8:29). Making us Christlike is God’s work, and He will see it through to the end
(Philippians 1:6).
However, the fact that God will transform us into Christlikeness doesn’t mean we can sit back and be carried to
heaven “on flow’ry beds of ease.” The process demands our willing cooperation with the Holy Spirit. Becoming
more Christlike requires both divine power and the fulfillment of human responsibility.
There are three things which contribute to our being more Christlike: our surrender to God, our freedom from
sin, and our spiritual growth.
1) Becoming more Christlike is the result of surrender to God. Romans 12:1-2 says that worship involves a total
self-dedication to God. We volunteer our bodies as “living sacrifices,” and our minds are renewed and
transformed.
When Jesus said, “Follow me,” Levi left his money tables immediately (Mark 2:14); so do we freely surrender
all we have for the sake of following the Lord. As John the Baptist said, “He must become greater; I must
become less” (John 3:30), so we focus more and more on Jesus and His glory, losing ourselves in His will.
2) Becoming more Christlike is the result of freedom from sin. Since Jesus lived a sinless life, the more we
consider ourselves “dead to sin” (Romans 6:11) and live a life of purity, the more like Jesus we will be. As we
offer ourselves to God, sin is no longer our master, and we are more clearly identified with Christ (Romans 6:1-
14).
Jesus invites us to follow Him, and we have His example of obedience (John 15:10), sacrificial love (John
15:12-13), and patient suffering (1 Peter 2:19-23). We also have the example of the apostles, who modeled
Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).
When it comes to restraining sin in our lives, we have divine help: praise the Lord for the Word of God (Psalm
119:11), the intercession of Christ (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25), and the power of the Spirit who indwells us
(Romans 8:4; Galatians 5:16)!
3) Becoming more Christlike is the result of Christian growth. When we are first saved, we are immature in
wisdom and knowledge and inexperienced in grace and love. But then we grow. In each of these things, our
charge is to become stronger—and more Christlike. “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for
everyone else” (1 Thessalonians 3:12).
Right now, God works in us: “We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into
his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18). One day, however, the
process will be complete: “When he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).
The promise of being fully Christlike in the future is in itself motivation for becoming more Christlike now:
“Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure” (1 John 3:3)
obedience, to God
A willingness to submit oneself to the will of God and to put it into effect. Scripture emphasises
the necessity for God’s laws to be followed, gives examples and reasons, and describes the
rewards.
Obstacles to sanctification
A lack of faith Mt 5:13; Jn 15:6; 2Co 12:20-21; 1Ti 1:18-19
Rebellion against God Eze 18:24 See also Dt 32:15-18; Job 34:26; Isa 65:11-12; Gal 1:6-
7; Gal 5:7-9; Heb 12:15; Rev 2:4-5
Satanic temptation 1Pe 5:8-9 See also Ac 5:3; 2Co 2:8-11; Jas 4:7
Self-indulgence and greed Lk 12:15 See also Lk 21:34; Ro 13:13; 2Co 12:21; Eph 4:19
Yielding to sinful desires 1Pe 1:14 See also Mk 4:18-19; 1Co 10:6-8; 1Pe 2:11; 2Pe 2:14-
18; 1Jn 2:16-17
Answer: In 1 Corinthians 2:16, Paul quotes Isaiah 40:13 and then makes a statement concerning all believers:
“We have the mind of Christ.” Having the mind of Christ means sharing the plan, purpose, and perspective of
Christ, and it is something that all believers possess.
Having the mind of Christ means we understand God’s plan in the world—to bring glory to Himself, restore
creation to its original splendor, and provide salvation for sinners. It means we identify with Christ’s purpose “to
seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). It means we share Jesus’ perspective of humility and obedience
(Philippians 2:5-8), compassion (Matthew 9:36), and prayerful dependence on God (Luke 5:16).
In the verses leading up to 1 Corinthians 2:16, we note some truths concerning the mind of Christ:
1) The mind of Christ stands in sharp contrast to the wisdom of man (verses 5-6).
2) The mind of Christ involves wisdom from God, once hidden but now revealed (verse 7).
3) The mind of Christ is given to believers through the Spirit of God (verses 10-12).
4) The mind of Christ cannot be understood by those without the Spirit (verse 14).
5) The mind of Christ gives believers discernment in spiritual matters (verse 15).
In order to have the mind of Christ, one must first have saving faith in Christ (John 1:12; 1 John 5:12). After
salvation, the believer lives a life under God’s influence. The Holy Spirit indwells and enlightens the believer,
infusing him with wisdom—the mind of Christ. The believer bears a responsibility to yield to the Spirit’s leading
(Ephesians 4:30) and to allow the Spirit to transform and renew his mind (Romans 12:1-2).
CHRISTLIKENESS
The process by which believers are conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ, especially in
relation to obedience to and trust in God. Through the Holy Spirit, God refashions believers in
the image of his Son, who is set before them as a model of the form of the redeemed life.
See also
1 Corinthians 11:1
Verse Concepts
Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
Philippians 2:5
Verse Concepts
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
John 13:15
Verse Concepts
"For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.
Romans 8:29
Verse Concepts
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the
image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
Ephesians 4:11-13
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists,
and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of
service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the
faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of
the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Philippians 3:8-11
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and
count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not
having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through
faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I
may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His
sufferings, being conformed to His death;
in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
1 John 2:6
Verse Concepts
the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He
walked.
2 Corinthians 3:18
Verse Concepts
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are
being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord,
the Spirit.
Romans 8:5-9
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh,
but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set
on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the
mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of
God, for it is not even able to do so, read more.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
1 Thessalonians 1:6
Verse Concepts
You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much
tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
Matthew 10:25
Verse Concepts
"It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his
master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will
they malign the members of his household!
Luke 6:40
Verse Concepts
"A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will
be like his teacher.
Luke 9:57-62
As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, "I will follow You wherever
You go." And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have
nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." And He said to another,
"Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." read
more.
Matthew 9:9
Verse Concepts
As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax
collector's booth; and He said to him, "Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him.
Mark 2:14
Verse Concepts
As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He
said to him, "Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him.
Luke 5:27
Verse Concepts
After that He went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax
booth, and He said to him, "Follow Me."
Matthew 19:21
Verse Concepts
Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give
to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
Luke 18:22
Verse Concepts
When Jesus heard this, He said to him, "One thing you still lack; sell all that you
possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and
come, follow Me."
John 1:43
Verse Concepts
The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip And Jesus said to
him, "Follow Me."
John 10:27
Verse Concepts
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
John 12:26
Verse Concepts
"If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be
also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
John 15:10
Verse Concepts
"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My
Father's commandments and abide in His love.
Mark 8:34-35
And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes
to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. "For
whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and
the gospel's will save it.
Matthew 16:24
Verse Concepts
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny
himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
Luke 9:23-24
And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny
himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his
life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.
1 Peter 2:21-23
For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving
you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS
ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in
return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him
who judges righteously;
Matthew 10:38
Verse Concepts
"And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
Luke 14:26-27
"If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and
children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My
disciple. "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My
disciple.
John 21:19
Verse Concepts
Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God And when
He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me!"
Philippians 3:10
Verse Concepts
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His
sufferings, being conformed to His death;
1 Peter 4:1
Verse Concepts
Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same
purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
Matthew 20:26-28
"It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall
be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just
as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a
ransom for many."
Mark 10:43-45
"But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you
shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of
all. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give
His life a ransom for many."
Matthew 11:29
Verse Concepts
"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
Mark 9:35
Verse Concepts
Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he
shall be last of all and servant of all."
Luke 22:24-26
And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded
to be greatest. And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them;
and those who have authority over them are called 'Benefactors.' "But it is not this
way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the
youngest, and the leader like the servant.
John 13:14-15
"If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one
another's feet. "For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.
Philippians 2:4-5
do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of
others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
John 15:12
Verse Concepts
"This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
1 John 3:16
Verse Concepts
We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down
our lives for the brethren.
John 13:34
Verse Concepts
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have
loved you, that you also love one another.
John 15:17
Verse Concepts
"This I command you, that you love one another.