Day 2115 Becoming A Radical Disciple 2 Christlikeness Daily Wisdom

Published: Feb. 14, 2023, 8 a.m.

Welcome to Day 2115 of\xa0 Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Becoming A Radical Disciple 2 \u2013 Christlikeness \u2013 Daily Wisdom Putnam Church Message \u2013 08/08/2021 Becoming A Radical Disciple \u2013 Christlikeness As mentioned last week, my purpose in this series is to consider eight character traits of Christian discipleship that are often neglected and deserve to be taken seriously. In addition, last week, we considered four major secular trends threatening to engulf the Christian community. In the face of these, we are all called, not to feeble-minded conformity, but to radical nonconformity. \xa0 As we face the challenge of pluralism, we are to be a community of truth, standing up for the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. As we face the challenge of materialism, we are to be a community of simplicity and pilgrimage. As we face the challenge of relativism, we must be a community of obedience to God\u2019s precepts. Finally, as we face the challenge of narcissism, we must be a community of love. \xa0 Today we will consider Christlikeness. \xa0 Throughout our lives, we ask ourselves, what is our purpose during our pilgrimage while we remain here on earth? It is this: God created us to be his imagers, and as such, God wants his people to become like Christ, who is the perfect imager. For Christlikeness is the will of God for the people of God. Therefore, as citizens of God\u2019s kingdom and imagers of God, we should imitate the only perfect imager, which is Christ. \xa0 In today\u2019s message, we will consider three steps in our process to Christlikeness.\xa0 First, to lay down the biblical foundation for the call to Christlikeness; second, to give some New Testament examples; and third, to draw some practical conclusions. \xa0 The Biblical Foundation of the Call to Christlikeness This foundation is not a single text, for the foundation is more substantial than can be summed up in one text. Instead, the foundation consists of three texts connecting us from the past to the present and giving us a glimpse of the future: Romans 8:29, 2\xa0Corinthians 3:18, and 1\xa0John 3:2. \xa0 The first text is Romans 8:29: For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn\xa0among many brothers and sisters. The second text is 2\xa0Corinthians 3:18: So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord\u2014who is the Spirit\u2014makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. \xa0 Before I read the third text, we need to understand that the perspective has changed from the past to the present, from God\u2019s eternal foreknowledge to his present transformation of us by the Holy Spirit. \xa0From God\u2019s eternal purpose to make us like Christ, to his historical work by his Spirit to transform us into an imager like Christ. \xa0 The third text is 1\xa0John 3:2: Dear friends, we are already God\u2019s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. Since God is working to this end, it is no wonder he calls us to cooperate with him. \u2018Follow me,\u2019 he says. \u2018Imitate me.\u2019 \xa0 So, returning now to 1\xa0John 3:2, we don\u2019t know in any detail what we shall be, but we know that we will be like Christ. Therefore, there\u2019s no...