4 - CREATED TO BE CHRIST-LIKE: EPH 4, GAL 5, 1 PETER1

Repeated throughout its pages, the New Testament reiterates that God’s goal for us is that we would end up being like Christ Himself – that our characters would be progressively moulded, shaped , transformed till we fully resemble Jesus.  What a purpose! But how?  This  week we look at three passages and ask three simple questions about this purpose for our lives.

(1) Ephesians 4.11-16: GOD’S PURPOSE

THE AIM: ‘Grow up into....Christ’   (4.15)

• Talk together about what this passage reveals about the ultimate aim God has for our Christian lives. What does this mean in practice?
• What are its implications?

(2) Galatians 5.16-26: THE SPIRIT’S POWER

THE ENABLEMENT:  ‘Live by the Spirit’  (5.16.25)

• (5.19-23:  The purpose reiterated. Notice how these verses restate God’s purpose for our lives. Especially noting how it is stated in 5.22-23)
• 5.16-26  The power elucidated: How is it possible for hopeless sinners like us to become like Christ? Where are we to find the power to change?
• What does it mean, practically, to ‘keep in step with the Spirit’? (5.25)

(3) 2 PETER 1. 2-11 : OUR PART

THE ENDEAVOUR: ‘Make every effort’  (1.5)

• (1.3-4:  God’s purpose restated. Notice how in different language, both God’s purpose for us and the power to achieve it, are again restated.)
• 1.5-8: Our part highlighted: What do we learn from this passage about our personal responsibility in this process of gradual growth towards Christlikeness? What, practically, does this mean?
• How does this complement the wonderful truth we have just looked at in Galatians 5?

FINAL QUESTION: 

Am I more like Christ this year than last? If so, in what way?  If not, why not?

FOR HOME MEDITATION:   a further passage.

ROMANS 5.1-5:  TRANSFORMED BY TROUBLE