Created to become like Christ

Memory Verse: …” For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Rom. 8:29 (NLT).

Text: Colossians 3:1-25

Spiritual Emphasis: You and I were created to become like Christ. From the very beginning, God’s plan has been to make you like His Son, Jesus. This is our destiny. God announced this intention at Creation: “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image and likeness.’”

What does the full “image and likeness” of God look like?

• Developing a Christlike Mindset: To be like Christ means learning to see the world through His eyes.  This means laying down our own agendas and embracing humility, compassion, and a servant’s heart – Phil. 2:5
• God wants you to become godly – taking on His values, attitudes, and character: God’s ultimate goal for our lives on earth is not comfort, but character development. He wants us to grow up spiritually and become like Christ – Eph. 4:22-24. Becoming like Christ does not mean losing your personality, or becoming a mindless clone. God created your uniqueness, but He want to transform your character, not your personality – Rom.12:1-2. God want to develop the kind of character described in the beatitudes of Jesus – Matt. 5:1-12. Here emphasis is on: depending on God, humility, hunger and thirst for justice, showing mercy, living a holy life, working and pursing peace, doing what is right at all times even when we are persecuted for doing the right things and identifying with Christ.

Question: How do we practically go about becoming more like Jesus?

Conclusion:

Your character is essentially the sum of your habits. Emulating Jesus daily involves practicing His teachings through love, humility, service, and devotion. Ultimately, bearing God’s image is about your daily conduct—how you love your family, serve your neighbors, and respond to adversity. Earth is a training ground. Commit today to stop relying on your own strength, lean into the Holy Spirit, and let God reproduce the character of Jesus in your life.

Shalom!

Self-Study: 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 5:1-2; Phil. 1:6; 1 John 3:2; 1 John 2:6; John 13; Gal. 4:19; 1 Cor. 10:31; James 1: 2-4; 2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Tim. 4:7; Luke 1:38; Phil. 3:14; Gen. 1:26-27; Col. 3:2; Gal. 2:20; Ps. 17:15; Gal. 3:27; 1 Cor. 11:1; Luke 6:40.