Session Two
Understanding Christ-Likeness
We are to do something FOR God.
We are to live FROM God as our SOURCE.
KEY TRUTH
CHRIST-LIKENESS Christ-likeness is living from and experiencing the supernatural characteristics of Christ in us.
“But the fruit of the Spirit IS love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”
Galatians 5:22, 23
“For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall.” Ephesians 2:14
Uncond. Love Victory Worth Acceptance Faith Freedom Patience Strength Peace Faithfulness Forgiveness Security
Understanding Fearlessness Wisdom Discernment Adequacy Humility Christ-confidence Kindness Rest Righteousness Selflessness Courage
Compassion Boldness Joy Gentleness Christ-control Power
Christ-Like
Characteristics
“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another [selflessness], and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Colossians 3:12-15
Human Characteristics
feelings or experiences generated by man that CAN be changed by our circumstances and/or our relationships.
Christ-Life Characteristics
SUPERNATURAL characteristics of Christ’s life that are supplied by Christ and CANNOT be changed by circumstances or relationships.
What Is The Difference?
NOTHING or NO ONE can ROB
you of experiencing
Christ-likeness
PEACE
JOY
LOVE
SUPERNATURAL
Means they are
GOD-PRODUCED
UNEXPLAINABLE
and yet they are
EXPERIENTIAL
“And the PEACE of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious JOY.” 1 Peter 1:8
Imprisoned
Whipped
Beaten
Stoned
Shipwrecked
Bandits
Hungry
Thirsty
Cold
Persecuted
“Therefore, I am WELL CONTENT with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecution, with difficulties…….”
2 Corinthians 12:10
What Did Paul Face Every Day?
“I am overflowing with JOY in the midst of all our suffering….” Colossians 1:24
Below The Line = EXPERIENCE
Above The Line = CHRIST-LIKENESS
Circumstances
Relationships
Unconditional Love Worthy Humble
Secure Acceptable Patient
Forgiving Kind Complete
Compassionate Discerning Wise
Adequate Thankful Confident
Christ-confident Righteous Selfless
Free Victorious Powerful
Joyful Peaceful Good
CHRIST-LIKENESS
EXPERIENCE
EXPERIENCE
Imprisoned Whipped Beaten
Stoned Shipwrecked Bandits
Hungry Thirsty Cold
Persecuted
Christ’s CONTENTMENT - JOY
GREATER REALITY
God Will Supply What You Need In The MOMENT
“My God shall SUPPLY all your NEEDS in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
Discouraged Hopeless Dejected Unloved Helpless Worthless Rejected Miserable Inadequate Burdened Frustrated Angry Condemned Critical Unhappy Empty Inadequate Exploited Vindictive Guilty Confused Depressed Fearful Lonely
Paralyzed Troubled Perplexed Judged Unworthy Anxious Resentful Defeated
Overwhelmed Powerless Ashamed Insecure
Misunderstood Insignificant Vulnerable Incapable
As A Result of A NEGATIVE Relationship or Circumstance You FEEL:
Uncond. Love Victory Worth Acceptance Faith Freedom Patience Strength Peace Faithfulness Forgiveness Security
Understanding Fearlessness Wisdom Discernment Adequacy Humility Christ-confidence Kindness Rest Righteousness Selflessness Courage
Compassion Boldness Joy Gentleness Christ-control Power
What Is It That You NEED?
“For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall. Ephesians 2:14
I am your:
Peace
Joy
Love
Rejecting Controlling Demanding Frustrated
Manipulative Unforgiving Angry Jealous
Self-Protective Judgmental Uncaring Insensitive Resentful Critical Guilting Shaming
Self-righteous Selfish Bitter Blaming
Overbearing Envious Deceitful Resisting Condemning Unloving People-pleasing
FLESHLY BEHAVIORS
Uncond. Love Victory Worth Acceptance Faith Freedom Patience Strength Peace Grace Forgiveness Security
Understanding Fearlessness Wisdom Discernment Adequacy Humility Christ-confidence Kindness Rest Righteousness Selflessness Courage
Compassion Boldness Joy Gentleness Christ-control Power
What Will Be The Results of Being Transformed Into Christ-Likeness?
God’s Part and Man’s Part In Growing Up
“He who BEGAN a good work in you..”
Philippians 1:6a
God As Your Source Is The INITIATOR
God Is The INITIATOR and The CAUSE and EFFECT Of Transformation (i.e. Provider, Supplier, Producer)
“He who began a good work in you WILL PERFECT it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 1:6
“I am the vine,
you are the branches.
He who ABIDES in Me, and
I in him, he bears much fruit ..”
John 15:5a
OUR PART
HOW DO WE GROW UP?
OUR PART:
To
DRAW FROM, DEPEND ON, and LIVE FROM Christ as your Source for living life.
“He (Jesus) had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of Himself that He had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, He set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became HUMAN!” Philippians 2:6, 7
How Did Jesus Live His Life On Earth?
How HUMAN Was Jesus?
Layed aside His privileges of deity:
Sovereignty?
Omnipresence?
Omnipotence?
Omniscience?
“Jesus therefore answered and was saying to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself ….’” John 5:19
“I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just…….” John 5:30��“Jesus therefore said, ‘When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative……’” John 8:28
Jesus’s Earthly Relationship With His Father
Did Jesus
DEPEND on the Holy Spirit and the Father as His Source while
on the earth?
Who Performed The Work?
“Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say are not my own, but my Father who lives in Me does His work through Me.”
John 14:10
Who Was The Source Of All That Jesus Did While On Earth?
Who Performed The Work?
Jesus was NOT functioning as the SOURCE. Rather, He was living from the LIFE and POWER of His FATHER and the HOLY SPIRIT
.
If this is true, WHY is it important?
Who Was The Source Of All That Jesus Did While On Earth?
If Jesus, as a HUMAN, lived in total DEPENDENCE on His Father’s LIFE and POWER,
Then how should you live?
So I
can just lay on the
couch
and do nothing?
The truth is that the Christian life is very ACTIVE, but
GOD is the SOURCE of the ACTIVITY (spiritual transformation) taking place.
GOD
“That’s why I WORK and struggle so hard, DEPENDING on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.” Colossians 1:29 (NLT)
OUR WORK IS DEPENDENCE
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vd7j76wcbmv3ydg/Screen%20Shot%202022-02-16%20at%206.30.07%20AM.png?dl=0
DEPENDENCE
LIVE IN INDEPENDENCE
The
WORK
Is To
Make The
CHOICE
DEPENDENCE
1. The world says be INDEPENDENT.
2. Dependence is WEAKNESS.
3. The FLESH. “I can live my life independent of God.”
4. Dependence = PASSIVITY
Why Do We Struggle With Dependence?
“I NO longer live, but Christ lives IN me” Galatians 2:20
ALLOW Christ to live His life In you.
“If we LIVE by the Spirit, let us also WALK by the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:25
Walking In The Spirit = Intentional and ongoing dependence on God(faith) as the SOURCE to transform you.
“If we LIVE by the Spirit, let us also WALK by the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:25
Walking In The Spirit = Intentional and ongoing dependence on God by FAITH as the SOURCE to transform you.
Faith Concerning Living Life Ultimately Has One of Two Objects
Who Is The Object Of Your Faith?
Is it possible that the REAL object of our faith is our ABILITY and WILLPOWER?
Faith In God As Your Source =
Faith In Your Self As Your Source = Lifeless, powerless, unchanged life
CHOICE
Victory, Freedom Transformation
You Have A Choice!
What Choice Will You Make?
Is a moment by moment DEPENDENCE on God believing that ONLY He as THE SOURCE can transform you.
FAITH
FAITH Victory Worth Acceptance Uncond. Love Freedom Patience Strength Peace Faithfulness Forgiveness Security
Understanding Fearlessness Wisdom Discernment Adequacy Humility Christ-confidence Kindness Rest Righteousness Selflessness Courage
Compassion Boldness Joy Gentleness Christ-control Power
Christ Will Supply ALL Your Needs
Philippians 4:19
Your part is to RECEIVE
“As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk in Him.” Colossians 2:6