Romans 8:28-29      Christlikeness

Rev. David Holwick   D                               Purpose-Driven Life #4

First Baptist Church                    

Ledgewood, New Jersey                              

January 25, 2004

Romans 8:28-29


CHRISTLIKENESS



  I. It is so, Doris.

      A. "Christlikeness is not a word," according to our church secretary.

          1) It is, because I have used it.

          2) And I didn't invent it, either.


      B. Christlikeness is simply that - being like Christ.


          1) It is the greatest thing you can attain.


             Adoniram Judson was the first modern missionary to depart

                from America.

             He spent his life preaching about Jesus in Burma.


             When his wife told him that a newspaper article likened him

                to some of the apostles, Judson replied,

             "I do not want to be like a Paul... or any mere man.

              I want to be like Christ...

              I want to follow Him only, copy His teachings, drink in

                 His Spirit, [and] place my feet in His footprints...

              Oh, to be more like Christ!"

                                                                   #11310


          2) As Paul himself says in Romans 8:29, God wants us to be

                conformed to the likeness of his Son.

              a) This does not happen instantly.

                  1> Accepting Jesus as your Savior doesn't dump

                        Christlikeness on you.

                  2> Baptism doesn't produce it.

              b) It is a process that takes a lifetime.


II. Seven aspects of what Christlikeness involves.  [1]

      A. Increasing hunger and sensitivity for God.

          1) Basic spiritual desire.

          2) There may be dry periods, but they are less frequent.


      B. Your life is increasingly governed by God's Word, the Bible.

          1) It makes more sense to you.

          2) You get comfort and strength from it.


      C. Becoming more and more loving - and forgiving.

          1) You care about people, even those who don't (or can't)

                care back.


    Many years ago in Northern Virginia, an old man stood by a river

       bank waiting to get across.

    Since it was bitterly cold and there was no bridge, he would have

       to "bum a ride" to the other side.


    After a long wait, he saw a group of horsemen approaching.

    He let the first pass, then the second, third, fourth, and fifth.

       Finally, there was only one rider left.

    As he drew alongside, the old man looked him in the eye and said,

       "Sir, would you give me a ride across the river?"

    The rider without a moment's hesitation said, "Why certainly,

       get aboard."


    Once across the river, the old man slid to the ground.

    Before leaving, the rider asked, "Sir, I could not help but notice

       that you permitted all the other riders to pass without asking

          for a ride.

    Then, when I drew alongside you immediately asked me for a ride.

       I'm curious as to why you didn't ask them and did ask me."


    The old man quietly responded, "I looked into their eyes and could

       see no love and knew in my own heart it would be useless to ask

          for a ride.

    But, when I looked into your eyes, I saw compassion, love, and the

       willingness to help.

    I knew you would be glad to give me a ride across the river."


    With this the rider very humbly said, "You know, I'm very grateful

       for what you said.  I appreciate it very much."

    With that, Thomas Jefferson turned and rode off to the White House.


    If you had been the last rider, would the old man have asked you

       for that ride across the river?

    When people look at you do they see Christ?

                                                                    #7888


          2) You cut people slack when they offend you.

          3) The "fruit of the Spirit" are evident in your character.


      D. You have an increasing concern for the needs of others.

          1) Their physical and especially spiritual needs.

          2) It is easy to become complacent as the years go by.


      E. You are more aware of your sin.

          1) Not just aware, but burdened by it.

          2) You want to be holy.

          3) You want to conquer your weaknesses.


      F. Spiritual disciplines are evident in your life.

          1) Prayer, meditation and worship attendance.

          2) Be an "athlete for God."


             Spiritual disciplines train the body, mind, and spirit for

                the things of God.

             Paul writes in 1 Timothy 4:7, "Train yourself in godliness."

             Christians from the earliest centuries spoke of themselves

                as the athletae Dei, the athletes of God.


             Now, it is important to distinguish "training" from

                "trying."

             I might try very hard to win a marathon race, but if I have

                not trained, I will not even finish, not to mention win.

             Without training, the resources simply are not in my

                muscles.

             The same is true in the spiritual life.

                Training builds interior habits within us, "holy habits."

                                                                    #3627


             (Holwick family and adventures on vacation.

             Not as impressive as they sound - we go all-out for one day

                hiking up a mountain and spend the rest of the vacation

                   recuperating at Sonic Drive-ins.


      G. You think more of heaven and being with Jesus forever.


III. Three unusual means God uses to produce Christlikeness in us.

      A. God uses trouble to teach us to trust.

          1) They are designed to draw us closer to God, not hurt us.

              a) He is more interested in what we are, than what we do.

              b) Our character is more important than our comfort.

                  1> Life doesn't make sense if you don't understand

                       this.

                  2> This world is meant for our character development.

          2) Every problem has a purpose.

              a) Problems are to make us more like Christ.

              b) His great trial was in garden of Gethsemane.

                  1> Real question was, would he trust God?

                  2> He asked God to take the cup away.

          3) Lessons for us.

              a) It is acceptable to say to God, "I don't like this,

                    take it away."

              b) Jesus surrendered to God's plan.

              c) To be like Jesus, we must learn to trust God completely.

              d) The hardest spiritual test is when everything is going

                    wrong.


      B. God uses temptation to teach us to obey.

          1) Temptations originate with Satan, not God.

              a) God can use temptations for our good.

              b) It is not a sin to be tempted.

              c) Temptation always tests whether we love God more than

                    the temptation.

          2) Two helps with temptation:

              a) Keep focused on good thoughts.          Phil 4:8

                  1> Don't resist temptation (that will only make you

                        think about it).

                  2> Re-focus thoughts on good things.

              b) Get a spiritual partner.

                  1> Paul had many spiritual partners.

          3) What temptation are you facing right now?

              a) What lesson is there in it?

              b) (testimony of wild-living member of Saddleback)


      C. God uses trespasses to teach us to forgive.

          1) Trespasses are stumbling blocks by other people.

              a) Trials are from God, temptations are from Satan, and

                    trespasses are from people.

              b) Trials teach us to trust, temptations teach us to obey,

                    and trespasses teach us to forgive.

              c) Trespasses might be the toughest challenge.

          2) Trespasses are inevitable.

              a) Other people will hurt us.  We will hurt other people.

                  1> Intentional, or unintentional.

              b) To become like Christ, we must learn to forgive.

          3) Two helps with forgiveness.

              a) Remember that God has forgiven you.

                  1> Keep things in perspective.               Eph 4:32

                      A> (parable of unforgiving servant)      Matt 18:23

                  2> You will never have to forgive more than you've

                        been forgiven.

              b) Remember that God is in control.

                  1> Joseph forgave his treacherous brothers.  Gen 50:20

          4) Who do you need to forgive?


IV. Christlikeness isn't easy.

      A. Quote from A. J. Gossip, 1924:


      "No doubt the gospel is quite free, as free as the Medal of Honor*,

          which anyone can have who is prepared to face the risks...

       But it means time, and pains, and concentrating all one's

          energies upon a mighty project.

      You will not stroll into Christlikeness with your hands in your

         pockets, shoving the door open with a careless shoulder.


      This is no hobby for one's leisure moments, taken up at intervals

         when we have nothing much to do, and put down and forgotten

            when our life grows full and interesting...

      It takes all one's strength, and all one's heart, and all one's

         mind, and all one's soul, given freely and recklessly and

            without restraint.                                      #4211


      B. What is it worth to you?



=========================================================================

SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:


Portions of this sermon closely follow one by Rev. Rick Warren titled

"Created To Become Like Christ."


[1]  Adapted from article in Discipleship Journal, #97, Jan/Feb 1997,

           "10 Questions To Ask To Make Sure You're Still Growing," by

           Donald S. Whitney.


# 3627  "What Is Supposed To Happen In The Christian Life?" by Richard J.

           Foster. Online Christianity Today (through America Online),

           February 5, 1996.


# 4211  "The Gospel Is As Free As The Victoria Cross," by A. J. Gossip,

           from "The Edge Of The Crowd" [1924].  Source: Christian

           Quotation Of The Day; Http:/www.gospelcom.netcqod

           Note that original quote has "Victoria Cross" instead of

           "Medal of Honor;" I adapted it for an American congregation.


# 7888  "No Love In Their Eyes," Zig Ziglar, Fredericksburg Bible

           Illustrator Supplements, 5/1991.101.


#11310  "I Want To Be Like Christ," author unknown. Fredericksburg Bible

           Illustrator Supplements.


These and 25,000 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,

absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html.html

=========================================================================


Summary of Rick Warren's "Created To Become Like Christ"


I. God's ultimate plan.

      A. To make you like Jesus.

          1) Not to become a god, but to become godly.

          2) He wants you to develop his character.

          3) This requires spiritual growth.

      B. How does spiritual growth happen?

          1) He uses the Bible.

          2) He uses other people.

          3) Others things God uses...

              a) Each based on the life of Jesus:

                  1> Trouble in the Garden of Gethsemane. [temptation?]

                  2> Temptation in the desert.

                  3> Trespasses on the cross.


II. God uses trouble to teach us to trust.

      A. They are designed to draw us closer to God, rather than hurt us.

          1) He is more interested in what we are, than what we do.

          2) Your character is more important than your comfort.

              a) Life doesn't make sense if you don't understand this.

              b) This world is meant for our character development.

      B. Every problem has a purpose.

          1) Problems are to make us more like Christ.

          2) His great trial was in garden of Gethsemane.

              a) Real question was, would he trust God?

              b) He needed his friends with him.

              c) He asked God to take the cup away.

      C. Lessons for us.

          1) It is acceptable to say to God, "I don't like this, take

                it away."

          2) Jesus surrendered to God's plan.

          3) To be like Jesus, we must learn to trust God completely.

          4) The hardest spiritual test is when everything is going

                wrong.

      D. Help in times of trouble.

          1) Keep a spiritual journal.

              a) More than a diary - records our lessons and insights.

              b) It is a heritage for our children.

          2) Remember the reward.

              a) In eternity, God rewards our character development.

              b) (disabled woman says, "I won't be comfortable till I

                    get to heaven.")


III. God uses temptation to teach us to obey.

      A. Temptations originate with Satan, not God.

          1) God can use temptations for our good.

          2) It is not a sin to be tempted.

          3) Temptation always tests whether we love God more than the

                temptation.

      B. Two helps with temptation:

          1) Keep focused on good thoughts.          Phil 4:8

              a) Don't resist temptation (that will only make you

                    think about it).

              b) Re-focus thoughts on good things.

          2) Get a spiritual partner.

              a) Paul had many spiritual partners.

      C. What temptation are you facing right now?

          1) What lesson is there in it?

          2) (testimony of wild-living member of Saddleback)


IV. God uses trespasses to teach us to forgive.

      A. Trespasses are stumbling blocks by other people.

          1) Trials are from God, temptations are from Satan, and

                trespasses are from people.

          2) Trials teach us to trust, temptations teach us to obey,

                and trespasses teach us to forgive.

          3) Trespasses are the toughest challenge.

      B. Trespasses are inevitable.

          1) Other people will hurt us.  We will hurt other people.

              a) Intentional, or unintentional.

          2) To become like Christ, we must learn to forgive.

      C. Two helps with forgiveness.

          1) Remember that God has forgiven you.

              a) Keep things in perspective.                Eph 4:32

                  1> (parable of unforgiving servant)

                  2> You will never have to forgive more than you've

                        been forgiven.

          2) Remember that God is in control.

              a) Joseph forgave his treacherous brothers.  Gen 50:20

              b) (letter from abused girl)

                  1> "Faith in God offers no assurance against tragedy,

                        but in every case suffering offers an opportunity




                           for us to display God's work."

      D. Who do you need to forgive?


  V. Christlikeness.

      A. It's not about our career, it's not about our comfort, it's

            all about our character and becoming like Jesus.

      B. Use life for the reason he gave it to us.



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