Becoming like Jesus part 1 Religion tells us what to do and what not to do True Christianity tells us what to become, and how to become it.

Part Seven - Becoming like Jesus part 1 Religion tells us what to do and what not to do True Christianity tells us what to become, and how to become it. This statement places religion and true Christianity poles apart, however the church continues to tell us what not to do, and conversely what to do, placing an ideal of behavior before us, which most find impossible to conform to. In order to arise above this religious spirit we need to see what God requires of us from a different perspective. God laid out in the Old Testament a code of moral and ethical standards known as the law. These requirements were very difficult to adhere to, so God instituted a system of sacrifices to cover sin. When Jesus came He fulfilled all of the Law, and a new and living way became available to us through the cross. We have seen that the purpose of our redemption is to make possible our true calling, that of becoming like Jesus. This is our high calling and should be our goal in life. How then is this possible? Not by doing but by becoming We cannot become like someone unless we know what they are like. What is God Like? The bible describes God in two distinctive ways. 1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. God is light; not God gives light, He is light. God of course does give light but that does not describe Him. God is light 1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. God is love and God is light Love describes His nature, and light describes His spiritual essence and power. God is a being of light and that light is the power source of the entire universe, that light is the creative power of God, the healing power, the power that imparts revelation and understanding. Jesus is the light of the world and by Him, and His light all things continue to exist. Colossians 1:15 (Jesus) Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. God is love; this describes His nature. Everything God does is always and forever motivated by love, because that's who He is. Now if we are to become like Him we must become love Many Christians want to become more powerful, they want more authority, more gifts, more anointing. The focus and motivation is wrong. Why do we want these things? If you become love, God will give you the power to love with God now first requires of us to become love in order to qualify for Kingdom power. Religion is based on laws, true Christianity is based in love and acting out of love. If we live and walk in love we fulfill all the requirements of the Law and the prophets. Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. When Jesus came to live within us, He did so in order to live His life through us. We have been taught who we are in Christ, but it should really be who He is in us. Jesus was emphatic; all He requires of us is to, love the Lord with all our heart, and love mankind as we would love ourselves. Now this seems over simplified, but it is not. The church has often taught just the opposite, and we see the bad fruit that it has produced. Struggling defeated Christians are everywhere. Could it be that we have got it so badly wrong? Yes. The scriptures make it very clear; if we walk in love we shall be transformed 1 John 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. Whoso keepeth His word, what word? The word to love God with all your heart and your brother as yourself 1 John 2:7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. He that loveth his brother abides in the light, and that light will purify and transform him. When you become love you become like God for God is love. When love is pouring through you light is pouring through you, and that light will transform you. A profound union begins to take place between you and God as you learn to love and give out love, and that union will transform you into His likeness. 1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him. God Bless you Neville Johnson © 2004