Becoming More Like Jesus
As followers of Christ, our ultimate aim is to emulate Him. Our desire is to reflect His character in everything we do, so that when people look at us, they see a glimpse of Jesus. This is a challenging task, and we face many obstacles on a daily basis. However, by understanding the nature of the conflict, having a strategy, identifying the problem, and finding the solution, we can be more effective in our pursuit of Christ-likeness.
What did Jesus say?
Jesus said, “I have set an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:15) That is a tall order! John said, “Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:6) The challenge has been set! We know what the goal is. Will you achieve it?
THE CONFLICT - The Flesh vs Spirit War
There is a problem we all face. We want to do what’s right, but there’s an internal war that keeps us from doing it. Paul spoke about this in his writings on several occasions. In Galatians 5:17, he lays out the scenario:
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
Have you ever experienced this? You want to do what’s right, but you keep falling short. Are you tired of asking for forgiveness for the same thing? Do you desire to please God, but keep dealing with internal opposition? Surprisingly enough, the apostle Paul struggled with this as well. He said in Romans 7:15,
“I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.”
He goes on to write in Romans 7:21-23,
"21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.”
Paul gives us a clear picture of this conflict between the flesh and the spirit that keeps us from becoming more like Jesus. But he also gives us the strategy to overcome this.
THE STRATEGY - Walk in the Spirit
The strategy for overcoming the flesh is found in Galatians 5:16,
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
What does it mean to walk in the Spirit? It simply means to live under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Not to resist the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. To submit to His work in every area of your life. The Holy Spirit will give us internal promptings that will keep us on the road to becoming more like Jesus. However, if you ignore those promptings, you will grow dull to them and before long, you won’t even sense them. You will get comfortable in your sin and you’ll be in a spiritual rut.
We must choose to walk in the Spirit and allow the internal power He provides to guide us to our goal.
Before discussing the solution, we need to talk about the larger problem that plagues every one of us.
THE PROBLEM - The Flesh is Strong
Paul outlines the details of this internal conflict and then dives in a little deeper to make things even clearer. He shows us what it looks like in real time when we follow after our flesh and not after the Spirit.
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19–21)
These are things that we have to combat in our lives because our flesh naturally strives after them. While many would say they don’t deal with these “big” issues, I would conclude that we all struggle with these things in their infancy stage. These “acts of the flesh” start small and we have the natural inclination to do them because it makes our flesh feel good. However, we need to identify this behavior quickly and snuff it out so you don’t find yourself on this list.
Don’t forget Paul’s sober warning that “anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”
THE SOLUTION - Holy Spirit Help
God is so wonderful in that He helps us in this conflict and gives us a pathway to success. His solution is to empower us by His Spirit in our inner being! What a privilege to host the Holy Spirit in our lives and receive power (supernatural ability through God’s ability) to become more like Jesus!
Paul gives us a character description of Jesus known as the fruit of the Spirit. When we yield to the influence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, He will produce these fruit in us which are in stark opposition to the acts of the flesh previously mentioned.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25)
In addition to the character goals listed here, we’re also instructed to do two other things regarding this internal war strategy. First, we must crucify the flesh with its passions and desires. We do this by resisting the urges of the flesh. Second, we must keep in step with the Spirit. We do this by submitting to His influence every step of the way!
THE CONCLUSION
Without the power of the Holy Spirit, we will fall short of our goal of becoming more like Jesus. The flesh is too strong and will consume our thoughts, desires, and actions. We will slowly become less like Jesus and more like the world. However, the strategy for success is to yield and submit to the influence of the Holy Spirit in our lives; not only daily, but on a “step by step” basis. When we do this, we crucify our flesh and begin to develop the fruit of the Spirit which will make us look more like Jesus.
We can’t do this on our own. We need the Holy Spirit! Ask Jesus to fill you with the Holy Spirit today!
- Nick DiBenedetto
from the sermon series, “The Year You Always Wanted” (1/28/24)