Imitating Is Imitation
The Christian life is not about living like Christ or being Christ-like, but about Christ living His own life through us.
Miles J. Stanford preaches on the essence of living a life that is fully centered on Christ, emphasizing that our Christian journey is not about imitating Christ or trying to be Christ-like through our own efforts, but rather allowing Christ to live His life through us. He highlights the importance of understanding our union with Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which reveals the futility of self-effort in trying to be like Christ. Stanford underscores that the ultimate purpose of Christ's incarnation, death, and resurrection was to prepare a holy nature in Himself to be shared with believers through union and fellowship with Him.
Text
"For to me to live is Christ" (Philippians 1:2l).
Once we learn the truth of our union with the Lord Jesus, and of the Holy Spirit's indwelling, any attempt to imitate Christ will be seen for what it is: unscriptural, and futile.
"Our Father is going to teach us, mainly through personal failure, that the life we live is the life of our Lord Jesus alone. The Christian life is not our living a life like Christ, or our trying to be Christ-like, nor is it Christ giving us the power to live a life like His; but it is Christ Himself living His own life through us; 'no longer I, but Christ.'"
"The end of Christ's incarnation, death and resurrection was to prepare and form an holy nature and frame for us in Himself, to be communicated to us by union and fellowship with Him; and not to be able to produce in ourselves the first originals of such an holy nature by our own endeavors."
"The believer's true education is in the growth of Christ within. The Church's real ministry is not multitudinous public services, so-called, but the forming of the Lord Jesus Christ in the lives of His people; the reproduction of Christ; epistles made alive by the Holy Spirit, to be seen and read of all men." -C.A.F.
"There is no answer to infidelity like the life of the Lord Jesus displayed through the Christian. Nothing puts the madness of the infidel, and the folly of the superstitious more to shame and silence than the humble, quiet, devoted walk of a thorough-going, heavenly-minded, and divinely-taught believer."
"But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you" (2 Thessalonians 3:3).
Sermon Outline
- The Problem with Imitation
- Imitation is unscriptural and futile
- The Christian life is not about living like Christ or being Christ-like
- The Christian life is Christ living His own life through us
Key Quotes
“Our Father is going to teach us, mainly through personal failure, that the life we live is the life of our Lord Jesus alone.” — Miles J. Stanford
“The Christian life is not our living a life like Christ, or our trying to be Christ-like, nor is it Christ giving us the power to live a life like His; but it is Christ Himself living His own life through us; 'no longer I, but Christ.'” — Miles J. Stanford
“The believer's true education is in the growth of Christ within.” — Miles J. Stanford
Application Points
- We should focus on our union with Christ and the growth of Christ within us, rather than trying to live a life like His.
- The Christian life is not about our efforts, but about Christ living His life through us.
- We can be established in our faith and live a life that honors God by trusting in His faithfulness.