You Should Follow in His Steps
Christians are called to imitate Christ's moral actions and virtues in their lives, living humbly, holily, and justly, and being patient and thankful under afflictions.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that Christians are called to imitate Christ's moral actions, using His life as a model for virtue. He outlines that to walk as Christ walked involves humility, holiness, justice, meekness, love, fruitfulness, faithfulness, and uprightness. Brooks encourages believers to rise above worldly concerns and to respond to hatred and persecution with love and prayer, embodying patience and submission in the face of adversity. Ultimately, he reminds us that Christ left us an example to follow in His steps.
Text
"He who says he abides in Him, ought himself also
to walk even as He walked." 1 John 2:6
Christians are to set all Christ's moral actions before them
as a pattern for their imitation. In Christ's life, a Christian
may behold the picture or lineaments of all virtues--and
accordingly he ought to order his life in this world.
To walk as Christ walked is to walk . . .
humbly,
holily,
justly,
meekly,
lovingly,
fruitfully,
faithfully,
uprightly.
To walk as Christ walked is to . . .
slight the world,
despise the world,
make a footstool of the world,
to live above the world, and
to triumph over the world as Christ did.
To walk as Christ walked is . . .
to love those who hate us,
to pray for those who persecute us,
to bless those who curse us, and
to do good to those who do evil to us.
To walk as Christ walked is to be patient, and silent,
and submissive, and thankful, under the vilest reproaches,
the heaviest afflictions, and the greatest sufferings.
"Leaving you an example, that you should follow
in His steps." 1 Peter 2:21
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Imitating Christ
- The Characteristics of Walking as Christ Walked
- The Practical Implications of Walking as Christ Walked
- Loving those who hate us, praying for those who persecute us, etc.
- Being patient, silent, submissive, and thankful under afflictions
- Christians should order their life in this world accordingly
Key Quotes
“He who says he abides in Him, ought himself also to walk even as He walked.” — Thomas Brooks
“Leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.” — Thomas Brooks
“To walk as Christ walked is to walk humbly, holily, justly, meekly, lovingly, fruitfully, faithfully, and uprightly.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- We should strive to imitate Christ's moral actions and virtues in our lives.
- We should live a life of humility, holiness, and love, and be patient and thankful under afflictions.
- We should show kindness and compassion to those who are hostile towards us, and pray for them and do good to them.