Imitators!

by JOHN MCCORMICK | Category: Imitators! | May 1963

There are two ways in which we can think of imitation of Christ, in the unregenerate sinner seeking to imitate Christ, such is impossible, and in the child of God who has received divine life in Christ through faith, and in whom the Spirit of God dwells. Such may become like Him in holy living and godliness. Only in the latter does God find pleasure. It is in the latter sense that the word is used in the New Testament Scriptures. Christ is the One set forth as the pattern, so that the imitators may become Christ-like. This involves a knowledge of Christ, in the Scriptures, but we are well aware that exact similarity is impossible. Nevertheless, we should be striving to attain to become more Christ-like. Paul the apostle exhorted the saints to imitate him as he imitated Christ. But it was in this spirit he wrote

"That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, becoming conformed unto His death; if by any means I may attain unto the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect but I press on, if so be that I may apprehend that for which also I was apprehended by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3.10-12).

It was perfectly true of Him, " I have been crucified with Christ yet I live; and yet no longer I, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself up for me" (Galatians 2.20), and again, "Far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Galatians 6.14). So much did the vision of Christ occupy his thoughts that the world had no allurements for him. In all this he was an imitator of Christ, who said, "I am not of the world" (John 17. 14). In his service he gave heed to his Master's words, " Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11.29). He served the Lord with all lowliness of mind (Acts 20.19), and in his care of the saints was gentle as when a nurse cherisheth her own children (1 Thessalonians 2.7). There are many ways in which we may stumble one another. Unwise words or actions may offend the weak. There are many things we may do, and have a conscience void of offence, but which may be a cause of stumbling to others. In Paul's day one of these was the eating of meats, in which there is laid down for us a course of action smited to the brother who is weak in faith. Thus we read, "That no man put a stumbling-block in his brother's way, or an occasion of falling" (Romans 14.13). To abstain in this way would not affect the truth of the kingdom of God, for this is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14.17). Again, "It is not good to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to do anything whereby thy brother stumbleth" (Romans 14.21). Therefore, "Let each one of us please his neighbour for that which is good, unto edifying. For Christ also pleased not Himself" (Romans 15.2, 3). Then again, 1 Corinthians 8 reminds us of some whose thoughts with regard to idols, and the eating of things sacrificed to them, were not clear. "We know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no God but one. Yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through Him. Howbeit in all men there is not that knowledge" (verses 4, 6 and 7). Of these we are told of their conscience being weak. Here is a case for extreme care, and the apostle warns against the one who has knowledge using his liberty while the conscience of the other is defiled. He is clear as to his own line of action, "Wherefore, if meat maketh my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I make not my brother to stumble" (1 Corinthians 8.18). In 1 Corinthians 10.81, 82, 83, we are instructed, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give no occasion of stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God:

even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved." And it is in this spirit he continued, "Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11.1).

Timothy had learned much from the apostle and Paul wrote to him, "Thou didst follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience" (2 Timothy 3. 10). Paul wrote to the Philippians of him, "I have no man like-minded, who will care truly for your state" (Philippians 2.20). This was the man he sent to Corinth to put them in remembrance of his ways "which be in Christ". Why? Because it was Paul's longing desire that viewing him afresh his beseechings might be heeded, "Be ye imitators of me" (1 Corinthians 4.16). To the Thessalonians who also were his spiritual children he wrote, "And ye became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit" (1 Thessalonians 1.6). And in the beginning of this letter, his words indicate the great joy he had in them as he thought of their work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope, and that from them had sounded out the word of the Lord, even beyond their own area. They had turned to God from idols, to serve Him and to wait for His Son from heaven, "even Jesus, which delivereth us from the wrath to come."

But while he could rightly commend these saints, there were nevertheless some in the church who were not walking after the traditions he had spoken to them. This is hinted in his first epistle. Some would not work. Rather would they eat other men's bread for nought, a state of things which grieved Paul. Thus he writes, "For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; ... to make ourselves an example unto you, that ye should imitate us" (2 Thessalonians 3.7-9). There was another way in which the Thessalonian saints became imitators. It will be noted that they received the word in much affliction (1 Thessalonians 1.6). The reception of the gospel message was no light matter to them. It meant a complete change from idols to the living God, and the jealousy of the Jews coupled with the anger of their own countrymen brought suffering and persecution. What they were suffering in Thessalonica others had suffered before. So we read, "For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus : for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen, even as they did of the Jews" (1 Thessalonians 2.14). Probably the writer had in mind those of whom we read in Hebrews 10.82-89. Then we read in Hebrews 6.12, "That ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promise." It is good that the minds of the saints should at times be directed to those who have gone before, that, considering the issue of their lives, there may be found at this present season an earnest desire to be the same as they were in their day.

Among the many exhortations passed on to us by the apostle Paul, none is so heart-searching as that found in Ephesians 4.82 and 5.1, 2, "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you. Be ye imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odour of a sweet smell." Forgiveness is a virtue which has characterized God ever since man sinned. But forgiveness does not come without repentance. There must first come repentance of heart; there must be an acknowledgement of guilt, before God can forgive by virtue of the death of Christ. What is true of the sinner coming to God for forgiveness is true also of the saint who sins. "If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanseth us from all sin ... If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1.7, 9). But note with great care the import of the Lord's words, "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6.15). Let not the parable of Matthew 18.21-85 fail to have its weight with us all.

JOHN MCCORMICK | May 1963
Imitators!