Introduction: Not Called to be Adam-Christ Believers – “It is said that Emperor William refused request for an audience prepared by a German-American. The Emperor declared that Germans born in Germany but naturalized in America became Americans: ‘I know Americans; I know Germans; but German-Americans I do not know.’ Even so, I was once bound in Adam. I am now freed in Christ. The cross cut me off, killed me outright to the old citizenship and life. I am no Adam-Christ believer. Such a position will get me no audience with my King, bring me no deliverance from bondage to the old man. Let me cease at once any such unholy duplicity. Let me declare that I am Christ’s and His alone. Let me yield fully unto Him as one ‘dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord’ (Romans 6:11).” –from Born Crucified by L. E. Maxwell (p.24).
Jesus Christ is our living example for the godly life. We are to walk like Him. But we are also to allow Him to live in us and through us. Consider the following verses:
- 2 Corinthians 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
- Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
- Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
- Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
- Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
- Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
- Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
- Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Christ is Our Example -
- IN SERVING OTHERS
- He Washed their Feet as an Example (John 13:12-17)
- He Came to Minister to Others (Matthew 20:27-28)
- IN PLEASING OTHERS
- Our Call to Please Others (Romans 15:1-2)
- The Example of Christ (Romans 15:3)
- IN LOVING OTHERS
- We are to Love as Christ Loved Us (Ephesians 5:2, 25)
- We are to Love One Another (John 13:34-35)
- IN FORGIVING OTHERS
- We are to Forgive as we have been Forgiven (Colossians 3:13)
- The Example of Christ at the Cross (Luke 23:33-34)
- IN HUMILITY
- We are to have the Mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5)
- Christ Made Himself of No Reputation (Philippians 2:6-8)
- IN SUFFERING
- Christ is our Example in Suffering (1 Peter 2:21)
- The Suffering of Christ Without Complaint (1 Peter 2:22-23)
- IN ENDURANCE
- We Look to the Endurance of Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2)
- We Consider the Endurance of Jesus (Hebrews 12:3)
Conclusion: Delia Rees – “Have you heard of Delia Rees, the Bluebird of Mulberry Bend? She was one of the lowest and vilest habitués of the dens of iniquity in the city of New York. In a low dive surrounded by thieves and wicked associates she was reached through Christian workers, and her interest awakened and her desire for a life of purity kindled, through the gift of a delicate pink rose. ‘Bluey,’ as her rough, sinful companions called her, was once a beautiful, innocent girl, reared in a convent. Ruined through means of a deadly drug, she had gone from bad to worse. She became addicted to snuff, tobacco, whiskey, and opium; had been six times behind the prison bars; her body was scarred and marked with stabs, cuts and bruises and part of her hair had been pulled out by the roots.
“The interest of God’s children in the ‘Door of Hope,’ in New York, touched her and awakened thoughts of childhood. Love reached her heart and she sought and found Jesus Christ as her own personal Saviour. She proved Him to be a ‘risen Christ,’ an ever-present friend. She was delivered from the awful, sinful habits which were dragging her down. She gave herself to the Lord and like the woman of Samaria (John 4) began at once to tell others of Jesus. Her health was undermined by the awful life of sin she had been in and she only lived a short time; but in about eleven months time she had led one hundred to Christ ‘out of darkness into light,’ ‘The gates of hell’ prevailed not against her. Death was a triumphant entry into ‘the joy’ of her Lord.” –from Deliverance from the Penalty and Power of Sin (1912) by Orson R. Palmer (p.14-15).
