OceanSide church of Christ

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Part of the series: LIVE LIKE JESUS
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I WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS (3)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   Jesus came to earth and lived a sinless life (I Pet. 2:22).

 

Who did no sin…

 

1.     This affirms that Jesus was truly the Son of God.

2.    This sinless life also provides each of us with a perfect example to follow.

 

B.   Following in the footsteps of Jesus ought to be the desire of every child of God (I John 2:6).

 

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

 

C.   This is the third lesson in a series of lessons entitled:  “I Want to Live Like Jesus.”  Thus far, we have viewed six areas of Jesus’ life that we should pattern in our lives.

1.     He was about the Father’s business.

2.    He was obedient to the Father’s will.

3.     He used the Word of God to overcome temptation.

4.    He taught others the truth.

5.    He had compassion on others.

6.    He served others.

 

D.   Let’s continue our study this morning.

 

I.          JESUS WAS WILLING TO CONFRONT ALL SIN AND ERROR

 

A.   There are several interesting descriptions of Jesus found in the Bible.  A couple of them associate Him with God’s Word and truth.

1.     He is the Word (John 1:1).

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 

2.    He is the truth (John 14:6).

 

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:  no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

B.   As the Word and the Truth, Jesus was not hesitant to confront anything that opposed them.

1.     Sometimes, it meant that he had to confront the leaders of the day.

a.    He confronted their man-made traditions (Matt. 15:1-3).

 

Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?  For they wash not their hands when they eat bread?  But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

 

1)     The scribes and Pharisees were very concerned about their man-made traditions.

2)    Jesus was concerned about the transgression of the commandments of God.  In the context, He gives the scribes and Pharisees a specific example of their transgression of God’s law.

b.    He also confronted the hypocritical lives of the spiritual leaders of His day (Matt. 23).

1)     Seven times in this chapter, Jesus calls them “hypocrites” (Matt. 23:13, 14, 15, 23, 25, 27, 29).

2)    Five times He calls them either “blind” or “blind guides” (Matt. 23:16, 17, 19, 24, 26).

3)     Twice He calls them “fools” (Matt. 23:17, 19).

4)    In verse 33, he calls them “serpents” and “a generation of vipers.”

5)    He also notes that in the course of time they would become murderers (Matt. 23:34).

2.    Jesus was willing to confront the religious errors of others (John 4:19-22).

 

The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.  Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet in Jerusalem, worship the Father.  Ye worship ye know not what:  we know what we worship; for salvation is of the Jews.

 

3.     He was willing to confront the sins and errors of His apostles when necessary.

a.    Who would be the greatest (Mark 9:33-37).

1)     Jesus asked His disciples about a conversation they had in the way (Mark 9:33).

2)    But they held their peace:  for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be greatest (Mark 9:34).

3)     In Mark 9:35, Jesus confronts their thinking.

 

And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

 

b.    Peter rebuked the Lord as He taught about His suffering and death in Jerusalem (Mark 8:31-33).  The Lord’s rebuke was very stern on this occasion (Mark 8:33).

 

But when he turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan:  for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

 

 

C.   If we are going to be like Jesus, we are going to have to be willing to confront sin and error.

1.     False doctrine

a.    Ephesians 5:11

 

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

 

b.    I Timothy 1:3

 

As I besought thee to abide still in Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine.

 

c.    Jude 3

 

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

 

2.    Personal sins of others

a.    Galatians 6:1

 

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

 

b.    Hebrews 3:13

 

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

 

c.    James 5:19-20

 

Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   We are the church.  To us has been entrusted the gospel of Christ (I Tim. 3:15).

 

B.   This being the case, we must be the ones who defend the truth against sin and error (Phil. 1:17).

 

But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel.