by David Diestelkamp
Synopsis: Not only must we be imitators of Christ, we should be moved by the example of faithful disciples, and become positive examples ourselves.
Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ (1 Cor. 11:1).
We are to imitate God: "be imitators of God, as beloved children" (Eph. 5:1). This is incredibly beautiful and extremely daunting at the same time. The "Abba Father" relationship with God speaks of our longing to be like and be with our Heavenly Father (Gal. 4:6). Yet, we wonder with the Psalmist, "Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?" (Ps. 24:3).
Since we can't see our Father with our eyes, He sent His Son, "leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps" (1 Pet. 2:21). Jesus is "the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person" (Heb. 1:3). When we follow Jesus, we are "being transformed into the same image…" (2 Cor. 3:18).
To imitate Christ is to be "imitators of God." Therefore, we walk as He walked (1 John 2:6), and, thereby, are walking with God. We love as He loved us (John 13:34; 15:9-11; Eph. 5:2) and so the love of God is in us. We forgive as He forgave (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13) because we are imitators of God. To use Christ's words in Matthew 5:9, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." In following Christ, the characteristics of God are seen in His people. The familial traits of God, their Father, will be seen in His children.
The great thing about Christ's example is that it is perfect. If He had been inconsistent, or a hypocrite, or a sinner, we would have no idea which of His words or actions we should follow and which we should avoid. His perfection takes that problem away. We can simply follow Him. God is invisible, but since Jesus is "the image of the invisible God" (Col. 1:15), we can without fear or reluctance be "conformed to the image of His Son…" (Rom. 8:29). In following Christ, we are imitators of God.
Jesus is no longer physically here. He said, "If you abide in my word, you are My disciples indeed" (John 8:31). So, we imitate Christ as we learn from the Word of God who He is, what He did, and what He taught. Yet, He also gave us something more—Jesus offers us living examples to follow. Jesus gives us each other.
On multiple occasions, Paul encouraged people to follow his example. Writing to the Philippians, he said, "Join in following my example" (Phil. 3:17). Addressing the Corinthians, the inspired apostle said, "I urge you, imitate me" (1 Cor. 4:16), and again, "imitate me" (1 Cor. 11:1).
One fascinating aspect of this is the fact that Paul scolded the Corinthians (whom he twice urged to imitate him) for saying, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ" (1 Cor. 1:12). In other words, we are supposed to imitate Paul without Paul becoming the one we are following. Paul is not to become our identity. How do we do that?
Actually, Paul was telling the Corinthians, "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ" (1 Cor. 11:1). He wasn't advocating that someone follow him instead of Jesus or that they follow him whether or not he followed Christ. This requires two things: (1) A person must truly know Christ and want to follow Him; (2) A person must examine what someone is doing to see if it is an example of Christ to be followed.
A huge problem exists where people follow charismatic religious leaders without knowing anything about Jesus and without examining the men to know if they are doing what's right. So it becomes a dangerous and harmfully blind following. That is not what Paul was advocating.
Paul often challenged others to examine his teaching, his behavior and his application (cf. 1 Thess. 1:5; 2:10). If he taught something different, they were to reject it (Gal. 1:8-9). They were to really "test all things" (1 Thess. 5:21). This shows that following Paul was inseparably linked to the gospel, the Word of God. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: "You became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction" (1 Thess. 1:6). Note some important things here: they received the word. That made them followers of those who taught them, and that made them also followers of the Lord who had given them the message.
We might conclude that Paul was an example because he was an apostle. That might be true in some ways, but God intends that we have living examples of faith among us today—and He wants that to be you.
Earlier, we were reading in 1 Thessalonians 1:6 to show that they became followers of Paul, and therefore the Lord, by receiving the word. However, the next verse says, "so you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe" (1 Thess. 1:7). In other words, those who followed Paul's examples became examples of faith themselves! People began imitating them as they imitated Christ. People were inspired to faith and obedience by their faith and obedience.
When Paul admonished the Philippians, "join in following my example," he then added, "and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern" (Phil. 3:17). The apostle knew that we would have living, breathing examples to follow among us. He recognized that, in the congregation where you are, there would be people we can pattern our faith after because their faith is patterned after Christ. So, Paul says we are to "note those who so walk." The idea is to look for and see these people of exemplary faith and action, but even more so, we are to use them as a pattern for our faith and walk.
By the way, after urging us to follow good examples in Philippians 3:17, Paul warns, "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ" (3:18). There are plenty of bad examples out there. The "walk" of many serves as a bad example, i.e., something we must not imitate. However, is tempting to follow the "many." We are to "note" these bad examples, too, but instead of imitating them, we are to "not keep company with him" and "admonish him" (1 Thess. 3:13-14).
Paul described himself as one who had been "…crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20). That's the kind of person we need to look for, learn from, and imitate. Someone whose faith, words, and actions point us to Christ. Imitate them as they imitate Christ!
Author Bio: David has worked with the Westside church in Aurora, IL since 1997. He and his wife, Robin, have four children and seven grandchildren. The church website is aurorachurch.com. He can be reached at davdiestel@yahoo.com.
