At a time of year when the majority of the world is feasting in celebration of a pagan holiday, God’s people in the Greater Toronto area decided to have a spiritual feast of their own.
For five days they enjoyed spiritual fellowship and spiritual food to nourish them in their Christian journey.
The theme of the celebration was, “Christ our Example.” On the final day of the “celebration” a dear sister decided to make her covenant with the Lord through baptism and join with God’s remnant people in proclaiming the last message of salvation to the world, through her words and her example.
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.” 1 Peter 2:21
Jesus came from heaven, not to show us what God can do, but to show us what man can do with the help of Christ.
Our profession of faith has little value if we do not have corresponding actions. “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21–23
Many religions claim that we cannot live a life without sin, as did Jesus. It simply is impossible, as they say. But Jesus said in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
Perfection is not profession only. We may have the theology perfected, however, without Jesus we are as nothing. We need to pattern our lives after Jesus. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
The life of Jesus can be described in three words: Sacrifice, humility, obedience. Is it possible to live such a life as Jesus’ did? Yes, if we are willing to let go of our sins. God will not save a sinner who clings to his sin. As we let go of our sins and allow the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, and transform us, we become good examples for others.
The end of the year is a time of reflection. We need to consider if we are closer to the kingdom of God than we were a year ago. Has our character improved? Have we gained any spiritual victories? Are we pleased with what is written in the books of heaven or are we ashamed?
If we are not closer to the kingdom of God we need to turn our lives around seriously. It is not safe to procrastinate or postpone our preparation for heaven any longer. We not only need to make a decision as to whether we will join God’s church, but those that have been members for a long time, need to seriously consider if there is something they still need to overcome. Jesus is calling us today. “For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2
“Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” Jeremiah 13:23. “It is impossible for man in his own unaided strength to overcome the natural propensities to evil. There is no saving quality in the law, to save the transgressor of the law, and yet no man who has had light as to the binding claims of the law will be excused from obedience by the great Lawgiver because it is inconvenient to keep God’s commandments, because it would injure man’s popularity, or hurt his worldly interests. In the judgment the law will be seen to be the test of character. It is the settled purpose of Satan to deceive men today as he deceived Eve in Eden, and lead them to disregard the command of God, and accept something besides God, something independent of God, something in opposition to God.” –The Signs of the Times, April 4, 1895
The question then can be asked, “How did Jesus do it? What is His secret for living a life without sin?”
1)“For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him.” John 3:34. Without the Holy Spirit is it impossible. God gave Jesus the Holy Ghost without measure; without limit and therefore He could live this kind of life. The Holy Ghost is also offered to us without limit so that we can follow Jesus’ example.
2)“Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:34–35. God was in Him. Divinity was combined with humanity. We need to be born again. As a man, Jesus overcame the temptation by the strength of God. Without this power, Jesus could not have lived the sinless life. Our humanity must be combined with the divinity of Jesus for us to overcome.
3)“If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.” John 15:10. We are to continue to abide in the love of God.
4)“And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12. Jesus needed a good prayer life to be an overcomer.
5) “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work.” John 4:34. Doing God’s will to assist in the finishing of the work on earth will bring the blessing of the Lord in overcoming sin.
You cannot live a Christian life by yourself. We need divine power. The secret is total surrender to God.
“The result of the eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is manifest in every man’s experience. There is in his nature a bent to evil, a force which, unaided, he cannot resist. To withstand this force, to attain that ideal which in his inmost soul he accepts as alone worthy, he can find help in but one power. That power is Christ. Co-operation with that power is man’s greatest need.” –Education, p. 29
Jesus is our guide who came to lead us to perfection. While He was on earth the church thought He was leading in the wrong direction and then they killed Him. Not long afterwards the Roman army came and killed many of them who had refused to follow the leading of Jesus. It is so important for us to follow our leader, Jesus Christ. He will not force us. He walks in front of us and we have to follow Him.
Jesus loved everyone and He put His love into action. He is calling us to use our talents and follow His example. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice.”
“We have no righteousness of our own with which to meet the claims of the law of God. But Christ has made a way of escape for us. He lived on earth amid trials and temptations such as we have to meet. He lived a sinless life. He died for us, and now He offers to take our sins and give us His righteousness. If you give yourself to Him, and accept Him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your life may have been, for His sake you are accounted righteous. Christ’s character stands in place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned.” –Steps to Christ, p. 62
Let us, in this new year, make earnest efforts to draw closer to the Lord and to follow the example of Jesus in every aspect of our daily living is our prayer. Let us make this new year a memorable year in which we draw much closer to the Lord and surrender our lives completely to His leading. Amen.