I started thinking about a little phrase in Scripture. In Romans, Paul writes, "Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life" (Rom 6:4). How many places does that (or something like it) occur? We're commanded to accept one another "as Christ also accepted us" (Rom 15:7). We're to "walk in love, just as Christ also loved you" (Eph 5:2). Husbands are to love their wives "as Christ" loved the church (Eph 5:23, 25). Jesus said, we are to love one another "even as I have loved you" (John 13:34). Paul told the Ephesians, "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Eph 4:32). There's a trend.
The phrase "do this as that" is a comparison phrase. That is, "do this" has a particular meaning, but "as that" adds the standard, the method. Don't "do this" any way you want ... do it "that" way. Over and over we are commanded to do things that are simple on the face of it. Accept one another, walk in love, love one another, forgive each other ... but those aren't "however you want." They are to a standard. They aren't "to the best of your ability." They are "as Christ." The method, the standard, we're supposed to meet is ... "as Christ."
That's a tall order. "As Christ." Like Jesus's instruction, "You are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt 5:48). Another "as." Another impossible standard. Another reason we need to keep our eyes on Christ and rely on God's working within us .. the One who "is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy" (Jude 1:24).
2 comments:
I once heard a pastor preach on the Matthew 5:48 passage, and he came to the conclusion that it's not such a big deal, don't worry about being perfect because you can't be. I walked away from that sermon thinking he missed the perfect gospel opportunity. It is also something non-Calvinists will point out against us, "God won't demand from us something we can't achieve." Clearly, God has commanded many times for us to reach an impossible goal, perfection like God, love like Christ, lead like Christ. If God doesn't require impossible standards, He's certainly failed to not require them in Scripture.
I believe that the trend you point out--“do this as Christ did”--is one of the most prevalent themes in the entire New Testament, as it defines us as Christ-followers and “little Christs.” Indeed, that charge pretty much occupies us the rest of our earthly lives. A popular view of Jesus is that He was essentially a role model for how to treat others (be compassionate, kind, forgiving, accepting, etc.), but to His kin He is much more than merely an example, of course; He is the standard-bearer from God to which we aspire.
There is currently a popular series of short YouTube videos created by AI and modeled after the Dos Equis commercials, “The Most Interesting Man in the World.” They provide a bit of humorous insight (both flattering and less complimentary) into various stereotypical men and women. (They are not quite as funny as the Chuck Norris spoofs.) With no disrespect in mind, it strikes me that Jesus would rightly be portrayed in one of those videos as “The Most Perfect Man in the World” and made to say, “I don’t often leave my Heavenly home, but when I do, it’s to lay down my life for many. Stay Christlike, my children.”
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