Central thought: Christ is our true mentor and role model.
Hymn: “All to Jesus I Surrender”.
Text: 1 Peter 2:17-25
As believers in Christ, it is expected that we look up to Him as our perfect example. We are to reflect His character in every aspect of our lives. He provided a clear standard for the believer through His teachings and personal lifestyle. In His relationship with God the Father and in His dealings with humanity He manifested some outstanding qualities.
Our understanding of the dimensions of these qualities will put us in very good stead to practice them to the glory of God. It is not enough to pay lip service to them, it is rather very important that we progressively reflect these characters as we march on in faith.
In His walk on earth Jesus Christ proved His loyalty and faithfulness to God by showing the attributes of love, humility, sinlessness, meekness, compassion, praying, discipline and service. In this two-part study, we shall be looking at each of the attributes listed above with a view to understanding how best we can manifest them in our own lives.
Lesson Objectives:
The objectives of this study are as follows.
- To explain the meaning of the concepts: Love, Humility, Sinlessness and Discipline.
- To discuss how Christ manifested these qualities
- To discuss how we can follow the footsteps of Christ to manifest them.
Question 1.A.) Explain the term love and discuss how Jesus demonstrated love for others.
In the context of the scriptures, love is the God-inspired affection, warm enthusiasm and commitment towards another person that results in benevolent attitude towards that person.
Jesus Christ demonstrated His love for God the Father by being obedient to His will and not seeking personal fulfillment outside the Father. He also honored God in all His conduct and demonstrated full commitment to the Fathers business. (John 6:38, 14:31, and 17:4).
To the church (Ephesians 5:2, 25) Jesus demonstrated love by sacrificing and laying down His life for us sending the Holy Spirit to empower the church and providing answers to petitions and prayers made in His name (John 14:16, 15:13). He is also doing everything possible to make the church presentable, without spot or wrinkle.
Jesus demonstrated His love for sinners by showing compassion for their state, praying for them and inviting them to the light of God.
To His enemies (Luke 23:34), Jesus understood their ignorance and prayed the Father to forgive them.
Jesus also demonstrated love towards children (Mark 10:13-16) by giving them attention, carried them in His arms and blessed them. In all, the love demonstrated by Jesus was Godly, unconditional, sacrificial and total.
Question 1.B) Discuss how we are to follow the footsteps of Christ in the area of love.
In following the footsteps of Christ, we must have genuine love for God, for Christ, for the church, for the brethren, for children and for the opposers of the faith. This must be the agape kind of love which should be demonstrated unconditionally, sacrificially, totally so that we might obtain eternal life. We must have compassion on sinners by praying for them and earnestly desiring their salvation.
Question 2.A) Explain the term “Humility” and discuss how the Lord Jesus demonstrated humility.
Humility refers to the attribute that displays a spirit or disposition of deference, submission and total absence of haughtiness and arrogance. It is an attribute that has equal value for others and sees God at work in every situation.
Jesus demonstrated humility in the following instances.
- He submitted to God’s plan for salvation which entails leaving His heavenly glory to partake of the travails of man (Philippians 2:6-7).
- He was not self-centered rather, He allowed God to be first in His life and to be glorified in all His actions (John 8:50, 17:4).
- He shunned unnecessary publicity and would rather lead a simple lifestyle that glorified God (Matthew 8:1-4, 16:13-20).
- He undertook to wash the feet of the disciples, a duty usually reserved for slaves (John 13:4-5).
- He subjected Himself to suffering so as to accomplish the will of God, and was obedient unto death even when He had the power to say no (Isaiah 53:7).
Question 2.B) How can we follow the footsteps of Christ in the area of humility?
Philippians 2:5-8, Romans 12:6
As leaders in the body of Christ, our humility should be demonstrated to promote unity and to glorify God. It should be characterized by simplicity and due regard for everyone. There should be no room for class spirit ( ie. Nepotism, favoritism, tribalism, sectionalism, craftiness etc.).
As those under authority we are to demonstrate wholehearted obedience to God and to those He has put over us and our humility should not be voluntary and not imposed.
Question 3.A.) How was Christ Sinless?
1 Peter 2:21-22, 1 John 3:3
To be sinless means to be free from the Adamic nature of man which compelled him to incline towards evil always. It is to be full of the virtues of God and to have a practical conduct that is beyond reproach or fault.
This was the case of Christ because He was not the seed of Adam but of God. As a human being, He endured suffering without talking back or threatening (1 Peter 2:21-22), His mission was to destroy sin and the power behind sin. He was tempted like every other human, but He overcame all by the word of God. He was made to bear the iniquity of the whole world as a righteous substitute required for our redemption (Hebrews 4:15).
Question 3.B) Identify some of those who testified to the sinlessness of Christ.
From the scriptures some individuals were bold to make some public declarations to the effect that Christ was without sin.
First, it was God who declared His complete pleasure in the conduct of Christ (Matthew 17:5). Next it was the man that was born blind that refused to be persuaded that Jesus was a sinner (John 9:25). Others who acknowledge the innocence of Christ include Pilate (John 18:38), Judas Iscariot after he betrayed Jesus (Matthew 27:9), and the centurion on guard who saw the events that followed the death of Jesus (Matthew 27:54).
Question 3.C) What challenges does the sinless life of Christ pose for believers in contemporary society?
To the present day believer, the sinless life of Christ is a big challenge. First, it means that it is possible to live a sinless life by the power of God after we accept Christ. Believers are by this knowledge challenged to a life of practical holiness, integrity and faithfulness to God. Those who testified of the purity of Christ were not members of His congregation but outsiders whose testimony were borne out of personal conviction and not praise- singing/eye service. We are told to let our light shine that the world may see our good works and join us to glorify God which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
Question 4.) Comment on the level of discipline Jesus exhibited in his ministry.
Matthew 20:20-23, Matthew 4:3-5, Luke 19:45-46
Discipline is the practice of a system of rules that govern conduct. Personal discipline manifests in self-control and enforcing disobedience of self to negative indulgences and abuse of power. Jesus demonstrated discipline when He refused to use supernatural power to satisfy His own hunger i.e. He had His appetite under control. He was discreet with the use of power when a family very special to Him mad an unusual request about authority. He also publicly disapproved of the misuse of the house of God by not compromising the original purpose of God.
Leaders in the church should always value personal discipline as a virtue and must be careful with divine resources at their disposal.
Daily Living Application
As believers, Christ should be our true mentor and role model. While we may admire others believers for their exploits in the faith, Jesus Christ remains our perfect example on the practical issues of life such as love, humility, holiness and discipline. He has provided all the enablement for us to live like Him (John 14:12). Let us simply be submissive to Him.
Memory Verse:
Hebrews 12:2
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”.