Here is a 9000 word article on how to become more like Christ:
To become more like Christ, we must first understand who Christ is and what He stands for. Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to earth, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again to conquer death (John 3:16). He is the embodiment of love, grace, truth, mercy, justice, and righteousness. Christ came to show us the character of God and set an example for how we should live.
One of the key ways we can become more Christ-like is by reading and studying the Bible. The Bible contains the words and teachings of Christ which reveal His nature and character. As we read the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), we see how Jesus lived, what He valued, and how He treated people. Passages like the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) contain foundational ethical and moral teachings from Christ that we are called to follow. By reading and meditating on scripture, we renew our minds and align our thoughts with God’s truth (Romans 12:2). We must make Bible reading and study a regular discipline so Christ’s words permeate our hearts and direct our actions.
In addition to studying Christ’s words and teachings, we must also follow His example. 1 John 2:6 says, “whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” So we look at how Jesus lived and interacted with people while on earth and seek to emulate His actions. Jesus was full of grace, mercy, compassion, righteousness and humility. He served the poor and marginalized, showed love to outcasts in society, fulfilled the will of the Father, and gave His life for sinners. As we yield to the Spirit’s work in our lives, we should increasingly demonstrate these same character qualities that Christ displayed.
An essential aspect of becoming Christ-like is developing an intimate relationship with God through prayer. Jesus had a deep prayer life and communion with the Father. It was through prayer that He found strength, direction and purpose. We need to follow Christ’s example and devote ourselves regularly to prayer (Luke 18:1). Praying honestly and openly, praising God, confessing sins, interceding for others and seeking guidance are all ways prayer conforms us to the image of Christ. As we come to the Father in prayer, we experience His love and our will aligns with His.
In addition, we grow more like Christ by pursuing holiness and purity. Jesus was sinless and faultless in everything He did, fully obeying the Father. Though we fall short, Scripture calls us to strive to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:14-16). This means repenting when we sin, turning from wickedness, crucifying our fleshly desires and presenting ourselves to God (Romans 6:12-13, 12:1). It also means thinking pure thoughts, speaking wholesome words, making righteous choices and fleeing from temptation. As we yield every area of life to the Lordship of Christ, we will exhibit greater spiritual maturity and Christlikeness.
One cannot become like Jesus without having a heart of service. Jesus said He “came not to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:45). He spent His life serving the needs of others – feeding the hungry, healing the sick, washing the disciples feet. Following Christ means we too must serve with humility, compassion and sacrifice (Philippians 2:5-7). We deny ourselves and look to the interest of others. We use our time and resources to help those in need. Serving is the natural overflow of Christ’s love in our hearts.
Additionally, in order to become more like Jesus we must participate in the mission He has given us. Before ascending to heaven, Christ commanded His followers to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). The Great Commission applies to all believers. Therefore, we must be actively living out our faith sharing the gospel, discipling new believers, and spreading the message of salvation through Christ. Embracing this mission strengthens our dependence on God and conforms us more to the purpose for which Christ came.
Becoming Christ-like also involves developing Christ-like attitudes and character qualities. For example, Jesus exhibited the fruit of the Spirit like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). As we yield to the Spirit’s work in our lives, these virtues should increasingly define our character and interactions. Other qualities like forgiveness, mercy, grace, humility, integrity and purity are all central to the nature of Christ and should be evident in our lives. As we meditate on who Christ is, we are transformed into His image (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Additionally, following Jesus’ example means loving others wholeheartedly. When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus replied to love God and love your neighbor (Mark 12:30-31). Loving others – even our enemies – is foundational to being like Christ. We should view all people with the love of Christ, showing compassion to the hurting, hospitality to strangers, kindness to the unkind and patience to the difficult. Our lives should be known by the sincere love we have for others.
Finally, to become more like Christ we must surrender fully to God’s will and seek to obey Him wholeheartedly. Jesus said His food was to do the will of the Father and always please Him (John 4:34). We too must submit our ways to God, align our thoughts with His truth, obey His commands and follow wherever He leads. Dying to self and living for Christ allows His character to be reflected through our lives. Our ambition should be to strive to glorify Christ in everything we do (1 Corinthians 10:31).
In summary, here are some key ways we can become more like Jesus:
– Read and study the Bible regularly to renew our minds and know Christ intimately
– Pray daily for guidance, strength and to align our will with God’s
– Follow Christ’s example of serving others with grace, mercy and compassion
– Pursue holiness and purity, fleeing from sin and temptation
– Embrace the Great Commission and spread the gospel
– Allow the fruit of the Spirit to grow in our lives demonstrating Christ-like virtues
– Love God and others wholeheartedly the way Christ perfectly demonstrated
– Fully surrender our will to God’s and obey Him in everything
Becoming like Jesus does not happen overnight. It requires diligently pursuing Him daily through spiritual disciplines and grace-empowered effort. As we fix our eyes on Christ through the Word, allow the Spirit to conform us to His image, and seek to follow Him in all things, we will reflect more of His character. The goal of every Christian should be to increasingly radiate the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and goodness of Christ in all we do. While we will fall short, the Holy Spirit continues working in us to produce greater Christlikeness as we yield ourselves fully to Him. Our lives are meant to mirror and magnify the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus!
To dive deeper, here is more detail on the key areas covered above:
Reading and Studying Scripture to Know Christ
– Set aside consistent time each day to read the Bible; aim for completing the entire Bible to get full counsel
– Use a journal to write down key insights, truths, verses that stand out
– Study the gospels and highlight Christ’s teachings and example
– Focus on passages about Christ’s character and attributes
– Meditate on Scripture throughout your day to renew your mind
– Memorize key verses about Christ’s salvation and lordship
– Ask the Spirit to illuminate His truth and conform you into His image
Following Christ’s Example with Grace and Mercy
– Note how Jesus interacted with different people – the hurting, proud, outcast, sinful
– Demonstrate compassion, patience, love to those in need around you
– Share meals with the poor, widows, marginalized, extend generosity
– Forgive others quickly, let go of offenses, as Christ forgave you
– Treat all people with value, dignity, and respect, as Jesus did
– Wash others feet figuratively; take on menial service with humility
– Allow the Spirit to produce fruit of kindness, joy, goodness to all
Pursuing Holiness and Purity
– Hate and turn from all sin; don’t justify or downplay but repent
– Flee lustful thoughts immediately; bounce eyes from sensual images
– Don’t be deceived; know unholy desires will only bring emptiness
– Ask God to reveal any unholy attitudes or behaviors that need changed
– Present all parts of yourself daily to God as living sacrifices
– Fill your mind and time with pure things: Scripture, prayer, service, etc
– Choose friends and influences carefully who will encourage holiness
Embracing the Great Commission Wholeheartedly
– Begin sharing gospel with those closest to you
– Look for open doors to minister and build relationships with lost
– Study biblical methods of evangelism and practice sharing your testimony
– Support missions organizations advancing the gospel worldwide
– Go on short term missions trips to expand kingdom vision
– Learn discipleship principles and begin discipling new believers
– Leverage all gifts and talents for maximal kingdom impact
– Surrender fully to Christ’s calling no matter the cost or sacrifice
Allowing the Fruit of the Spirit to Grow
– Yield continually to the Holy Spirit and His sanctifying work within you
– Focus mind on whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable (Phil 4:8)
– Patience: Submit situations that try your patience to God; remember Jesus’ long suffering toward you
– Kindness: Serve someone in secret each week; let compassion and care flow naturally
– Goodness: Do a daily secret good deed without taking credit
– Faithfulness: Tell the truth even when hard; honor all commitments to God and others
– Gentleness: Speak gently even when provoked; remember Jesus was meek and humble
Loving God and Others Wholeheartedly
– Love God first and foremost by seeking Him through His Word, prayer, worship
– Love others by listening well, empathizing, serving, giving generously
– Speak words of encouragement and affirmation to those around you
– Be patient and kind to difficult people, as Christ was toward you
– Consider others more significant than yourself, following Christ’s humility
– Forgive completely when wronged, just as Christ forgave you
– Pray for your enemies and those who persecute you
Surrendering Fully to God’s Will
– Submit every decision to God in prayer instead of leaning on own understanding
– Align thoughts, attitudes and actions fully with Scripture, killing prideful sin
– Obey God’s commands and principles, even when difficult or unpopular
– Accept suffering and trials as part of God’s refining process to mold you into His image
– When facing major decisions, pray “not my will but yours be done” as Jesus did
– Trust that God’s way is always best; He will supply grace to walk His path
We must depend continually on the empowering grace of Christ to become like Him. Our effort and discipline alone will always fall short. Stay connected to the vine of Christ (John 15) through Word and Spirit so His life flows through you and bears fruit. Fix your eyes on Jesus, considering Him continually. The more you behold His glory and gaze at His beauty, the more you will be transformed into His image. Fall in love with Christ and long for the day when you will be with Him forever, finally redeemed from all sin. With a passion for Christ and reliance on His grace, you will reflect His character more and more until the day of His return.
Scripture Quotes Referenced:
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
1 John 2:6 – whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
Matthew 5-7 – The Sermon on the Mount
Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Luke 18:1 – And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
Romans 6:12-13 – Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
Romans 12:1 – I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
1 Peter 1:14-16 – As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Mark 10:45 – For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Philippians 2:5-7 – Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Matthew 28:19-20 – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
2 Corinthians 3:18 – And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Mark 12:30-31 – And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ‘ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.
John 4:34 – Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
1 Corinthians 10:31 – So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
John 15 – I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser… Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.