On the issue of "Living like Jesus" I would humbly suggest an alternative way to look at the subject.
All of us have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. There is no way we can "live like Jesus".
The four gospels present our Lord in four different perspectives. In the book of Mathew as Jehovah's KING. In the book of Mark as Jehovah's SERVANT. In the book of Luke as Jehovah's MAN. And in the book of John as Jehovah HIMSELF...GOD.
In each of these perspectives, Jesus demonstrated perfection in each of these roles.
To live "like" Jesus would require that we be as GOD and as we are fallen man we have no ability in and of ourselves to attain to such a goal. It simply isn't possible and any attempt to do so will fail utterly. But there is a way for the world to see Jesus in us and the way is for Jesus to live through us.
While space doesn't permit a full treatment of my position here, I'd suggest to our readers that are interested to check out Robert Mulholland's The Deeper Journey. In his book, Mr. Mulholland speaks to our "false self", a self-referenced self. It is this "self" that most of us are and it's only through the dying of this "self" that Christ can live in and through us. Consider the following references of Christ's indwelling us:
- Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you...(Rom 8:9-10)
- He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful in you. (2 Cor. 13:3)
- Do you not realize that Christ is in you? (2 Cor. 13:5)
- My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you (Gal 4:19)
- Christ in you, the hope and glory. (Col 1:27)
It is only as we crucify our "false self" that Christ is able to live in us and then and only then the rest of the world may perceive us as living "like Jesus".
Bottom line...it's not something we do. It's something Jesus does through us.
