WE BECOME LIKE THE GOD WE SERVE
This is an extended version of the presentation of the gospel, the good news of Jesus. It is too long to go over with someone in one session. It is meant to inform the mind of the Christian who is sharing with someone who is showing interest in become a disciple of Christ. As you spend time visiting with a person, you will discover teachings that are most relevant or most needful.
Shortly after introducing Christ in a brief, outline fashion, and after having noted an initial interest in following Christ, you will want to encourage them to read one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) for themselves. These are the Apostles introducing Jesus to their first-century audience. I have written a self-help Bible study on the Gospel of Luke, that is designed to accompany the reading of the Gospel in order, from Chapter One through Chapter Twenty-Four.
The Acts of the Apostles, along with the reading of one of Paul’s epistles, like Ephesians, is a good introduction to the new life that is lived out in the church, the family of God that lives out the heavenly life in this world. I’ve prepared self-help studies to serve as an aid in the reading of these books as well.
One of the best indicators that God is working in the life of a person is their reading of scripture to find direction for their life. This is not easily monitored. However, when someone has a Bible and a self-help study pamphlet, you can ask, “How are you doing with the reading? Do you have any questions?” When a person concludes the reading of Luke, for example, and gives you the study pamphlet, you can check their answers for errors. This will help you understand the person’s comprehension of what they read. Often, a person responds to a question, not by what they read, but by what they themselves think. Errors are opportunity to study that portion of scripture more in depth in order to clarify its meaning. It is also an opportunity to encourage the reader not to give up. We are all on a journey of understanding and obedience. We should never give up.
These self-help studies will be posted in another part of the web site. They are available as a resource to be used as needed.
Another indicator that the Spirit of God is working in a person’s life is their regular attendance at worship and their making friends with others of the fellowship. While we have introduced the person to Christ, we should also introduce the person to other members of the church, which is Christ’s Body. There is no need for me to think that I alone am responsible to supply all that a person needs from Christ. Christ has provided many gifts and talents in the family to help us all grow to maturity. See Ephesians 4:10-16 and 1 Corinthians 12.
So, now we continue with a more detailed explanation of the gospel presentation. The first major section is: We become like the self-made (idol) god we serve, which is death; or we become like Christ whom we follow and share in eternal life.
We can start our conversation by asking, “Would you like to go to heaven when you die?” I haven’t met anyone yet who doesn’t want to go to heaven, to live in eternal happiness. Everyone wants a place of no suffering, death, separation, injustice, violence. They want peace, prosperity, security, and friends all around. People long for love, justice, respect, healing, and sense of worth. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God “has set . . . eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from the beginning to end.” To be human is to know God and understand the workings of his mind; and we want to be with him forever. Paul directed the thoughts of his Athenian audience, pagan philosophers, to the Creator who “gives everyone life and breath and everything else” (Acts 17:25). He continued, ‘God did this so that they [the world’s inhabitants] would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:27-28). Created in his image and likeness (Genesis 1:27) we desire his acceptance and life with him forever.
Next, we can ask, “Do you know that Jesus brought heaven to earth?” Most people have not thought of Jesus this way, but with some reflection and a little prodding a person realizes that with his miracles Jesus was painting a picture of heaven. There’s no temptation in heaven and no place for the devil. Jesus healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, cleansed lepers, and even raised people from death. Jesus forgave sins (Mark 2:1-7; John 8:11) thus freeing us from guilt, shame and condemnation. Since he multiplied bread and fish for a large crowd of hungry listeners, Jesus shows that he satisfies our basic needs and longings. He also calmed a choppy sea by commanding gale-force winds to cease, thus giving his disciples safety in time of danger.
By reaffirming God’s law of love (Mk 12:29-31 quoting Dt 6:4,5 7 Lev 19:18), he is telling us that in heaven God rules. He has his way in everything. In heaven people love God, and they love all of God’s children—peace with God and peace among mankind. No one in the kingdom of heaven is hiding from God, as Adam did and how we now hide our sin and shame. We love God and want him near and are praising him all the time (Revelation 4 and 5). Further, the new creation is filled with people from every nation, tribe, people and language (Revelation 7:9). No longer do they hate, cheat, lie, and defraud others. No longer do people need to protect themselves with weapons, walls and doors (Revelation 21:25). Family ties will not separate us from others since we will be like the angels (Matthew 22:30). Distinctions that have meaning for societal life in this world, and that separate people, have lost their relevance in the kingdom. Paul writes, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). So, in our living out the heavenly life here on earth, we do not allow these distinctives to separate us from each other.
Further, heavenly manifestations indicated that Jesus came from heaven. While the infant Jesus was lying in a feeding trough, the glory of the Lord shown around the shepherds and an angel said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Lk 2:10,11). At his baptism Jesus heard his Father’s voice from heaven, “You are my Son whom I love. With you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11). John the Baptist saw the dove descend upon Jesus, and also heard the voice, “This is my Son whom I love. With him I am well pleased” (Mt 3:17). On the mountain of transfiguration: Jesus’ clothes became dazzling white, . . . and a cloud appeared and enveloped them –and a voice said, “This is my Son whom I love, listen to him.” (Mk 9:7)
To fulfill the Scriptures Jesus died on the cross as a sin offering, an atonement sacrifice, for the sin of the world. Isaiah wrote, “He was pierced for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5). “The Lord makes his life an offering for sin” (Isaiah 53:10).
Finally, God raised Jesus from death and the grave—an angel with appearance of lightening came to the women who had come to the tomb to anoint his body. He said to the women, “He is not here; he is risen, just as he said. Come and see the place.” (Mt 28:8). This spiritual body of Jesus was no longer subject to the curse of sin, to suffering and death. Jesus could appear and disappear and even eat in the presence of his disciples (Luke 24:42,43). The Apostle Paul states that we also will enjoy in eternity, in the new creation, bodies like that of our Lord Jesus. “Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:20,21).
So now you know how Jesus brought heaven to earth. This is what he meant when he said, “The time has come. . . . The kingdom of God has come near” (Mark 1:15).
We become like the god we serve. When we become a follower of Jesus, we become like him, and we share in his destiny. When we serve idols, we become like them.
In Psalm 115:3-8 we read about idols, who have eyes but don’t see, mouths but don’t speak, eyes but don’t see, noses but don’t smell, hands that cannot feel, and feet that cannot walk. Then the Psalm says, “Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them” (115:8). Someday idols, man-made images, end up in a dust heap.
What about American idols? One that dates from my teenage years is Elvis Presley. He died from overdose, yet his music and legend live on, and others make money on tourists who visit Graceland, his former mansion. How many other popular music stars share that same fate, and yet millions follow their music and imitate them. He’s earned a name for himself, but he is no longer around to defend and interpret it. He could stand and receive the applause of the crowd, but he could not live with himself and rest in God’s care. See Psalm 73 about understanding the popularity of worldly people.
What about those who make money their aim in life? Jesus said, “You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 7:24). Your heart will be with one or the other, not both. To someone who was in a contentious argument with his brother about dividing an inheritance, Jesus answered, “Who appointed me a judge or arbiter between you?” (Luke 12:14). Then he said, “Watch out! Be on guard against all kinds of greed” and told a story of a man had made a lot of money and who said to himself, “Now I can take it easy and enjoy life!” To his kind Jesus said, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (Lk12:20).
The good Samaritan, a true neighbor, spent time and money to help the suffering and the abused.
Psalms 49 says that wealth cannot pay the ransom or redeem the life of oneself or another (49:7). They take nothing with them when they die (49:17). Those who trust in riches are “like the beasts that perish” (49:12). But God will redeem from the realm of the dead those who trust in him, and he will take them to himself (49:15). Asaph, the author of Psalm 73, cries out to God. Despite a certain longing for the security and power of money, he cries out, “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory” (73:23,24).
And we could do this with all manner of idols that people follow, all manner of things that people pursue, like travel, sports, or entertainment.
Idols don’t have life in themselves. Those who follow gods of their own creation, like fame or wealth, have eyes but do not see Jesus for who is; they have ears but do not understand his teaching; they have feet, but do not make any effort to obey his call (Matthew 13:11-16; 2 Corinthians 2:6-16). Death characterizes those who follow the “ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient” (Ephesians 2:1-2).
What about Jesus? Those who follow Jesus will become like him and share his destiny.
When Jesus called his first disciples he said, “Come, follow me, … and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Mk 1:17). What does fishing for people look like? “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd (Mt 9:35-36). That’s Jesus fishing for people.
Those who follow Jesus will learn from him and fish for people just as he did. He said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” (Matthew 9:37). So he gave his 12 apostles authority to do exactly what he was doing–drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness (Matthew 10:1), and they went out proclaiming that the kingdom of God was near (Mt 11:7).
Jesus came to seek and save the lost. His followers do the same.
During his ministry Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). I am in debt to my friend Carl Bosma, colleague from Brazil missionary days who gave me the insight that he learned from a farmer in his congregation. The humble ox is the experienced, steady, strong, obedient one. The farmer puts a younger, inexperienced ox next to it. Both are under the same yoke but the humble ox is beside the inexperienced one, leading, teaching, assuring, and steadying. Jesus is like the humble ox yoked together with us. He’s teaching and helping us obey the Father’s commands.
When we follow Jesus we not only become like Jesus, but we also share his destiny. To Martha, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” (Jn 11:25) And then he raised Lazarus from death. Then Jesus himself rose from the dead. This all proves that he has the power to do what he promised. He’s alive and he will come again. At the last day those in the graves will hear his voice and come out (Jn 5:28). John in his 1st Epistle (3:2) writes, “But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”
“Lazarus, come out,” and the dead man walked out of the tomb. Followers of Christ share in his resurrection.
Further, by following Jesus, we will be treated by the world in the same way that the world treated Jesus. Jesus, the Man from heaven, brought heaven to earth, but the world treats heaven as though it were an alien enemy. John writes that “though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (John 1:10,11). In the Upper Room the day before his crucifixion, Jesus warned his disciples, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you. ‘A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also” (John 15:18-20). Rejection of the world, even by those whom we count as closest to us, like family and friends (Matthew 10:21-22, 34-39). This is the cost in the here and now of following Jesus (Luke 14:25-33).
Even if we suffer as a consequence of following Christ, we should not worry. The world killed Jesus, but could not hold him down. God raised him from death. Praise God, Jesus lives forever and has been received back into heaven where is reigns in glory. Even if we become martyrs for the faith, we along with Christ, will reign with him and share his glory. The eternal life that we receive by faith (John 3:16) cannot be extinguished by death (Romans 8:31-39).
Jesus ascending to heaven. He promised that he would take us to be with him where he is.
What do we do to start experiencing heaven, the kingdom of God, already in this life? We repent of our idolatry and believe in Jesus by trusting and obeying him. This will be explained in the next sections: repentance, grace and faith.