Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Tonight’s Study, Session 9: Core Belief #8 – Christlikeness

Introduction: Is there a more daunting word in the Christian vocabulary than Christlikeness? Can you imagine a more ambitious goal? Becoming more like Christ should be the desire of every believer, and it is encouraging to know that God has the same desire for us. Christlikeness is obtainable, but only through the power of the Holy Spirit working in us and through us.

The fact that God will ultimately transform us (Romans 8:29) doesn’t mean we can sit back and be carried to heaven on flowery beds of ease. The process demands our willing cooperation with the Holy Spirit. Becoming more Christlike requires both human responsibility and divine power (Philippians 2:12-13).

Romans 8:29 – For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Philippians 2:12-13 – Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

There are three things which contribute to us being more Christlike: our surrender to God, our freedom from sin, and our spiritual growth.

1)Our Surrender to God

Becoming more Christlike is the result of surrender to God. Romans 12:1-2 says that worship involves a total self-dedication to God. We volunteer our bodies as “living sacrifices,” and our minds are renewed and transformed.

Romans 12:1-2 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

When Jesus said “Follow Me,” Levi (Matthew) left his money tables immediately (Mark 2:14); so, do we freely surrender all we have for the sake of following the Lord. As John the Baptist said, “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30), so we focus more and more on Jesus and His glory, surrendering ourselves to His will.

2)Our Freedom from Sin

Becoming more Christlike is the result of freedom from sin. Since Jesus lived a sinless life, the more we should consider ourselves “dead to sin” (Romans 6:11) and live a life of purity, the more like Jesus we will be. As we offer ourselves to God, sin is no longer our master, and we are more clearly identified with Christ (Romans 6:1-14).

Dead to Sin

Romans 6:11 – Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Identified with Christ

Romans 6:1-14 – What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Jesus invites us to follow Him, and we have His example of obedience (John 15:10), sacrificial love (John 15:12-13). We also have the example of the apostle Paul, who modeled Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).

John 15:10 – If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

John 15:12-13 – This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

1 Corinthians 11:1 – Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

When it comes to restraining sin in our lives, we have divine help: praise the Lord for the Word of God (Psalm 119:11), the intercession of Christ (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25), and the power of the Spirit who indwells us (Romans 8:4; Galatians 5:16).

Psalm 119:11 – Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

Romans 8:34 – Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Hebrews 7:25 – Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Romans 8:4 – that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16 – I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

3)Our Spiritual Growth

Becoming more Christlike doesn’t happen by osmosis or by chance, it is the result of Christian growth (2 Peter 3:18). When we are first saved, we are immature in wisdom and knowledge and inexperienced in grace and love. But then we grow. In each of these things, our charge is to become stronger – and more Christlike.

2 Peter 3:18 – but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Right now, God works in us. Look what 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. One day, however, the process will be complete: Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2). The promise of being fully Christlike in the future is incentive enough for becoming more Christlike now: And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:3)

What does Christlikeness look like?

• At Home: Spending time with family, such as having dinner together.
• In the Community: Being an active, helpful member of a local church.
• At Work: Acting with honesty, patience, and kindness, rather than pursuing self-interest.
• In Conflict: Choosing patience and forgiveness over revenge.

Conclusion: Being like Jesus isn’t always easy, but it isn’t impossible. The Holy Spirit empowers us to die to the flesh daily and live for Christ. The more we yield to His power, the more we become Christlike. And being Christlike in our daily lives may give us the opportunity to share our faith with others when they see that we live what we profess. Christlikeness isn’t just something we say, it is something we live!

Next Week, Session 10: Core Belief #9 – Angels and Demons