Imitator of Christ

Paul notes that when the Thessalonians received God’s Word, they became imitators of us and of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 1:6). And Paul is noting what we see throughout the New Testament: that discipleship is gathered and gained by imitation. We learn how to live as Christians by following the example of other Christians. And Paul does not hesitate to tell new believers—this is 1 Corinthians 11:1—Be imitators of me. Now, you may say, Well, who does he think he is? Well, he thinks that he is a follower of Christ, because he goes on and says, Be imitators of me, as I am an imitator of Christ. So he knew he was to follow the way of the Lord, so that others could see that way in his own life.

Now, if mature believers—people who have walked with Christ for a while and have learned the way of the Lord—if they will offer themselves for this, if you and I can say to new believers (people we have just come to know, maybe people who have not really even seen Christ yet), So, watch me and notice how I live—we are not saying, I’m your Saviour, we are not saying that we have got everything together, but we ought to be able to say, You will see in my life the general pattern of what it means to receive the Word of the Lord. G. K. Beale says this: As we become more conformed to the image of Christ, we are to live in such a way that others would be influenced by our lives and so become conformed also to Christ’s image. I would ask you, can you say that? Are you willing to say to others—it is not proud; you are admitting your sin—but are we able to say, Watch me and follow the pattern of my life?

I was converted to Christ at age thirty, and I was in graduate school for two years, and my life utterly changed during those two years. How? Through the preaching of the Word and through the example of Christian living I mainly observed in my peers—other young adults in that case—who were serious Christians. And on more than one occasion, people came alongside me and said, Rick, we’ve got some things—we wouldn’t want to discourage you—but there are things we need to talk to you about. Let me say, if you are a new believer, if you feel that you need to be guided in discipleship, well, then you should do that. You should find biblical models. You will find them in the church, and then be willing to replace sinful and worldly patterns in your life with the biblical, godly patterns that you will see lived out in the church. What a difference that will make.¹

Richard D. Phillips