We know that our highest calling is to be Christlike and love God. But what are the essentials marks of Christlikeness? This post summarizes Christlikeness into five categories. This should help us to examine our lives and pursue areas of growth.
Christ fully abided in the Father, which produced everything else in his life. He was filled with the virtues of God, and these virtues led to fruitful deeds, which is one of humanity’s original callings (“Be fruitful”, Gen. 1:28). This is an important element of the image of God, for God is the fountain of fruitfulness. This included actively loving people and healing their bodies and hearts. On Earth, Jesus employed all his faculties to impact others with his words and actions and developed disciples who would carry on his work after him. We are to do the same in our families, occupations, communities and societies. Whoever abides in Jesus bears much fruit (John 15:5). Our fruit proves we are his disciples: “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (John 15:8, ESV).
God’s idea of fruitfulness includes every area of human endeavor. God values our contributions to medicine, engineering, agriculture, manufacturing and many other occupations. He wants to see us influencing people to be fruitful as we have been fruitful. He wants us to teach and guide others. He especially wants us to help restore his image in others, in other words, make disciples, even though some will not be receptive. Jesus also operated with supernatural power and his Spirit wants to do the same through us. As we bear fruit, God wants us to experience deep fulfillment in how we bless our community and our world as citizens of his kingdom. Below is a summary of Christlikness.
Summary of Christlikeness
- Abiding. He was fully submitted to the Father and constantly abided in him. He absorbed Scripture.
- Virtues. He possesses the virtues of the Father; for example, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control, honesty, humility, holiness, sacrifice, self-denial and wisdom.
- Good works. He actively loved people and healed the sick.
- Supernatural power. He operated in the supernatural power of God’s Spirit.
- Discipling. He transformed people around him through modeling and teaching.
In sum, just as Jesus was the perfect image of God, so too we are becoming complete image-bearers, which means acquiring the virtues of God as we partake of his nature, which leads to living those virtues out for the people around us.
Where do you think God wants you to grow in your Christlikeness? If you are not sure, ask Jesus and wait for an answer.
