Christ Our Example

There are many different aspects to what Jesus has accomplished for us. He is our substitute, our ransom, our victor, our example and so on. Let’s focus for a few moments on Christ as example, also called Christus Exemplar.

This isn’t the whole of Christ’s work, but it is an essential part of it. Too often American Christians reduce the Gospel to simply believing in a set of theological truths. But the Scripture teaches that there is no true discipleship without obedience. “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.” John 14:21

Faith in Christ as the root of salvation and the imitation of Christ as the fruit of salvation are inseparable in Scripture. “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.” Ephesians 2:8-10

We are called to imitate Jesus in every way. “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21

Following Christ is not a means to gain power and privilege, but rather an invitation to servanthood. “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:14-15

Obedience is one of the signs that we have truly been transformed. It is not the means of our salvation, but it is a necessary evidence of it. “But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” I John 2:5-6

As the courageous German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.”

Tags: discipleship, faith, good works, Jesus, obedience, service