Putting On Christ                             Go directly to point 3          Go directly to point 4

To “Put on Christ” we have to identify the many aspects of His character and make-up.

Once identified we can compare our lives to Him, see where we need improvement and ask Christ to fill-in where we lack.

Now last time, we discussed the first two elements of Christ’s character.  They were:

1)   Christ had a mission and He stuck to it.

2)   Jesus kept in constant contact with His Father.

Today we will discuss Points 3 and 4 of Christ’s character; elements that we must have if we are to be like Him.

Point 3:  He Believed in Himself

Christ was one of the most confident beings who ever lived.  He envisioned himself as a vital opening for the people.  In Matthew 7:14 He calls Himself “the gate”…”straight” is the gate.

In John 10, He calls Himself the “Door”  Let’s read about that.

John 10:1-9

Verse 1:  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

Who is the door?  Look at verse 9

Verse 9:  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

You have to believe in yourself to go among the people of this planet and be that confident about yourself.  Now just what do we mean when we say we have to believe in ourselves?  Are we talking about self-power, arrogance or a self righteousness?  No.

We are talking about the belief and confidence that God is doing a great Work through us…individually and collectively.  Look at what Christ himself said in John 3:34.

For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.  The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.  –John 3:34-35

If we understand this, we will believe in ourselves like Christ did.  We won’t be arrogant or self righteous.  People that are arrogant or self righteous LACK this belief in themselves and the fact that God can do great things through them.

Be like Christ…believe in yourself.
 

Point 4: Christ Had Internal Anchors

What is an internal anchor?

Have you ever had to make a crucial decision and you just knew that it was the right one?  You are so confident that you feel euphoric.  Some say they have a feeling of being centered, being right on and being in a state of grace.  Let’s explore this idea of internal anchors by looking into the book of John again.

John 12:42-45

Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Do you see it?  The anchors must be internal…not external.

Verse 44-45  Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.  And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.

He that sees Christ sees the anchors.  The anchors we have internally are God, His Spirit, and His Word.  Christ had these same internal anchors.  He was in a habit of always making the right decision and feeling like a million dollars for doing so.

We need to be like that.

Well there you have it…2 more elements of Jesus Christ.  Learn them, talk about them, make them a part of your being and…Put On Christ.