Putting On Christ                                 Go directly to point 7            Go directly to point 8

In this series we are expanding on one simple directive from God.  It is found in Romans 13 and verse 14

“Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ”  

Now in the first three lessons, we discussed the first six 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.

3)   He believed in Himself.

4)   Christ had internal anchors

5)   He guarded His energy

6)   Christ did the difficult things

Today we will discuss Points 7 and 8 of Christ’s character; elements that we must have if we are to be like Him.

Point 7:  He Said Thank You

There is an account of Jesus heading toward Jerusalem and passing through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.  As he entered a certain village, there he met 10 lepers (Luke 17).  They asked for healing.  He told them to go to the priests to be declared clean.  As they went, they were healed.  One of the ten turned back and glorified God.  He also fell at Christ’s feet and gave thanks.  Christ said, “Where are the other nine?”  He wondered why they did not say thank you.  Christ did.

In John 11 we read of the account of when Christ brings Lazarus up out of the tomb. He begins by praying to God and we pick up the story in John 11:41

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

Christ thanked his Father and so should we.  In fact, when we thank God, the Father, we do so in the name of Jesus Christ who first thanked Him.

Col 3:17

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

It is the will of Jesus Christ that we give thanks like he did.

1Thes 5:18 says…

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
 

Point 8: He Did Not Waste His Time Judging Others

Jesus saw judging others as a major energy leak (see Point 5).  He stated many times that he did not come to judge but that he came to help.  He did not spend one minute on the demolition crew.  He spend his energy on creation and restoration.  Judging others was not his job.

John 5:45

Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses (or the Law), in whom ye trust.

John 12:47 says…

And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

Christ had a mission and he knew that if he judged others, his mission would be hindered.  The law is enough of a judge.  His mission was to get people to the principles of God.  This was his mission to fulfill the law….to get it back to the way it was originally designed.

In our lives, judgment halts progress.  If a leader judges others, he inhibits his own forward motion.  Notice that right up to the end, Christ did not judge.

Luke 23:39-43

39        And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40        But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41        And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42        And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

43        And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Even when dealing with admitted thieves, Christ did not judge but rather continued spreading the good news of salvation. 

There we are, we have added two more elements of the character of Christ to our notebooks and to our lives.  Let us continue to study these elements and as we say with each of these sermonettes…

Put on Christ

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