Being a Positive Example of Faith in Christ's Character

The concept of being a positive example of faith in Christ's character is rooted in the biblical call for believers to emulate Christ's life and virtues. This emulation is not merely an outward show but an inward transformation that manifests in one's actions, words, and overall conduct ^{[5, 7]}.

Christ as the Ultimate Example

Jesus Christ is presented in scripture as the perfect example for believers to follow ^[7]. His character is described as altogether lovely, holy, righteous, good, faithful, true, and just ^[6]. He was guileless, sinless, spotless, innocent, and harmless ^[6]. Christ demonstrated diligence in his ministry, as seen in his early morning prayers and his commitment to his Father's work ^[9]. He also exemplified sincerity, as noted in 1 Peter 2:22, which states that he committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth ^[4].

Key aspects of Christ's example include:

Holiness and Righteousness: Conformity to Christ's example requires holiness and righteousness ^[7].
Love: Christ's love is the standard for believers, as he commanded his followers to love one another as he loved them ^[7].
Humility and Meekness: Jesus demonstrated profound humility, taking on the form of a servant and humbling himself to death on a cross ^[7]. He described himself as meek and lowly in heart ^[6].
Obedience: Christ was perfectly obedient to God the Father, stating that he always did what pleased the Father ^{[6, 7]}.
Self-Denial: Jesus set an example of self-denial, prioritizing God's will over his own desires and enduring hardship for the sake of others ^[8]. This self-denial is a test of devotion to Christ and is necessary for following him ^[8].
Ministering to Others: Christ came not to be served but to serve, providing an example of selfless service ^[7].
Benevolence: His life was marked by acts of kindness and generosity ^[7].
Forgiving Injuries: Christ's example includes forgiving those who wronged him, even from the cross ^[7].
Overcoming the World: He overcame the world and taught his followers to do the same, living in the world but not being of the world ^[7].
Boldness: Christ exhibited holy boldness, as seen in John 7:26, and this boldness is a characteristic of saints, produced by trust in God and the fear of God ^[1].

Manifestations of Faith in Christ's Character

The communication of faith becomes effectual through the acknowledgment of every good thing present in an individual through Christ Jesus ^[2]. This suggests that the outward demonstration of faith is intrinsically linked to the indwelling character of Christ. The apostle Paul found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God in Christ Jesus, indicating a confidence derived from Christ's work ^[3].

Believers are called to "put on Christ," which Adam Clarke interprets as receiving his Spirit, entering into his interests, and copying his manners ^[11]. This means assuming the character of Christ and acting in a way that reflects his nature ^[11].

The "work of faith" is not a passive assent but a "realizing, working faith" that manifests in continuous action ^[10]. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown describe it as an "alacrity in receiving the truth, and in evincing itself by its fruits" ^[10]. This active faith is contrasted with mere verbal profession, emphasizing that true faith is demonstrated through deeds ^[10].

Practical Implications for Believers

The call to be an example is explicit in scripture. Paul exhorts Timothy to "be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity" ^[5]. This comprehensive instruction covers various aspects of life:

Word: The way one speaks, reflecting truthfulness and grace.
Conversation (Conduct): One's overall behavior and lifestyle.
Charity (Love): Demonstrating Christ-like love towards others.
Spirit: The inner disposition and attitude.
Faith: Trust and reliance on God.
Purity: Moral and ethical uprightness.

Ministers, in particular, are called to be examples of sincerity and boldness ^{[4, 1]}. They should exhibit boldness in their faithfulness to their people and in their preaching of the gospel ^[1]. Sincerity should characterize their love for God and Christ, their service, their faith, their love for one another, and their entire conduct ^[4]. The preaching of the gospel itself should be marked by sincerity ^[4].

Diligence is another quality that Christ exemplified and that is required of believers ^[9]. This includes diligence in seeking God, obeying him, hearkening to his word, striving for perfection, cultivating Christian graces, guarding one's soul and heart, engaging in labors of love, and pursuing every good work ^[9]. It also involves guarding against defilement, seeking to be spotless, making one's calling and election sure, and self-examination ^[9].

The character of Christ is the perfect standard, and conformity to it is required in various virtues such as holiness, righteousness, purity, love, humility, meekness, obedience, self-denial, ministering to others, benevolence, forgiving injuries, overcoming the world, and being guileless ^[7]. These qualities are not merely ideals but are meant to be lived out by those who identify with Christ.

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Boldness, Holy — Christ set an example of -- Joh 7:26. Is through faith in Christ -- Eph 3:12; Heb 10:19. A characteristic of saints -- Pr 28:1. Produced by Trust in God. -- Isa 50:7. The fear of God. -- Ac 4:19; 5:29. Faithfulness to God. -- 1Ti 3:13. Express your trust in God with -- Heb 13:6. Have, in prayer -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16. Saints shall have, in judgment -- 1Jo 4:17. Exhortations to -- Jos 1:7; 2Ch 19:11; Jer 1:8; Eze 3:9. Pray for -- Ac 4:29; Eph 6:19,20. Ministers should exhibit, in Faithfulness to their people. -- 2Co 7:4; 10:1. Preaching. -- Ac 4:31; Ph”
Philemon “Philemon 1:6 (KJV) — That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.”
Romans “Romans 15:17 (NASB) — Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sincerity — Christ was an example of -- 1Pe 2:22. Ministers should be examples of -- Tit 2:7. Opposed to fleshly wisdom -- 2Co 1:12. Should characterise Our love to God. -- 2Co 8:8,24. Our love to Christ. -- Eph 6:24. Our service to God. -- Jos 24:14; Joh 4:23,24. Our faith. -- 1Ti 1:5. Our love to one another. -- Ro 12:9; 1Pe 1:22; 1Jo 3:18. Our whole conduct. -- 2Co 1:12. The preaching of the gospel. -- 2Co 2:17; 1Th 2:3-5. A characteristic of the doctrines of the gospel -- 1Pe 2:2. The gospel sometimes preached without -- Php 1:16. The wicked devoid of -- Ps 5:9; ”
King James Version “[KJV] 1 Timothy 4:12 — Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Christ, Character Of — Altogether lovely -- Song 5:16. Holy -- Lu 1:35; Ac 4:27; Re 3:7. Righteous -- Isa 53:11; Heb 1:9. Good -- Mt 19:16. Faithful -- Isa 11:5; 1Th 5:24. True -- Joh 1:14; 7:18; 1Jo 5:20. Just -- Zec 9:9; Joh 5:30; Ac 22:14. Guileless -- Isa 53:9; 1Pe 2:22. Sinless -- Joh 8:46; 2Co 5:21. Spotless -- 1Pe 1:19. Innocent -- Mt 27:4. Harmless -- Heb 7:26. Resisting temptation -- Mt 4:1-10. Obedient to God the Father -- Ps 40:8; Joh 4:34; 15:10. Zealous -- Lu 2:49; Joh 2:17; 8:29. Meek -- Isa 53:7; Zec 9:9; Mt 11:29. Lowly in heart -- Mt 11:29. Merciful ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Example of Christ, The — Is perfect -- Heb 7:26. Conformity to, required in Holiness. -- 1Pe 1:15,16; Ro 1:6. Righteousness. -- 1Jo 2:6. Purity. -- 1Jo 3:3. Love. -- Joh 13:34; Eph 5:2; 1Jo 3:16. Humility. -- Lu 22:27; Php 2:5,7. Meekness. -- Mt 11:29. Obedience. -- Joh 15:10. Self-denial. -- Mt 16:24; Ro 15:3. Ministering to others. -- Mt 20:28; Joh 13:14,15. Benevolence. -- Ac 20:35; 2Co 8:7,9. Forgiving injuries. -- Col 3:13. Overcoming the world. -- Joh 16:33; 1Jo 5:4. Being not of the world. -- Joh 17:16. Being guileless. -- 1Pe 2:21-22. Suffering wrongfully. --”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 1:3: work of faith--the working reality of your faith; its alacrity in receiving the truth, and in evincing itself by its fruits. Not an otiose assent; but a realizing, working faith; not "in word only," but in one continuous chain of "work" (singular, not plural, works), Th1 1:5-10; Jam 2:22. So "the work of faith" in Th2 1:11 implies its perfect development (compare Jam 1:4). The other governing substantives similarly mark respectively the characteristic manifestation of the grace which follows each in the genitive. Faith, love, and hope, are the ”
Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 3:27: As many of you as have been baptized into Christ - All of you who have believed in Christ as the promised Messiah, and received baptism as a public proof that ye had received Christ as your Lord and Savior, have put on Christ - have received his Spirit, and entered into his interests, and copied his manners. To put on, or to be clothed with one, is to assume the person and character of that one; and they who do so are bound to act his part, and to sustain the character which they have assumed. The profession of Christianity is an assumption of the character of Ch”

Ask Your Own Question