A Life Like His
There are two realities that we all live in. One is aspirational, that is, who or what we hope to be or become. And the other is functional, that is, how we actually live. In other words, we have both the ideal and the real self. These realities are present in every aspect of our lives, relationships, work, career, hobbies, and even our spiritual lives. This two reality existence is not necessarily a bad thing. It is often the beginning place of growth and transformation. It can become unhealthy if we really do think that our ideal or aspirational self is the way we live when everyone else around us can see otherwise. But it doesn’t have to go there. Growth is possible and especially so when it comes to our spiritual lives. As Christians, we do not believe that we are trying to become like Christ under our own power. No, the very opposite is our belief. That through the power of the Holy Spirit (who lives inside of us) makes it possible for us to become more and more like Jesus. That is, the Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to live a life like Jesus’. Dallas Willard offers some helpful insight into this idea.[1] He writes,
“As Paul points out, the Spirit allows us to “walk in” the Spirit (Gal. 5:25). This all-powerful, creative personality, the promised “strengthener,” the paraclete of John 14, gently awaits our invitation to him to act upon us, with us and for us.
The presence of the Holy Spirit can always be recognized by the way he moves us toward what Jesus would be and do (John 16:7-15). When we inwardly experience the heavenly sweetness and power of life—the love, joy, and peace—that Jesus knew, that is the work of the Spirit in us.
Outwardly, life in the Spirit manifests itself in two ways. Gifts of the Spirit will enable us to perform some specific function—such as service or healing or leading worship—with effects clearly beyond those of our own making. These gifts serve God’s purposes among his people, but they do not necessarily signify the state of our heart.
The fruit of the Spirit, by contrast, give a sure sign of transformed character. When our deepest attitudes and dispositions are those of Jesus, it is because we have learned to let the Spirit foster his life in us. Paul confessed: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). The outcome of Christ living within us through the Spirit is fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).
Both gifts and fruit are the result, not the reality, of the Spirit’s presence in our lives. What brings about our transformation into Christlikeness is our direct, personal interaction with Christ through the Spirit. The Spirit makes Christ present to us and draws us toward his likeness. It is as we thus “behold the glory of the Lord” that we are constantly “transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18, NASB).”
In 1 Jn. 2:6, John writes to a church that is struggling through interpersonal conflict to “walk as Jesus walked.” In Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit, we don’t have to settle for a lesser version of the abundant life of Christ, nor do we need to live in delusion. We are able to grow in the fruit of the Spirit as the Spirit moves us toward what Jesus would be and do. In that way, we live a life like His.
[1] Excerpt from: https://dwillard.org/articles/looking-like-jesus-divine-resources-for-a-changed-life-are-always-available