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Following and Imitation of Christ

Denying, You Do not Just Do That

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  • Bas Luiten

Not every believer stands equally firm in their faith. In difficult times, you could think or say things about God that are false; this is a form of denying God. Will our Lord also deny us, saying: "I have never known you"?

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In What Way Can Jesus Be a Moral Example for Christians?

  • Semi-Technical
  • Alister E. McGrath

Is it possible that Jesus Christ can function as moral example for Christians? In what sense is Jesus Christ normative for Christian ethics? The imitation of Christ is discussed against its Enlightenment background.

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Three Ways Christians Misunderstand Obedience

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  • Daniel Darling

Many Christians suppose that their freedom in Christ means permission to live freely and ignore the call to obedience. This article describes three ways in which Christians misunderstand what obedience means.

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The Imitation of Christ

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  • Scott Seaton

How do believers understand and carry out their role in the church? This article discusses a proper perspective on individual ministry, and what ministry involves.

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Joy Beyond the Cross

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  • Walter J. Chantry

This article looks at how we experience suffering as we bear our cross in following our Lord Jesus.

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Conformity to Jesus as the Paradigm For Christian Ethics (Part 3)

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  • Matthew J. Tuininga

The picture of the Christian life painted by the New Testament is rooted in union with Christ. This article shows how such union and conformity to Christ is reflected in individuals' vocation, serving as a paradigm to thinking about Christian ethics in the workplace.

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Conformity to Jesus (Part 2): Death and Resurrection With Christ

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  • Matthew J. Tuininga

The picture of the Christian life painted by the New Testament is rooted in union with Christ. The believer is united to Christ by sharing in His death and resurrection. Christian ethics should be shaped by this understanding of the Christian life. 

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The Believer's Half-Life

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  • Maurice Roberts

The normal Christian life is about suffering on earth, and then receiving the crown of glory. We have to learn to live with our minds focused on our life of glory.

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Running the Race

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  • Richard B. Gaffin Jr.

This article is about victory in the Christian life. Self-denial and commitment and discipline in the Christian life is also discussed.

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What is That to You? You Follow Me!

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  • John Piper

In John 21:18-22, Jesus reminds Peter to not compare himself to other believers, but to simply follow Him. This command is for us today as well. We are not judged based on how we compare to others. Instead, we should focus on following Jesus as his disciple according to our calling.

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Mark 8:34 - What Does It Mean to "Deny Yourself"?

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  • Bill Mounce

This article considers discipleship, and specifically the instruction of the Lord Jesus in Mark 8:34 for any disciple of his to deny himself and follow Christ.

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Living by the Promise of Forgiveness: Joseph and his Brothers

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  • Nelson D. Kloosterman

What is forgiveness? How should we view it? God did not tell us about forgiveness He demonstrated forgiveness. This article looks at biblical stories that demonstrates forgiveness. Here focus is on Genesis 50:15-21 about Joseph and his brothers. 

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Prophets, Priests, & Kings

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  • Jim Klazinga

This article explains what it means that a Christian is anointed to be a prophet, priest and king; how the basis of this anointing is union with Christ; and what the implications are for the Christian life. 

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The Wonder of Christ’s Suffering

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  • Jim Klazinga

Jesus Christ suffered throughout His life. This article shows that Christ's suffering was comprehensive, progressive, legal and cursed. However, His suffering was a life-giving suffering.

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A Pastor’s Reflections: Cruciform Ministry and Joy

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  • Valiant for Truth

The Christian life is a cruciform life. Christians are called to sacrifice themselves. This article offers two reasons why Christians can be joyful even in trials and suffering.

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Imitating Christ

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  • H. Hofman

This article explains that following Christ or imitating Christ is living a life of communion with Christ and union with Christ and bearing fruits of faith.

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Magnificent Motives The Road to Heaven is Paved with Good Intentions

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  • Peter Barnes

Why do you do the things you do? This article looks at three motives for the Christian life.

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What Would Jesus Do?

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  • Nathan Busenitz

Have you ever heard of the phrase, "What would Jesus do?" Have you said it yourself? This article shows the origins of this slogan, its contemporary usage, and evaluates its usefulness. The author finds the saying unhelpful at best, and downright dangerous at worst, and proposes a different set of words to go with the acronym WWJD.

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Herman Bavinck: The Man and the Mind

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  • John Bolt

This article considers Herman Bavinck and his understanding of the Christian life. What lay at the heart of his understanding was the imitation of Christ. His life and writings reveal this, as the article demonstrates.

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Compassion Fatigue

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  • David P. Murray

This article shows that imitating Christ will be the way to heal "compassion fatigue."

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Dear Graduates: Don't Waste Your Life – Follow God Fully!

  • Basic
  • Joel R. Beeke

Following God consistently, exclusively, holistically, and sincerely is what this article calls young people to do on the basis of Numbers 14:24.

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The Picture of the Christ-like Man

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  • Daniel Wilson

This article shows that every Christian young man must grow to maturity by being conformed to the image of Christ and focusing on God. The characteristics of such maturity are written in 1 Timothy 3.

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WWJD?

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  • Tony Baxter

This article examines the intended purpose of 'WWJD?', or 'what would Jesus do?', ethics. Looking at Jesus as our example is biblical, since we are being transformed to His image. However, there are limits to our ability to live this out.

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A Cross-Shaped Life

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  • Dane C. Ortlund

This article shows that living a "cross-shaped life" is living with an understanding that following Jesus means death and self-denial, as well as joy. A Christian is someone who lives with the experience of all three of these things.

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Conformity to Jesus as the Paradigm For Christian Ethics (Part 1)

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  • Matthew J. Tuininga

The picture of the Christian life painted by the New Testament is rooted in union with Christ. This article shows that this understanding must serve as a paradigm for Christian ethics. The call to imitate Christ is the foundation of a biblical understanding of the Christian life.

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W.W.J.D.

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  • Nicolaas H. Gootjes

This article is about the armbands with the words "What would Jesus do?". This article focuses on the imitation of Christ and following Christ, and the life of Jesus Christ as our obedience.

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A Pastoral Letter on Cross-Bearing

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  • Thomas N. Smith

This article is about cross-bearing in trials, and rejoicing in God's purpose with these trials.

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The Cost of Gospel Change

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  • Waldean Wall

This article discusses the cost to follow Christ, and the significance this has for our finances.

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The Imitation of Christ and Modern Life: Herman Bavinck's Views

  • Semi-Technical
  • Ron Gleason

This article is about Thomas a Kempis' book "The Imitation of Christ". The author discusses obedience in all spheres of life, the dangers of mysticism, being absorbed by culture, and the views of Herman Bavinck on the imitation of Christ.

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John Calvin in the Valley of the Shadow of Death

  • Semi-Technical
  • Garry J. Williams

This article discusses the suffering of John Calvin, and what Calvin himself had to say about suffering.

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The Imitation of Christ

  • Technical
  • John B. Webster

What is the relationship between Christ and Christian ethics? The article asks the question: If Christians are what they are by virtue of their participation in Christ, then what room is left for human ethical activity? What is the relationship between grace and morality? Webster wants to explore this relationship by giving close attention to the New Testament material on the imitation of Christ.

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"Be Imitators of Me": Paul's Model of Leadership

  • Technical
  • Andrew D. Clarke

The most important models Paul urges his readers to imitate are those of himself, Christ, and God. He also directs his readers to the behavior of other individuals and occasionally reminds them of the example of other churches. There are also exhortations that his readers become "models" for others to imitate. Questions have been asked regarding the motivation behind Paul’s instruction.

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Evangelicals and the Imitation of the Cross: Peter Bolt on Mark 13 as a Test Case

  • Technical
  • Jason B. Hood

The thesis of this article is that a neglected area of the New Testament’s teaching on the cross is the imitation of Jesus and his cross. The author illustrates the negative effects of overlooking the imitation of the cross. He uses the work of Peter Bolt as his conversation partner and in particular the way that the call to take up the cross functions in Mark 13 and its literary context.

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Imitating Jesus: An Inclusive Approach to New Testament Ethics

  • Technical
  • Richard Higginson

This a review article of an important book of Richard A Burridge on the imitation of Christ as an approach to New Testament Christian living. Burridge thinks that people who wrote on imitation before him in their analysis of the ethical teaching in the Gospels tends to be abstracted from what Jesus did. Jesus’ actions throw light on his words and vice-versa.

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A good Christian mother can, just by her attitudes and actions, do much to show her child how God deals with us. Anonymous
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