Costly Commitment Means Christlikeness

Stott mentions in his second chapter that the biblical basis for Christlikeness is not derived from one single text, rather the call for followers of Christ to be like Christ goes much deeper than one verse. He then uses Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 John 3:2 as examples. He concludes some primary ways we are to be like Christ:

1. In His in incarnation
2. In His service
3. In His love
4. In His patient endurance
5. In His Mission.

For our purposes we will focus on the last two. Stott writes:

We are to be like Christ in his patient endurance

"In this next example we consider the teaching not of Paul but of Peter. Every chapter in Peter's first letter contains an allusion to suffering for Christ, for the background of the letter is the beginnings of persecution. In chapter two in particular Peter urges Christian slaves (if punished unjustly) to bear it, not to repay evil for evil (1 Peter 2:18). We have been called to this because Christ also suffered, leaving us an example so that we may follow in his steps (1Peter 2:21). This call to Christlikeness in suffering unjustly may well become increasingly relevant as persecution increases in many cultures today.

We are to be like Christ in his mission

Having looked at the teaching of Paul and Peter, we come now to the teaching of Jesus, as recorded by John. In prayer, Jesus said to his Father, ‘As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world’ (John 17:18); and in commissioning, he said, ‘As the Father has sent me, I am sending you’ (John 20:21).

These words are immensely significant. This is not just the version of the great commission recorded in John's Gospel, it is also an instruction that their mission in the world was to resemble Christ's. In what respect? The key words are 'sent into the world.' That is, as Christ had to enter our world, so we are to enter other people’s worlds.

It was eloquently explained by Archbishop Michael Ramsey when he said: 'We state and commend the faith only in so far as we go out and put ourselves inside the doubts of the doubters, the questions of the questioners and the loneliness of those who have lost their way.'

This entering of other people’s worlds is exactly what we mean by incarnational mission, and all authentic mission is incarnational. We are to be like Christ in his mission" (35).

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