God Will Help Us To Walk As Jesus Did - Zac Poonen
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Summary
The speaker urges listeners to view the command to 'walk in the same manner as Christ' (1 John 2:6) not as an impossible standard, but as a possibility granted by God's help, which is the language of faith. He warns against the tendency to disqualify parts of scripture or Christian living by claiming they are not for us, arguing that God's commands are always within our ability to fulfill. True faith embraces the possibility of living like Jesus did.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
How do you look at 1 John 2:6?Many Christians view the command to walk as Jesus walked as an impossible standard meant only for heaven, but it is actually a present-day possibility given by a loving God.1 John 2:6
Does God give impossible commands?Assuming God commands things we cannot do is a terrible sin, as even earthly fathers and teachers never test children on things they were not taught.
The Sermon on the Mount is for us todayJesus lived out the Sermon on the Mount for thirty years, and rejecting these teachings as not meant for Christians is a dangerous and blasphemous deception.
Putting God first in order to claim His promisesWonderful promises like Romans 8:28 are for those who love God more than money, family, or anything else, placing Him first in every area of life.Romans 8:28Luke 16:13
Moving from the Old Covenant to the New CovenantThe Old Covenant commandments were given so people would realize they cannot keep God's standards on their own, preparing them for the New Covenant.
What the New Covenant promises to do in usGod promises to put His laws in our minds, give us the desire to obey, and supply grace in our hearts to fulfill His will rather than making us mindless robots.
Coming to the zero point like the disciplesJust like the disciples who toiled all night and caught nothing until Jesus intervened, we must reach the end of our own self-reliance to experience God's power.
A completely cleansed past through Christ's bloodThrough the blood of Jesus and His mercies that are new every morning, our past sins are completely blotted out so we can look back with a clean slate.
Forgiving others the way Jesus forgaveWhen people try to harm or criticize us, we must forgive them just as Jesus did on the cross, recognizing they do not understand who they are attacking.
The daily prayer pattern given by JesusJesus taught us to pray daily for God's kingdom to come first, for our daily bread, and for daily forgiveness of debts as we forgive those who hurt us.Matthew 6:9–13
Applying godly wisdom to relationships and marriageWhile physical and social factors matter in finding a life partner, spiritual values must always be placed first, trusting God for His will.
Entering into God's rest for the new yearInstead of living in panic and tension over jobs, housing, or needs, we must trust our loving Father and enter into His perfect rest.
