by Arthur W. Pink
by Arthur W. Pink
Philologos Religious Online Books
Philologos.org
by Arthur W. Pink
September, 1937
Christ Our Exemplar.
“Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21). We have seen that not only is the perfect life of Christ a suitable pattern of holiness for His people to imitate but that God has expressly appointed it for that very purpose. This in order that we may have a sure rule to walk by—the Law of God translated into concrete terms and its requirements set before us by a personal representation and also for the purpose of humbling our proud hearts—by revealing to us how far short we come of measuring up to God's standard of righteousness. Furthermore, God has appointed that the example of Christ should be followed by His people in order that His Son might be honoured by them, in order to distinguish His followers from the world and in order that they should evidence the reality of their profession. The imitating of Christ, then, is not optional, but obligatory.
But at this point a very real difficulty confronts those who are sincerely seeking grace to heed this Divine appointment: in what particular respects and details are we to regard Christ as our Exemplar? All things recorded of Him in Holy Writ are for our instruction, but not for our imitation. There were some things which Christ did as God, as for example, when He wrought miracles: “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work . . . For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will” (John 5:17, 21). “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith He to the sick of the palsy) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house” (Matt. 9:6)—even the Apostles never performed such deeds in their own name or by their own power. Again—as Mediator, Christ performed works of merit, thereby making expiation for the sins of His people and “bringing in everlasting righteousness” for them, thus obtaining their justification and reconciliation; so now His intercession secures their preservation. Now no mere man can do anything meritorious, for at best we are all “unprofitable servants.” The Romanists, who are merit-mongers, are grievous offenders here.
Even as Man, Christ performed extraordinary acts which are not for our emulation. His fasting for forty days and nights, His walking upon the waters, His spending a whole night in prayer (Luke 6:12)—we do not read in Scripture of anyone else doing so—are cases in point. So, too, He performed certain temporary works which pertained to the time in which He lived, which are not for our imitation: such as His being circumcised, keeping the Passover, etc. Wherein, then, is Christ to be imitated by us? First, in all those moral duties which pertain to all men at all times, which are neither extraordinary nor temporary, comprehended in the loving of God with all our hearts and our neighbours as ourselves. Second, in such duties as belong to a like calling: as the child obeying its parents (Luke 2:52), the citizen paying his taxes (Matt. 17:27), the minister of the Gospel diligently (Luke 8:1) and faithfully (Heb. 3:2) discharging his office. Third, in all such works as have like reason and occasion for the doing of them: Matthew 12:12, John 8:59, etc.
In addition to those three general rules, we may repeat here what we said in our “Sanctification” article. The believer's conformity to Christ corresponds to the states through which He passed. The man Christ Jesus first entered a state of humiliation before God rewarded Him by bringing Him into a state of exaltation. And therefore has God ordered that, in this, the members shall resemble their Head: they are called upon to endure suffering before they enter into the promised glory. The disciples of the Lord Jesus have to experience a measure of opposition, persecution, hatred, affliction and they do so for their hope of a better life to come. In that, they do but follow “the Captain of their salvation,” who was “made perfect through sufferings” (Heb. 2:10). Had not God declared, “If we be dead with Him (Christ), we shall also live with Him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him” (2 Tim. 2:11, 12)? That order is inescapable: “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body” (2 Cor. 4:10).
In like manner, the Christian is to be conformed unto the special acts of Christ's mediation, which are His death and resurrection. These are of paramount consideration, for they are not only a pattern proposed to our meditation but they possess a great influence upon our dying to sin and living unto holiness. This is evidenced from the fact that those effects of grace in us are ascribed to those acts of Christ's mediation which carry most correspondence with them. Thus our mortification is ascribed to Christ's crucifixion (Gal. 2:20), our vivification to His rising unto life (Phil. 3:10), and our heavenly-mindedness to His ascension (Phil. 3:20); so that all of those chief acts of Christ are verified in His people. We die to sin as Christ died for our sins.
But in descending to more specific details, it is in Christ's graces we are to be conformed unto Him. All the graces and virtues of the Spirit were represented in their grandest glory and brightest lustre in His life here on earth. First, the purity and holiness of His life is proposed as a glorious pattern for the saints to imitate: “Every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure” (1 John 3:3). Before enlarging upon this let us point out wherein Christ is unique and beyond our imitation. He was essentially holy in His being, for He is “the Holy One of God.” He entered this world immaculate, pure from the least stain of pollution: therefore it was said to His mother: “That holy thing which shall be born of thee” (Luke 1:35). Again—He was effectually holy, for He makes others holy, for by His sufferings and blood there is opened a fountain “for sin and for uncleanness” (Zech. 13:1). He is also infinitely holy, as He is God, and no measure can be set upon His holiness as Mediator, for He received the Spirit without measure (John 3:34). In these particulars He is inimitable.
Notwithstanding the above exceptions, the holiness of Christ is presented as a pattern for us. He was truly and sincerely holy, without fiction or pretense. When the prince of this world scrutinized Him he could find no defect in Him (John 14:31). He was pure gold throughout. The Pharisee may pretend to be holy but it is only in outward appearance. Now the Christian's holiness must be genuine, sincere, without simulation. Christ was uniformly holy: at one time and place as well as another. The same even tenor of holiness ran through the whole of His life from first to last: so should it be with His followers: “As He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation” (1 Peter 1:15). Alas, what inconsistencies we have to bemoan: one part of our life heavenly, another earthly!
Christ was exemplary holy: a pattern to all that came near Him, so that even those sent to arrest Him had to return to their masters and say “never man spake as this Man.” And we are to imitate Him in this respect. The Thessalonian saints were commended because they “were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the Word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to Godwards is spread abroad” (1 Thess. 1:7, 8). Let none go out of your company, Christian reader, without being either convicted or edified. Christ was strictly holy: “Which of you convicteth Me of sin?” was His challenge. The most observing and unfriendly eye could pick no flaw in His actions. It is our duty to imitate Christ in this, too: “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15).
Second, the obedience of Christ to His Father's will is a pattern for the Christian's emulation: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus . . . (who) became obedient unto death” (Phil. 2:5, 8). Now Christ's obedience was free and voluntary, not forced and compulsory. “Then said I, Lo, I come . . . I delight to do Thy will, O My God” (Psa. 40:7, 8). Nor did He waver, later, when suffering so grievously in the discharge of that will: “Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life” (John 10:17). So the Christian is to follow the steps of Christ, doing nothing grudgingly and counting not God's commands to be grievous. Our obedience must be rendered cheerfully if it is to be acceptable. Christ's obedience was unreserved and entire, declining no part of His Father's will. See His perfect submission in Gethsemane. Here, too, he has left us an example: we are to do the most unpleasant task which God assigns us. Happy the Christian who can say with the Apostle “for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13).
The obedience of Christ was entirely disinterested. It was wrought for no self ends, but for the glory of God: “I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do” (John 17:4). Christ sought not honour of men, but the great desire of His soul was “Father, glorify Thy name” (John 12:28). This quality must also characterize our obedience: “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Phil. 2:4). The streams of Christ's obedience flowed from the fountain of love to God. “But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do” (John 14:31). Let this also be true of us, for loveless obedience is of no value in the sight of God. The obedience of Christ was constant, continuing unto His very last breath. A being not weary in well-doing is required of us: “Be thou faithful unto death” (Rev. 2:10).
Third, the self-denial of Christ is the pattern for the believer: “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matt. 16:24). Though there is to be a resemblance, there can be no exact equivalent. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor” (2 Cor. 8:9). Who can gauge what Christ, for the glory of God and the love which He bare to the elect, gave up for us? How utterly trivial in comparison is the greatest sacrifice we are called upon to make! Christ was under no obligation whatever to deny Himself for us but He has placed us under the strongest obligations to deny ourselves for His sake. Though under no obligation, He denied Himself readily, making no objection to the severest part of it. Then let it not be said of us, “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's” (Phil. 2:21). Let not self be loved, petted, pitied, pampered and indulged—rather renounce and mortify it, and make the pleasing and glorifying Christ your only business.
Fourth, the activity and diligence of Christ in fulfilling the work of God committed unto Him was a pattern for all believers to imitate. It is said of Him that “He went about doing good” (Acts 10:39), and what a glorious work He accomplished in so short a time!—a work which will be celebrated to all eternity by the praises of the redeemed. It was a work upon which His heart was intently set: “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me.” It was a work under which He never fainted, despite the greatest discouragements and opposition. The very shortness of the time provoked Him to the greatest diligence: “I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4). He improved all opportunities and occasions; granting Nicodemus an interview at night, preaching the Gospel to the woman at the well when He was exhausted from His journey. Nothing displeased Him more than to be dissuaded from His work. “Get thee behind Me, Satan,” He said to Peter when that Apostle said “spare Thyself, Lord.”
Shall His followers, then, trifle their lives away in vanity? Shall we be slothful when He was so diligent? How great an honour God has placed on us by calling us to His service. Steadfastness in the work of obedience is our greatest security in the hour of temptation: “The LORD is with you, while ye be with Him” (2 Chron. 15:2). Diligence in prosecuting holiness is the way to get more: Luke 18:8. Graces grow by being used; spiritual acts lead to spiritual habits; talents faithfully employed are rewarded by an increase thereof. Diligence in the work of God is the direct way to an assurance of the love of God: 2 Peter 1:5-10. Diligence in obedience is the greatest security against backsliding: coldness leads to carelessness, carelessness to negligence, negligence to apostasy. The more diligent we are in serving God, the more we become like Christ.
Fifth the inoffensiveness of the life of Christ on earth is an excellent pattern for all His people. He injured none, and never gave occasion for any to be justly hurt at Him. He was not only holy, but “harmless.” He waived His own personal rights in order to avoid the giving of offense, as in the case of the tribute money: Matthew 17:27. When He was reviled, He “reviled not again” (1 Peter 2:23). So circumspect was our Saviour that though His enemies sought occasion against Him, they could not find any: John 19:4. Let us, then, earnestly seek grace that we may imitate this blessed excellency of His life, that we may obey God's command and be “blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke” (Phil. 2:15). The honour of Christ, whose name we bear, is bound up in our deportment. The rule which He has laid upon us is, “Be ye wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”
Sixth, the humility and meekness of Christ is proposed by Himself as a pattern for His people's imitation: “learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29). He abased Himself, by taking upon Him the form of a servant. He stooped to the lowest office, by washing the disciple's feet. When He presented Himself to Israel as their King, it was in humiliation, riding upon the back of an ass: “Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, etc.” (Matt. 21:5). He declared “the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister” (Matt. 20:28). He condescended to the lowest of men, eating with “publicans and sinners” (Matt. 9:11). In all of this He has left us an example to follow. O to be “clothed with humility” (1 Peter 5:5) and thereby evidence our conformity unto Christ!
Pride has no part of one who professes to be a follower of the Lord Jesus. It not only betrays lack of communion with Christ but woeful ignorance of self. Nothing is so provoking to God and more quickly estranges the soul from Him: “Though the LORD is high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly: but the proud He knoweth afar off” (Psa. 138:6). Pride is not only utterly inconsistent with the complaints we make of our corruptions but it presents a serious stumbling block to the children of God. Be not ambitious of the world's great ones but content yourself as one of Christ's little ones. Learn humility at His feet. Evidence it in your apparel and deportment: 1 Peter 3:3. Display it in cultivating fellowship with the poorest of the flock: Romans 12:16. Show it by speaking of and comporting yourself as “less than the least of all saints” (Eph. 3:8).
Seventh, the contentment of Christ in a low and mean condition in this world is an excellent pattern for His people's imitation. His portion here was a condition of deepest poverty and contempt. The child of lowly parents; born in a manger. So deprived of the comforts of this world that, much of His time, He had nowhere to lay His head. So poor that He had to borrow a penny for the purpose of pointing to its superscription. Yet He never murmured or complained. Nay, so far from it, so perfectly content was He with God's appointments that He declared, “The lines are fallen unto Me in pleasant places” (Psa. 16:6). Under the most degrading and painful sufferings, He never resisted nor repined: “He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter” (Isa. 53:7). “O that in this also the poorest Christians would imitate their Saviour, and learn to manage an afflicted condition with a contented spirit: let there be no complaints, or foolish charging of God heard from you, whatever straits or troubles He brings unto you.
“The meanest and most afflicted Christian is owner of many rich, invaluable mercies: Ephesians 1:3; 1 Corinthians 3:23. Is sin pardoned and God reconciled? then never open your mouths any more. You have many precious promises that God will not forsake you in your straits: Hebrews 13:5. Your whole life has been an experience of the faithfulness of God to His promises. How useful and beneficial all your afflictions are to you! they purge your sins, wean you from the world and turn to your salvation; then, how unreasonable must your discontentedness at them be! The time of your relief and full deliverance from all your troubles is at hand: the time is but short that you shall have any concernment about such things. Your lot falls by Divine direction upon you, and bad as it may be, it is much easier and sweeter than the condition of Christ in this world was. Yet He was contented, and why not you?” (John Flavell, to whom we are indebted for much in the above seven points).—A.W.P.
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