JESUS – OUR ONLY PATTERN

Many persons today reject the standard of pure morality set forth in the Bible as the standard that men must abide in when converted. Not only do they fight against the idea of sinless perfection, they point out the sins of the men of the Bible as evidence that no one can live sinless in this life. For example, King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and not only that, but he orchestrated Uriah’s death that he may have Bathsheba to be his wife, recorded in the book of 2 Samuel 11: 1–17.
Then we read of Solomon” the wise” who had not only one wife, but seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines. (1 Kings 11:1–3 ) How could these men of resound holiness live such adulterous lives and today we say the bible calls for sinless perfection ?
While these examples are true, as the Bible do not hide the faults of men, for there is no respect of persons with God ( Acts 10 : 34 ), but rather all men are called to repent and be saved.2 Peter 3 : 9. For indeed the wages of sin is death Romans 6 : 23. However God is gracious and full of mercy to all who repent and seek to do His will. Both David and Solomon did repent of their sins and followed in the councils of God. 2 Samuel 12 : 1 — 14 & Ecc. 8 : 11, 12.
However the fact of the matter is that David neither Solomon nor any other fallen man is our example, but the bible teaches that CHRIST ALONE is our pattern! What a wonderful pattern is given us to follow, the bible says in 1 Peter 2 : 21– 23…. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps :
Who did NO SIN, neither was guile found in His mouth:
Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.”
Christ did no sin, neither in word or thought nor in action, neither was guile found in His mouth ; and we are to follow His steps. But you may ask ” What is guile”? We read in Exodus 21 : 14 ” But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shall take him from mine altar, that he may die”.
It means giving a false witness, working trickery, craft, even as Satan gave to Eve a false witness and did trick her into disobeying God .( Genesis 3 : 1– 4 )
Psalms 34 : 13 reads “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile”. (1 Peter 3:10), ( also read …1Thess. 2:3–5 ) The redeemed of the earth are redeemed because they follow Christ … Revelation 14; 5 states ” And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God”.
Truth is of God; deception in all its myriad forms is of Satan, and whosoever in any way departs from the straight line of truth is betraying himself into the power of the wicked one. Those who have learned of Christ will : “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.” Eph. 5 ; 11. In speech as in life, they will be simple, straightforward, and true, for they are preparing for the fellowship of those holy ones in whose mouth is found no guile.(PP 252)
Not even Satan the devil could accuse Christ of sin. John 14 : 30. After tempting man to sin , Satan claimed the earth as his, and styled himself the prince of this world. Having conformed to his own nature the father and mother of our race, he thought to establish here his empire. He declared that men had chosen him as their sovereign. Through his control of men, he held dominion over the world. Christ had come to disprove Satan’s claim. As the son of man, Christ would stand loyal to God. Thus it would be shown that Satan had not gained complete control of the human race, and that his claim to the world was false. All who desired deliverance from his power would be set free. The dominion that Adam had lost through sin would be recovered.(DA114,115)
Christ is our Deliverer and Savior only through Him can we overcome and He only is our Pattern. Christ did no sin because He kept the commandments, because sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3 : 4 ). In John 15 : 10 Christ says, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love: even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in His love”. Christ and the Father are One ( John 10 : 30 ) This commandment includes the seventh day sabbath as recorded in Luke 4 : 16 “………..and, as is custom was, He went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read”.
Christ is also Lord of the sabbath. Mark 2 : 28. Though the sabbath was burdened with many unnecessary restrictions which the Jews added and not God, for they sought the glory that belonged to God for themselves, Christ taught and practiced what can and cannot be done on the sabbath. Mark 3 : 1– 6 : Matthew 12 : 9– 14.
He is lord of the sabbath because He created it, Christ is the Creator. John 1 : 1– 3, Col. 1 : 16 & 17.
To all who receive the Sabbath as a sign of Christ’s creative and redeeming power, it will be a delight. Seeing Christ in it, they will delight themselves in Him. The Sabbath points them to the works of creation as evidence of His mighty power in redemption. While it calls to mind the lost peace of Eden, it tells of peace restored through the Saviour. ( DA 289 )
John 3 : 16 states ” For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” We must believe in Christ to have everlasting life; but to believe in Christ means to do what He says, and to follow where He leads. For He is the way, the truth, and the life.. John 14 : 6, 21– 24. Christ’s words to his disciples, were to follow Him, not any other man but only Christ, and so it is even for us today, we are to follow Christ and Christ alone. Matthew 16 : 24 ” Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. ” ( Matt. 19 : 21, 28, John 12 : 26 )
Christ says to “Come unto Me ( Matt. 11 : 28 ) It is His invitation to you, would you not have hope in Christ when all else has failed ? Yes my friends Jesus loves you and wants to give you His life of righteousness, He will give you a new mind and a new experience that you may have peace in this life and eternal joys in the one to come.
Christ knows by experience what are the weaknesses of humanity, what are our wants, and where lies the strength of our temptations ; for He was in all points tempted like as we are , yet without sin. He is watching over you, trembling child of God. Are you tempted ? He will deliver. Are you weak ? He will strengthen. Are you ignorant ? He will enlighten . Are you wounded ? He will heal. The Lord telleth the number of the stars; and yet, He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. Come unto Me, is His invitation. Whatever your anxieties and trials, spread out your case before the Lord. Your spirit will be braced for endurance. The way will be opened for you to disentangle yourself from embarrassment and difficulty. The weaker and more helpless you know yourself to be, the stronger you will become in His strength. The heaver your burdens, the more blessed the rest in casting them upon the Burden Bearer. ( Desire of Ages 329 ) 

May the peace of Christ be with you .

yours in Christ brother Farouk Karim.