Previous article:The Faith of Jesus

Posted on Oct 31, 2026 by Mike LeDuke

We aren’t perfect (at least, I’m not). So why does it matter that Christ is our example? It’s not as though we can live the same as him anyway.

While such a question might at first seem legitimate, it belies a theological misunderstanding: Christ is our example, not so that we can do every single thing that he did, but so that we can actually see faith in action. God knows that we cannot live perfectly, but he wanted us to see what that living looked like — this wasn’t about just changing our thoughts, but about changing our thinking, and having that changed thinking trickle down into our actions.

In other words, God isn’t looking for perfect actions from us. He’s looking for a transformed mind. Here’s how Paul explains this change: “ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” (Romans 8:5). It’s all about the mind.

Just a few verses later, Paul further describes what this means and why it matters so much: “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” (Romans 8:9-10). Even though “Spirit” here is capitalized, the original Greek text was written in all capital letters––so this isn’t necessarily “Spirit” with a capital “S.” Instead of meaning the “Holy Spirit” power, throughout Romans, Paul often uses the term “Spirit” to reference a way of thinking (consider how Romans 8:16 shows that those who have the “Spirit,” or thinking of God are part of God’s family — in other words, they show a family resemblance). The point is that God wants His spirit to dwell in His followers; not in some mystical way, but in the sense that seeing Christ’s example helps people to think like Christ.

This is what God wants. He isn’t looking for perfect people. He’s looking for people who are so moved by Jesus that they begin to think like him. “ Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32).

Ultimately, that’s what Christ’s death and resurrection is about. As our thinking transforms, we are more like Christ. We become “in” Christ. And when we are “in” Christ, just as God raised Jesus from the dead, He’ll do the same with us.

God’s work of reconciliation isn’t complicated. Unfortunately, many see it as some kind of pacifying of an angry God. And yet, it’s actually all about faith and transformation. God gave Christ, not because He needed blood or something to satisfy His wrath. He gave him to change our thinking and encourage us to show a family resemblance to His son.

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Jason Hensley, PhD