There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (1 John 2:6)
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. (John 17:19)
People typically focus on the no condemnation part of this text, and this is not entirely wrong. It jumps out at us, we do not want to be condemned, and we consider this text to be evidence that we are not. Let us also consider that the reason we are not to be condemned is being in Christ Jesus and therefore (walking) not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
What does it mean to walk after the Spirit? The second passage shows us that we ought to walk as Jesus walked. Does this mean walk in sandals? That is unlikely. The third passage shows that Jesus wanted us to copy him in spiritual disciplines. It seems strange that Jesus would "sanctify" himself, considering he was already sinless. So even a sinless man can be more sanctified, that is a strange thought, maybe I'm missing something here.
I do think that Jesus meaning is clear. Jesus did things that would make it easier for us to avoid sin if we copied him. Jesus spent special time devoted to prayer (and meditation?) as well as praying on the spur of the moment. Jesus knew "his Bible", he knew it really well, I mean, most theology professors would not know their Bible as well as Jesus did even while he was on earth with the weakness of his humanity on him. Jesus lived a simple life and turned everyday situations into opportunities to witness, like getting water from the "woman at the well". There is so much more of course. By studying the life of Jesus we can learn from him how to follow him in more than just name, and by doing this we can "walk" like him and not like sin, and we will not be condemned. Praise the Lord! Amen.
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