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Becoming Part of God's BodySample

Becoming Part of God's Body

DAY 8 OF 10

Emulating the Supreme Model

God has given great men and women to the church. The biblical giants serve as valuable models—despite their imperfections. Were we to elevate Paul, Abraham, or David above Christ, we would be guilty of idolatry. The same would be true if we exalted Martin Luther, John Calvin, Thomas Aquinas, and others above Christ. We respect these saints, but only insofar as they are faithful to Christ and point beyond themselves to Christ. This was certainly the style of the apostle Paul, who labored tirelessly for the cause of Christ. We love and honor him for that labor. Likewise, we honor the giants of church history. But even the theological "giants" are sub-apostolic, never speaking or writing with an authority equal to an apostle.

At the same time, we recognize that a vast gulf separates Augustine from Jim Jones. People like Augustine and Luther have contributed theological insights of such magnitude that their names are representative of key thoughts. Few in church history are worthy of such recognition. The suffixes "ian," "ist," or "ite," (e.g., "Calvinist") are valuable to identify truth but have little positive and much negative value when applied to personalities. We know that Augustine, Luther, and Calvin were not crucified for us.

Coram deo: Living before the face of God

Thank God for role models who have influenced your life; then thank Him for the Supreme Model who died for you.

Copyright © Ligonier Ministries. Get a free book from R.C. Sproul at Ligonier.org/freeresource.

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Becoming Part of God's Body

10-day devotional from R.C. Sproul on becoming part of God's body. Each devotional calls you to live in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God.

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We would like to thank Ligonier Ministries for providing this plan. For more information, please visit Ligonier.org/freeresource