A.The apostle Paul described the Christians at Corinth as spiritual children.
1.In 1Corinthians 3:1, he wrote to them, “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ.”
2.In their behavior and their understanding, these Christians had proven themselves to be immature (see 1Cor. 3:2-4).
B.Therefore, Paul admonished the Corinthians to become mature and act like men.
1.Notice the following admonition at the close of the epistle – “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1Cor. 16:13).
a.The phrase quoted here from the NASB as “act like men” is translated in the KJV and the ASV as “quit you like men” and in the NJKV as “be brave.”
b.This phrase is from one Greek word, andrizomai, which means “to make a man of.”
2.The implication of this instruction is clear.The Corinthians had been acting like children in need of discipline, but now it was necessary for them act like mature men.
C.Likewise, many men in our society need to stop behaving as children and begin acting like men.
1.Our society does not teach men and boys how to be “real men.”
a.Political correctness teaches the concept of “androgyny,” which is to have both male and female characteristics so that there will be no distinctions between men and women.
b.Popular culture teaches that a real man is a womanizing, drunken, self-indulgent fool.
c.The result is that many men are ignorant and/or confused about what they are supposed to be, and marriages, families, and communities are suffering.
2.God teaches us through His word that a real man is like Jesus Christ, who is an example to us all.
a.Regardless of a man’s age, marital status, or station in life, Jesus provides for him a pattern to be followed.
b.Therefore, let us consider how all men should imitate the Lord in order to “act like men.”
II.ACT LIKE MEN
A.Young men should look to Jesus for a pattern of behavior.
1.Often young men use their youth as an excuse for poor behavior, weak faith, and lack of leadership.
2.However, the Scripture urges young men to become examples to others in their behavior.
a.“Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.” (1 Tim. 4:12)
b.“Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.” (Tit. 2:6-8)
3.These exemplary behaviors and characteristics that are commanded of young men are perfectly modeled in the person of Jesus Christ.Young men are urged to be this way because this is how Jesus was.
B.Older men should likewise put on the characteristics of the Lord.
1.Older men should be respected by younger men (1Tim. 5:1; 1Pet. 5:5), but this does not relieve the older men from their obligations to behave respectably in the image of Christ.
a.Notice Titus 2:2 – “Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.”
b.Again, these are traits that are well understood by considering the life of Jesus.
2.The elders of the church are shepherds who are following the lead of the Chief Shepherd, who is Jesus Christ (1Pet. 5:1-5).
a.The qualifications of an elder are the characteristics of Jesus Himself (1Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9).
b.These are traits that every man should strive to achieve beginning in his youth and developing to his old age.
C.Married men are commanded to follow the example of Jesus in regard to their marriages.
1.Jesus had no wife on earth, but His bride is the church (Rev. 19:7-8; 21:2, 9).
a.The Lord’s pattern of love toward the church is given as the standard for a man’s love toward his wife (Eph. 5:25-30).
b.The outstanding trait of this pattern of love is the Lord’s willingness to sacrifice Himself for the needs of His bride.
2.In this image of Christ and the church, a man is to act as a husband toward his wife.
a.A mature man is considerate of his wife in all things (1Pet. 3:7; 1Cor. 7:3-4).
b.Such a man will sacrifice himself in order to provide for his wife’s needs.
D.Unmarried men have a greater opportunity to serve Christ and become more like Him.
1.Common thought is that a man is best equipped to serve in the kingdom of God if he is married with children, yet Scripture shows that the unmarried man has a greater opportunity.
a.Notice 1Corinthians 7:32-34 – “But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and his interests are divided.”
b.The unmarried man can go places, do things, and make sacrifices without having the concerns of a married man.Thus, he has greater opportunity.
2.Therefore, a single man should use the extra time and energy for the Lord.
E.Fathers must look to Jesus as an example of leadership and authority.
1.A father has the primary responsibility for teaching his children the ways of God.
a.“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”(Eph. 6:4)
b.Consider God’s reasoning for choosing Abraham to be the father of His people – “For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him” (Gen. 18:19).
2.Jesus is the best example for anyone to learn how to teach the ways of God, including fathers.
a.Although He had no children on earth, He provides discipline and instruction for the children of God.
b.The Lord’s ways of teaching are by word and by deed.Likewise, fathers should instruct their children by words and righteous examples to demonstrate those words.
F.Sons should consider the example of Jesus as they honor their parents.
1.All children are to honor their parents (Eph. 6:1-2; Ex. 20:12).
a.Young children who are under the authority and care of their parents are required to submit and obey their parents in all things.
b.When children are grown, they still have the obligation to honor their parents.That obligation includes providing for aged parents according to their needs (Mark 7:10-13; 1Tim. 5:3-4, 8).
2.Jesus provides the example for honoring one’s parents to both young sons and grown adults.
a.When Jesus was a child, He was in subjection to His parents on earth even though He was the Son of God (Luke 2:51-52).If the Almighty Son of God could submit to Joseph and Mary, then surely any son can submit to his own parents.
b.When Jesus was a man, He continued to honor His mother when He commended John to care for her even as He was dying on the cross (John 19:26-27).If Jesus could still honor His mother despite His suffering on the cross, then surely there is no inconvenience that should prevent any son from honoring and providing for his parents.
G.All men should work as Jesus did, with honesty, sincerity, and diligence.
1.Of course, we know that Jesus worked as a carpenter before He began His ministry (Mark 6:3).However, the Bible does not tell us much about His work habits in carpentry.
2.The Bible does tell us that Jesus came to earth to do the will of the Father (John 6:38), which He worked to accomplish with tireless diligence until the work was done (John 4:34; 5:17; 17:4; 19:30).
3.In this pattern, all men should be diligent to accomplish the work they have to do.
a.In earthly things, men are instructed to give honest service to their employers and fair treatment to their employees, for it is truly Christ whom they are serving (Eph. 6:5-9)
b.In spiritual things, the following passage summarizes the conviction men must have as they follow the pattern of the Lord:
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. (1Cor. 15:58)
