The Jesus life is another way of saying the ethic by which Jesus lived.
The character and morality that shaped and directed His daily decisions and actions.
Jesus words in Matthew 5-7 not only describe how we are to live, but how He lived – the Jesus life.
This ethic is described elsewhere in the bible, including 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Galatians 5:22, Colossians 3:12-14, and especially Romans 12:9-21.
The way Jesus lived is an expression of the good news, it is God’s grace in action.
It is through Jesus humility, patience, kindness, generosity, etc. that we are saved (see Philippians 2:1-11).
In addition, the Jesus life is not only HOW we are saved, it is WHAT we are saved for.
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:21)
Obviously this life is too hard for us to follow by ourselves, but with God’s grace (assuring us of forgiveness for our flawed efforts) and with God’s help (assisting us by His Spirit to improve and magnify our flawed efforts), we do our best.
The Lord is not concerned with those who try and fail, but with those who fail to try at all.
From beginning to end, the Jesus life is a gift of grace – He lived it for us, He lives it with us!
Knowing that I am sinful, knowing that I am forgiven and accepted by grace, I strive with all my might and His to live the Jesus life, confident in Him and not in myself.
I do my best to be patient, I make every effort to be more forgiving, I resolve to be more generous or kind… but I do all this fully aware of how flawed my attempts are.
I place my flawed and imperfect attempts into His hands, and trust that He will use them for greater results than I could have done on my own.
This is what Paul is getting at when he says: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
The Jesus life is good news for me, but it can also be good news for others through me.
Will I allow the grace of God which saved me to work through me to others?
Will I strive with His grace and help to live the Jesus life – to be more loving, forgiving, merciful, patient, kind, etc.?