This was not what I had originally expected to start with, but as I look through the gospels looking for the most fundamental place to start, this seems to be it.

¹⁸ Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ And her husband Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. ²⁰ But when he had thought this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” ²² Now all this took place so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: ²³ “Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they shall name Him Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” (Matthew1:18-23 NASB)

The first step to being like Christ is to be born again. To have new life in him. To be sons of God.

⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ (John 3:5-7 NASB)

We should note as well, that what is born of God in this new life is the spirit of the person. God is spirit, his seed is a spiritual seed. Christ had human flesh and God's spirit.

My flesh is still rotten to the core and filled with sin, yet if I am born again in new life, my spirit is new. It is born from him and for him.

In order to be like Christ I must be born of God.

⁴² And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. ⁴³ When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; ⁴⁴ but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. ⁴⁵ So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. ⁴⁶ Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. ⁴⁸ So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”

⁴⁹ And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:42-49 NKJV)

The phrase here translated:""about my Father's business" gets translated different ways. Often as: "in My Father’s house" (NASB). The word house here is not in the original, but neither is business. The original phrase is: "ἐν τοῖς τοῦ πατρός μου" [in my father's (the)]. The word the in greek can be used by itself and not only before a noun. Maybe a better way to translate the original would be: in that which is my father's, (could be house or business or work or word or anything that is his).

How much do I understand of my need, as a son of God, to be in that which pertains to him? To be in his word, in his work?

Jesus was only twelve (years before we consider his ministry to have started) and it was so necessary that he actually stayed in the temple when his parents (earthly parents) left.

In order to be like Christ I need to be in my father's business.

There is a lot of discussion about Baptizm; when, how, what it does, what it means, etc.

But for me, in my desire and search to be like Christ the important thing is that even though Jesus Christ was perfect, he wanted to be baptized and commanded us to baptize in his name.

¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:19 NKJV)

In Matthew we can read the reason he gives for wanting to be baptized:

¹⁵ But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. (Matthew 3:15)

This was what was important to him: "to fulfill all righteousness".

So two things:

1. To be like Christ I need to be baptized

2. To be like Christ I need to fulfill all righteousness.