CONFORMED TO CHRIST’S IMAGE

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be CONFORMED to the IMAGE of HIS SON…” – Romans 8:29a

At the heart of the Believer’s Experience of Transformation is the reality of being CONFORMED to CHRIST’S IMAGE: “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be CONFORMED to the IMAGE of HIS SON, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom.8:29). This is Christ’s ultimate plan for all Believers, aimed at presenting the Church to Himself “a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Eph.5:27).

Adam was created in God’s image, but when he disobeyed and fell, the entire human race fell with him; and he passed on to his posterity the corrupted, fallen nature (Gen.1: 26-27; 5:3). God “according to the good pleasure of His Will” determined to renew His image in those whom He had “predestined to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ” (Eph.1:5). The Holy Spirit imparts to us spiritual life, turning us into partakers of the divine nature (2Pet.1: 3-4). The New Man is the workmanship of God, born of and indwelt by the Spirit. One day the believer’s lowly body will be transformed “that it may be conformed to His glorious body” (Phil.3:21b). We shall, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,” be changed into His likeness (1Cor.15:52). Just as we have born the image of the earthly Adam, we will also bear the image of the heavenly Adam (1Cor.15:49).

Being transformed into the image of the Son of God is an ongoing process throughout life; hence we shouldn’t be dispirited. As we behold the vision of His Glory in His Word, we are being conformed to His image in Holiness. This is why we must grow in the knowledge of the Word. There is no other place to encounter who God is. The Holy Spirit works within us, to change us into Christ’s likeness. We are “being transformed” into His image “from glory to glory” (2Cor.3:18). We participate in the transforming of our minds into the mind of Christ by discerning what God’s will is and by doing what He considers to be good and acceptable (Rom.12:2). Our responsibility is to “put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col.3:10). When the vision of the glory of Christ is perfect, our conformity will be perfect.

How precious and humbling that we are called into fellowship with and to be partakers of the glory of Christ, the Son of God. We share in His life. We are members of His Body, His character, His suffering and His Glory (v.17, 23). One day we will have full conformity to His image. We shall be like Him when we see Him as He is (1Jh.3:2). On a corporate level, our transformation progresses “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph.4:13). The fullness of God is that excellence of which God Himself is full. The fullness of Christ is the perfection of which Christ overflows. God has predestined the believer to be perfect as man, as God is perfect as God: “You shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Mt.5:48).

God is transforming us daily into His likeness and image, and someday that process will be complete. His eternal goal is for every believer to become perfect, wholly conformed to Christ when He presents His glorious church spotless at His return. Beloved, will you allow God to shape and mold you into His Image? Please, sing with me this Old Gospel chorus: “To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus. All I ask is to be like Him. All through life’s journey; from earth to glory; all I ask is to be like Him.”