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The Daily Word of Righteousness
One in Christ in God, #11
For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. (II Corinthians 4:11)
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inner man is renewed day after day. (II Corinthians 4:16)
The formation of Christ in the heart is not completed instantly (although we are saved from wrath instantly). The forming of Christ is developed over a period of time while being forged in the fires of temptation, confusion, and trouble. It is "command upon command, command upon command; rule upon rule, rule upon rule; here a little, and there a little" (from Isaiah 28:10).
The end result of the Divine transformation is Christian character—character that has been changed permanently into the image of Christ. First John 3:2 declares that "when he shall appear we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." We shall have been "changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (II Corinthians 3:18).
The Image of Christ
When the Word of God is brought to maturity in our life we shall be in the image of Christ.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be changed into the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)
Our transformation into the image of Christ is the purpose of God. In line with this purpose we were foreknown, predestined, called, justified, and glorified (Romans 8:30). The purpose of God, that for which we have been predestined, is not to be born again, or healed, or to exercise our ministry, or even to go to Heaven. Rather, the purpose of God is that we be changed into the image of His Son, Christ.
We need to give more attention to the idea of conformity to the image of Christ, because such transformation is of first importance in the mind of God and gives direction to His efforts. Transformation into His image is the "good" for which all things are working—working on behalf of those who love God, those who are called according to the Divine purpose (Romans 8:28).
There are at least three areas that must be considered when we contemplate the image and likeness of Christ:
His character—that which He Himself is in essence, disposition, and moral conduct.
His relationship to God—He is the eternal habitation of the fullness of the Father through the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
His outward appearance—a human form fashioned from the Substance of Divine Life.
The image and likeness of Christ consists of what He is in character, His relationship to God, and His outward appearance. His soul, spirit, and body are in perfect harmony, each making its contribution to the threefold image and likeness. Every member of the Church, the Body of Christ, will be made perfect in each of these three dimensions. Then will the holy city, the new Jerusalem, be ready to descend from Heaven to the new earth (Revelation 21:1,2).
To be continued.