Like Christ

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8: 28, 29 KJV)

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." (I John 3: 2 KJV)

Salvation has as its ultimate end the conformity of sinful man to the holy and glorious image of God, and of Christ, the Son of God.

Lord God, in saving a fallen and sinful man, makes him "like Christ," and conforms and transforms him in every respect to the image and likeness of Christ.

The above verses define salvation. In a nutshell, a fully saved man is a man who has been "conformed to the image of Christ," who has been made, by divine power and working, in body, soul, and spirit, "just like Jesus."

Why does a man need to be "conformed" and "transformed" and to be made "like Jesus"? Is he not born into this world already with the "image of God" and in the "image of Christ"?

Yes, man (Adam) was made originally in the image and likeness of Lord God. But, because of sin, he lost that likeness to his Maker, that original image and likeness now being severely marred and disfigured, and being now barely recognizable, and so man now resembles very little his original state, and reflects very little of his Maker's image and likeness.

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Genesis 1: 26, 27 KJV)

"And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth." (Genesis 5: 3 KJV)

Notice that Adam was originally made so as to "look like" his Maker. Adam is called, due to his creation in the image and likeness of Lord God, "the son of God." (Luke 3: 38 KJV)

Children do resemble their parents, showing and reflecting their "likeness" and "resemblance" and "image." We hear people say of children - "he is the very image of his father" or "she is the exact likeness of her mother." Oftentimes this is said not only in respect to bodily likenesses, and physical resemblances, but also in respect to behavioral and psychological similarities.

But, man, because of sin, no longer begets children in the likeness of sinless and perfect Adam, but in the image and likeness of fallen Adam, an image that is like a broken or dirty mirror, one that gives a distorted or marred view of the image of God and the likeness of Christ.

So, we are struck with the wording of the passage, as if the writer intended us to take particular notice of the contrast. "Adam begat a son in his likeness," not in the likeness of Lord God.

"Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." (Colossians 3: 9, 10 KJV)

"And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4: 23, 24 KJV)

Notice how Paul defines what it meant for Adam (man) to be made in the "image" and "likeness" of God. To be "like God" is to be perfectly righteous and holy, and to be so in heart, mind, and in soul and body. It is also to be in the truth, to have divine knowledge.

A saved person, one who have been "converted" to Christ by the gospel, and saved and justified from sin by faith in him, and has experienced the first stage in his being divinely conformed and transformed from the fallen image of sinful Adam, to the image of Christ, the glorious "last Adam," the one who is perfect righteousness and holiness.

It is by being born of the first Adam that men partake of the "old man," the old sinful nature that Adam possessed after his "fall," but is is by being "born again" of the "second Adam" that men partake of the "new man," or the new righteous and holy nature, yea the very "divine nature" (II Peter 1: 4), of the Lord Jesus Christ. (See I Corinthians 15)

"And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." (I Corinthians 15: 49 KJV)

This will take place when the Christian experiences the final stage in his complete transformation to being "like Christ." This is when, as John said, "we shall be like him," being at the time when, and because of, our "seeing him as he is." It is after Christ returns, and resurrects the bodies of the saints, after the manner of his own resurrection, that he makes them every whit, in body, soul, and spirit, just exactly like the glorious and resurrected Christ.

"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death." (Philippians 3: 10 KJV)

"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." (Philippians 3: 20 KJV)

Notice that these verses speak of this glorious transformation into the image of Christ as not being completed until Christ returns and resurrects and transforms the body as he has the soul. The soul is initially transformed and conformed to the image of Christ when it is renewed and reborn of the Holy Spirit, in the conversion experience of the believer in Jesus. But, this transformation is also progressive throughout his life and will be completed in the day of his body's resurrection. (See also Philippians 1: 6)

The "vile body" is no longer vile, but is now holy like the soul. It is a spiritual and glorious body, no longer possessed of "flesh and blood" as it now is (See I Corinthians 15). Oh the glorious resurrected body of Jesus! Oh the glorious resurrected bodies of the saints! We shall then "bear the image of the heavenly" in every respect.

"Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." (Hebrews 1: 3 KJV)

The Lord Jesus Christ is the "express" or "very image" of this Father, of Lord God. To be conformed to his image is to be conformed to the image and likeness of God, and in a far superior way even to Adam in his original state.

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (II Corinthians 3: 18 KJV)

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12: 2 KJV)

The first stage of this glorious transformation process begins when one becomes a Christian and believes in Christ. At that point, the Holy Spirit renews the heart, mind, and soul, and imparts new revelation of truth that has the effect of dramatically renovating the soul, and making it a "fit habitation" for God the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 2: 22)

Looking into the face of Christ, and seeing him, as one looks into a mirror (or glass), beholding him with the mind's eye as the gospel is proclaimed, is the look that transforms the soul, and that "regenerates" and "renews" it . (Titus 3: 5)

This work of soul transformation, though radical at first, nevertheless continues to increase, so that the Christian "more and more" resembles Christ in his life.

"But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." (Matthew 6: 7, 8 KJV)

"Be not like them"! Do not conform your life, your thinking, and your deeds to their image, likeness, and example! Rather, he says, conform all to me! Do not be like the world! How can one be "like Christ" and then "like the world" at the same time without being a hypocrite? Actually, the word "Christian" means one who is "like Christ." Oh that we all, as Christians, would "live up to our name"!

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness." (Matthew 23: 27 KJV)

Oh that Christians would not be "like them"! Like the Pharisees and the hypocrites! Oh that they would conform themselves to Christ and not to this evil world!

"Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying." (John 8: 55 KJV)

Thank Lord God that Jesus was NOT LIKE sinners! Thank God that he as unlike them! Thank God that we are promised to be forever conformed to his image, and not to the image of fallen man! It is because Christ was willing to become "like us" that we are now able to become like him. Praise God!

"Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2: 17 KJV)

"But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." (Philippians 2: 7 KJV)

"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh." (Romans 8: 3 KJV)

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4: 15 KJV)

He became like us that we might become like him! Wonderful gospel story! The very best of news!

"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." (Revelation 14: 9-11 KJV)

There are those who, rather than desiring to be "like Christ," and seeking to be made in "his image," seek the image of the Anti-Christ, the antagonist and enemy of Christ, wanting to be unlike Christ, and rather like the Anti-Christ. Thus, in the end days we read of people openly and defiantly "worshipping his image" rather than adoring the image of Christ. (Revelation 16: 2; 19: 20; 20: 4 KJV).

Friend, who do you want to be like? Like the world? Like sinful man? Like Anti-Christ? Or, hopefully, like Christ? Your transformation can begin today if you will simply believe in Christ and come to him in humble child-like faith.