Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Alan Redpath
We Are Being Transformed
Paul wrote that being transformed into the image of the Son of God is a process, and it takes time and is a constant struggle over resisting sin. He wrote, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Cor 3:18). So we see that this is an ongoing process throughout our lives. We shouldn’t grow discouraged because it takes time–a lifetime, in fact–and we will never achieve a total transformation into holiness until He appears. Then we shall finally be like Him, or as John wrote, “We know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).
We Shall Be Transformed
Paul wrote in Romans 8:29, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” and to “not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12:2). So we participate in this renewal or transforming of our minds into the mind of Christ by discerning what God’s will is and by doing what He sees as good and acceptable, but someday God will complete this because we were predestined to be conformed into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Made in His Image
When God created mankind, He made us in the image of God, or as Genesis 1:27 says, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” and “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Gen 1:27). That was the original plan of God, that we would be like God in many ways, that we would seek to do nothing but good. It was fine until the fall, but we still very much reflect the image of God in the sense that we seek justice and fairness and strive to find equity in life’s situations. When we see evil go unpunished, we desire to see justice brought upon that evil. When we see someone hurt another, we know that it’s wrong. The time will come when God will judge the world, but until then we must understand that He will transform us into His likeness. All we need to do is behold Him and allow Him to do the transforming.
Conclusion
God is transforming us today into His image, and someday that transformation will be complete at His appearing. More then than ever we will be like His Son, Jesus Christ, and then we can finally see Him as He is. Even though we still struggle with sin, that’s part of the Spirit working in us. For those who are not the children of God, they have no struggle with sin because they’re not convicted by the Spirit. So we should thank God for His Spirit because He is transforming us day by day into the likeness and image of Jesus Christ, for which we were originally created.
