In Romans 8:29 Paul says that we are being “conformed” to the image of God. 2 Peter 1:4 says that we are “partakers” of the divine nature, and 2 Peter 3:18 says that we are being “transformed” into His image. This whole idea of being conformed, transformed, and a partaker has been on my mind lately. The more I meditate on these three verses, the more I have to exclaim a divine “WOW!”
In light of these three verses, I am seeing the eternal love and grace of our divine Father in a way that I have not seen before. Wouldn’t it have been enough for God to save us so that we could spend eternity with Him? Wouldn’t it have been enough that not only did He save us but He also put His power in us so that the power of sin no longer reigns in our lives? Moreover, Jesus is now our Source for life from which to draw on moment by moment. Are not all of these glorious promises that God has accomplished and is accomplishing in us “overflowing” abundance? These grace promises are more than enough to satisfy us for the rest of our lives. However, it was not enough to satisfy God. He said, “There is more! Much more!”
The “much more” of the Christian life is God’s promise that we will be changed and Transformed! I don’t know about yo, but a promise of change seems very attractive. As I am sure with you, there are things I do not like about my attitude and my behavior. They do not line up with God’s truth of who I am, Who He is, and Who He is in me. We talk about flesh being an attitude or a behavior that we go to, independentlt of God, to try to deal with the internal and external issues of our life. God is revealing that these fleshly attitudes and patterns of behavior are contrary to who we really are.
What is Christ-likeness? I simply define it as that part of God’s divine nature that God says we can “partake” of (2 Peter 1:4). It is the fruit that Jesus talks about in John 15. In other words, God promises to change our attitude and behavior to line up with His. We certainly see a partial list of Christ-likeness in Galatians 5:22, 23. Interestingly enough, most of the New Testament commands are focused on our Christ-likeness. Colossians 3:12, 13 is a good example. Paul says, “put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other”. In essence, God is commanding us to have a Christ-like attitude. Interestingly enough, in my spirit, I am compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, etc. However, in my soul I may not feel or experience any of those traits in my life.
The great news of transformation is that these Christ-like verses are a roadmap of where God is taking us. Every verse that describes your Christ-likeness is intended by God for you on this side of eternity.
There is good news and bad news! The good news is that by “faith” you can walk in all of your Christ-likeness right this very moment. The bad news is that you may not “feel” or “experience” it this very moment. The experience is desired because in our “humanness” we are feeling and experience oriented. God promises that even though in your spirit you are totally Christ-like, He is going to transform your soul so that you will have the experience of it. God in His intimate knowledge of us knows that “faith Christ-likeness” is not enough. He sees our need to experience it as well. Therefore, in His unceasing love and grace toward us, He promises to transform and to conform us so that we can partake of His divine nature. How great and eternally wonderful is our loving Abba, who wants us to walk in the fullness and completeness we have in Him!
