CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE
Romans 8:28 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. 29 ¶ 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. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Romans 8:31 ¶ What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Dear Ones, THE one thing we must realize at the very outset of this article is that this matter of being conformed to the very image of the Son of God IS PREDESTINATED! It cannot be altered by Satan, or Hell, or demons, or the Harlot church, nor even by the trembling believers, hesitant at owning this! 2 Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
The winds can blow; the rains can fall; the floods can rise, but this will not fail as it is established on the Rock of God’s eternal decree! Luke 6:48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 1 Corinthians 10:4 …and that Rock was Christ.
God the Father has established this before the foundation of the world! And he did so to the praise of the glory of his grace! And none can alter, or stop, or delay that! Ephesians 1:3 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
This is not something that some denominational council has set forth. It is not something that originates with some article of a religious church covenant. THIS is the very personal decree of the very Person of God Almighty! And like a rabbit caught in a net. He can wiggle and jump and thrash about all he pleases, but he ain’t getting out! Satan can shoot all his fiery darts at it. Religious scoffers and carnal mockers can throw disparaging remarks at it throughout the ages, but it ain’t gonna have any detrimental affect!
Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
How many times does the Lord God have to say it for it to be true? Listen to just some verses in which He has declared this: Jeremiah 24:7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart. 32:38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:
Ezekiel 11:20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 37:23 Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. 37:27 My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Zechariah 8:8 And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
2 Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
And just what is meant by that word, “predestinate?” That same Greek word, here translated, “predestinate” is elsewhere translated, “determine before,” in Acts 4:28. And what of the word, “conformed?” It is also translated as “be fashioned like,” in Philippians 3:21. Therefore we understand that Almighty God has determined before the foundation of the world that we shall be fashioned like unto his dear Son! And our present daily sanctification is the proof of our final glorification. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And just what is it that causes us to become more and more progressively sanctified? It is our daily crosses and trials. Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:, 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
James 1:2 ¶ My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. {Be sure to see Brother Mike Conrad’s message on “The Fellowship of His Sufferings” on YouTube.}
Listen to the Apostle Paul’s instructions concerning this glorious matter. 2 Corinthians 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 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. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you. For in order to have the life of Jesus manifest in our mortal flesh In order to have Jesus presented to those with whom you deal with each day, we must have the death of our self efforts and self interests, so that we are not seeking our own fleshly will but the constant will of the Holy Spirit within us.
“Dying with Jesus through death reckoned mine;
Living with Jesus a new life divine;
Looking to Jesus ‘till glory doth shine;
Moment by moment O Lord I am thine.”
1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Romans 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
And just what is that “image” of which the Lord speaks unto which we shall be conformed, and fashioned like unto? Nothing could be more clear! The image of God is the Person for the Lord Jesus Christ! Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
For just as by our natural birth we were fashioned like unto the first Adam, even so in our spiritual birth we are to be fashioned like unto the last Adam! 1 Corinthians 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
And we are given a glimpse of Him in the earliest image that we have in the Scriptures. For in Revelation 13:8 we read of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Why were not Adam and Eve immediately cast into Hell, like the angels who also sinned? 2 Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; It was because that the Holy Lamb of God stood as a surety for mankind! His eternality assures of the mercy of God for them, which the angels did not have afforded them. For he took not upon himself the redemption of angels, but of mankind. Hebrews 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 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 7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
And THAT is the image to which the Lord God purposed his redeemed children should be fashioned like unto! For when we read that he said, “let us make man in our image,” he had no physical body for this likeness. But like as an architect has a blueprint before he begins construction, the concept of the eternal image of the Son of God as a slain lamb was the ‘blueprint’ for God’s eternally glorified race. And therefore we read of their spiritual life as “living sacrifices!” Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And the forming of that likeness from the dust of the earth was guided by things necessary for that sacrificial life. There would be a crown of thorns. So a forehead was required. There would be nails driven. So arms with hands are required. And legs with feet are necessary. There would be a spear driven to empty the heart of its blood. Therefore a ribcage to house the vital organs was required.
Psalm 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not sin.
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
The true believer lives the resurrected life, for the first resurrection is regeneration! For before receiving his spiritual life he was dead in trespasses and sin. And as a spiritually dead soul he required a spiritual resurrection. Colossians 3:1 ¶ If ye then be risen with Christ, (that is, raised from sin into the spiritual life of faith!), seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, (that is, you are now dead to the former lifestyle of worldliness), and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Therefore at the physical appearance of the Lord Jesus, your physical appearance will also be changed into glory! 1 John 3:2 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.
And then that which was predestinated by the Father in the Son, before the foundation of the world, when God was existing in his glory apart from any created order, shall be fully realized. And we shall ever be with the Lord! 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Pastor Gene Breed
April 14, 2023
