CHRIST, THE IMAGE OF GOD (PART 4)
"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 8:29 (King James Version)
Having concluded our discussion on the Church being Christ's representation here on earth, I would have proceeded straight away to discuss the subject matter of being His representative. But I would rather want to say something about the subject matter of "predestination". The Bible verse for the day, Romans chapter 8 verse 29 talks about God having predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son Jesus Christ.
First, to be "predestined" means to be chosen beforehand, marked out beforehand, foreordained, predetermined, set apart, etc. The word "predestination" is a NT word and it occurs only in four places: Romans chapter 8 verses 29 and 30; Ephesians chapter 1 verses 5 and 11. Contrary to what some affirm, God's predestination is not about Him from the beginning choosing unto salvation certain people and rejecting others. It is all about God's choice of whosoever will believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ, whether Jew or Greek. Truth is nobody has been predestined by God to be saved or lost.
If according to Romans chapter 8 verse 29, God did predestinate us to be conformed to the Image of his Son, then it follows without question that it's God's will for us to be like Jesus in every respect. In other words, it's something that He'd decided on and had provided the means or medium to accomplish it.
Being born again is the beginning of the process for conformity to Christ's Image. Once you become born again, it invariably connotes that God has chosen you beforehand that you will be conformed to Christ's Image. Nevertheless, there's a follow up on this, which depends on you! If you will cooperate with the Lord, then you can start being like Him here in this life. This accounts for why the Bible says in 1 John chapter 4 verse 17 that "as he is, so are we in this world".
Cooperating with the Lord in this regard involves among other things, renewing your mind with the Word of God and living for Him. The benefit of this is that you can start walking in joy, peace, victory, anointing, power, etc; right away in this life. According to Hebrews chapter 6 verses 4 and 5, such are those that "have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come," It's amazing that by cooperating with the Lord, you can experience all of these things here in this life; but the truth is that it's especially to the degree that you renew your mind. (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:22-24). Now, if you don't cooperate with the Lord in this life as aforesaid, you'll nevertheless eventually be like Jesus anyway when He comes. The Bible affirms this in the Book of 1 John chapter 3 verse 2:
"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."
For those who have chosen to cooperate with the Lord now as aforesaid, the experience of walking in joy, peace, victory, anointing, and power is not only exciting, it brings into manifestation the reality of Christ's Lordship over the three worlds (heaven, earth and under the earth) Philippians chapter 2 verses 9 to 11. These are they that manifest the reality of Christ's Lordship on earth, functioning abundantly in His graces, with signs and wonders following them.
The reverse is the case with regards to them that fail or refuse to cooperate with the Lord. They remain babes and immature all through! I've often said that many Christians, upon translation to heaven will look upon their lives here on earth with regret because then they will realize what they could have achieved had they cooperated with the Lord and lived their full potential as Christians. May this serve to awaken us, in Jesus name.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank You for choosing me beforehand to be conformed to the Image of Your Son.