HOW Are We Changed Into His Image?

[The Narrow Way]

By Beholding....

"So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image." 2 Corinthians 3:18.

And the BEST way to Behold Jesus....

Is by reading the Bible....

 

[BNR32FAN]

By Beholding....

"So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image." 2 Corinthians 3:18.

And the BEST way to Behold Jesus....

Is by reading the Bible....

What are “devotions”?

 

[The Narrow Way]

What are “devotions”?

The time you spend with the Lord everyday....I spend a half hour on the treadmill, listening to really good spiritual things and then I spend another half hour studying on my own....

 

[timothyu]

Less focus on self and more on caring for others

 

[pdudgeon]

Less focus on self, more time to listen to God.

 

[TedT]

HOW Are We Changed Into His Image?

By harsh discipline training us in righteousness:

Hebrew 2:5-11

 

[The Narrow Way]

HOW Are We Changed Into His Image?

By harsh discipline training us in righteousness:

Hebrew 2:5-11

Amen!

 

[St_Worm2]

Hello @The Narrow Way, there are MANY ways that God sanctifies us throughout our lives, and He even makes it possible for us to come alongside of Him as He does so, working with Him towards the same goal (as we are able to anyway), though He is the one who is responsible for making us more and more Christlike, and for seeing us safely through this life to be with Him in Glory .. Hebrews 7:25

We are to "work out" (express outwardly) the salvation that He has already worked into us, the salvation that we ~already~ possess, as much as we are enabled to (as I just mentioned above), and to the degree that we have already been sanctified by Him . What we are not commanded to do, just FYI, is to work "for", or work "at", or work "up" that which became ours eternally from the moment that we first believed .. e.g. John 5:24.

Here are some various verses/passages that come to mind about this.

John 17
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Philippians 1
6 I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2
12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

1 Thessalonians 5
23 May the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He will bring it to pass.

Hebrews 12
7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.
11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.​

God bless you!

--David
p.s. - there's a short excerpt concerning sanctification from one of Dr. Packer's books which I believe is excellent. I'll go find it and drop it into this thread too, as I believe it may prove to be helpful

.​

 

[St_Worm2]

Here is the excerpt (that I promised to post above) from a book (Concise Theology) by Anglican theologian, Dr. J. I. Packer (the bold highlights below are, for the most part, mine, just FYI).

SANCTIFICATION
THE CHRISTIAN GROWS IN GRACE​

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?… And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 CORINTHIANS 6:9, 11​

Sanctification, says the Westminster Shorter Catechism (Q & A 35), is “the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.” The concept is not of sin being totally eradicated (that is to claim too much) or merely counteracted (that is to say too little), but of a divinely wrought character change freeing us from sinful habits and forming in us Christlike affections, dispositions, and virtues.

Sanctification is an ongoing transformation within a maintained consecration, and it engenders real righteousness within the frame of relational holiness. Relational sanctification, the state of being permanently set apart for God, flows from the Cross, where God through Christ purchased and claimed us for himself (Acts 20:28; 26:18; Heb. 10:10). Moral renovation, whereby we are increasingly changed from what we once were, flows from the agency of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:13; 12:1–2; 1 Cor. 6:11, 19–20; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 4:22–24; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 13:20–21). God calls his children to sanctity and graciously gives what he commands (1 Thess. 4:4; 5:23).

Regeneration is birth; sanctification is growth.

In regeneration, God implants desires that were not there before: desire for God, for holiness, and for the hallowing and glorifying of God’s name in this world; desire to pray, worship, love, serve, honor, and please God; desire to show love and bring benefit to others. In sanctification, the Holy Spirit “works in you to will and to act” according to God’s purpose; what he does is prompt you to “work out your salvation” (i.e., express it in action) by fulfilling these new desires (Phil. 2:12–13).

Christians become increasingly Christlike as the moral profile of Jesus (the “fruit of the Spirit”) is progressively formed in them (2 Cor. 3:18; Gal. 4:19; 5:22–25). Paul’s use of glory in 2 Corinthians 3:18 shows that for him sanctification of character is glorification begun. Then the physical transformation that gives us a body like Christ’s, one that will match our totally transformed character and be a perfect means of expressing it, will be glorification completed (Phil. 3:20–21; 1 Cor. 15:49–53).

Regeneration was a momentary monergistic act of quickening the spiritually dead. As such, it was God’s work alone. Sanctification, however, is in one sense synergistic—it is an ongoing cooperative process in which regenerate persons, alive to God and freed from sin’s dominion (Rom. 6:11, 14–18), are required to exert themselves in sustained obedience. God’s method of sanctification is neither activism (self-reliant activity) nor apathy (God-reliant passivity), but God-dependent effort (2 Cor. 7:1; Phil. 3:10–14; Heb. 12:14). Knowing that without Christ’s enabling we can do nothing, morally speaking, as we should, and that he is ready to strengthen us for all that we have to do (Phil. 4:13), we “stay put” (remain, abide) in Christ, asking for his help constantly—and we receive it (Col. 1:11; 1 Tim. 1:12; 2 Tim. 1:7; 2:1).

The standard to which God’s work of sanctifying his saints is directed is his own revealed moral law, as expounded and modeled by Christ himself. Christ’s love, humility, and patience under pressure are to be consciously imitated (Eph. 5:2; Phil. 2:5–11; 1 Pet. 2:21), for a Christlike spirit and attitude are part of what law-keeping involves.

Believers find within themselves contrary urgings. The Spirit sustains their regenerate desires and purposes; their fallen, Adamic instincts (the “flesh”) which, though dethroned, are not yet destroyed, constantly distract them from doing God’s will and allure them along paths that lead to death (Gal. 5:16–17; James 1:14–15). To clarify the relationship between the law and sin, Paul analyzes in a personal and dramatic way the sense of impotence for complete law-keeping, and the enslavement to behavior one dislikes, that the Spirit-flesh tension produces (Rom. 7:14–25). This conflict and frustration will be with Christians as long as they are in the body. Yet by watching and praying against temptation, and cultivating opposite virtues, they may through the Spirit’s help “mortify” (i.e., drain the life out of, weaken as a means of killing) particular bad habits, and in that sense more and more die unto sin (Rom. 8:13; Col. 3:5). They will experience many particular deliverances and victories in their unending battle with sin, while never being exposed to temptations that are impossible to resist (1 Cor. 10:13).
​

--David
.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

By Beholding....

"So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image." 2 Corinthians 3:18.

And the BEST way to Behold Jesus....

Is by reading the Bible....

All my waking moments sometimes even in my dreams. I dont have a set time, it is a way of life. Blessings.

 

[1watchman]

Amen!

Amen!

I agree with Heb. 2:5-11, but do not see it as 'harsh discipline'. God speaks to His 'saints' in various ways to change from "flesh" ways to Godly conformity. We ALL have problems of flesh at times, but thankfullly God is "long suffering" and will draw real saints (as John 3:16) back to a Godly path. If we PREFER the 'flesh' we are viewed as "carnal" (worldly) and will "suffer loss" at the "judment seat of Christ" in Heaven. Truly we need humility and a good testimony to help others come to Christ, and to honor Him always ---would you say?

 

[ViaCrucis]

By Beholding....

"So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image." 2 Corinthians 3:18.

And the BEST way to Behold Jesus....

Is by reading the Bible....

You're half right. We do encounter Christ in Holy Scripture, but we encounter Christ in Word and Sacrament, which is why when we receive the bread and wine of His Holy Supper we receive the very body and blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16); even as we put on Christ in the waters of Holy Baptism (Galatians 3:27).

We encounter Christ wherever He gives Himself, and He gives Himself to us in Word and Sacrament. Through these the Spirit is at work, sanctifying us, and conforming us to the image of Christ--the work that was begun at our baptism and will continue until the resurrection of the body on the Last Day, when the Lord returns in glory as judge of the living and the dead and God makes all things new.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[GreekOrthodox]

As the Orthodox memorial service sings:

Of old, You created me from nothing and honored me with Your divine image. But when I disobeyed Your commandment, You returned me to the earth from which I was taken. Lead me back again to Your likeness, so that the ancient beauty may be refashioned.

I am an image of Your ineffable glory, though I bear the scars of my transgressions. Take pity on me, the work of Your hands, Master, and cleanse me by Your compassion. Grant me the desired homeland for which I long, making me again a citizen of Paradise.

As Via states, God provides us holy mysteries or sacraments in order to unite us with Him.

 

[The Liturgist]

You're half right. We do encounter Christ in Holy Scripture, but we encounter Christ in Word and Sacrament, which is why when we receive the bread and wine of His Holy Supper we receive the very body and blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16); even as we put on Christ in the waters of Holy Baptism (Galatians 3:27).

We encounter Christ wherever He gives Himself, and He gives Himself to us in Word and Sacrament. Through these the Spirit is at work, sanctifying us, and conforming us to the image of Christ--the work that was begun at our baptism and will continue until the resurrection of the body on the Last Day, when the Lord returns in glory as judge of the living and the dead and God makes all things new.

-CryptoLutheran

As the Orthodox memorial service sings:

Of old, You created me from nothing and honored me with Your divine image. But when I disobeyed Your commandment, You returned me to the earth from which I was taken. Lead me back again to Your likeness, so that the ancient beauty may be refashioned.

I am an image of Your ineffable glory, though I bear the scars of my transgressions. Take pity on me, the work of Your hands, Master, and cleanse me by Your compassion. Grant me the desired homeland for which I long, making me again a citizen of Paradise.

As Via states, God provides us holy mysteries or sacraments in order to unite us with Him.

Please remember me, an enfeebled sinner, in your prayers, both of you.

 

[1watchman]

You're half right. We do encounter Christ in Holy Scripture, but we encounter Christ in Word and Sacrament, which is why when we receive the bread and wine of His Holy Supper we receive the very body and blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16); even as we put on Christ in the waters of Holy Baptism (Galatians 3:27).

We encounter Christ wherever He gives Himself, and He gives Himself to us in Word and Sacrament. Through these the Spirit is at work, sanctifying us, and conforming us to the image of Christ--the work that was begun at our baptism and will continue until the resurrection of the body on the Last Day, when the Lord returns in glory as judge of the living and the dead and God makes all things new.

-CryptoLutheran

I believe it is more accurate to say: ...we "receive" the Lord Jesus Christ when we call upon Him in faith (wherever we are), making Him Lord of our life as Savior of our soul (as the four Gospels make plain: note John 3; John 14; John 17; etc.). It is NOT in the 'Lord's Supper', for that is ONLY a remembrance meeting for "born again" saints (John 3:16). One partakes of the Supper ONLY if they are truly "born again"; else they "...eat and drink judgment against themselves", as Scripture warns ---being a pretender of Christianity.

 

[ViaCrucis]

I believe it is more accurate to say: ...we "receive" the Lord Jesus Christ when we call upon Him in faith (wherever we are), making Him Lord of our life as Savior of our soul (as the four Gospels make plain: note John 3; John 14; John 17; etc.). It is NOT in the 'Lord's Supper', for that is ONLY a remembrance meeting for "born again" saints (John 3:16). One partakes of the Supper ONLY if they are truly "born again"; else they "...eat and drink judgment against themselves", as Scripture warns ---being a pretender of Christianity.

Jesus said it was His flesh and blood, and the Apostles said it was His flesh and blood, and everyone who came after the Apostles continued to call it His flesh and blood.

Christ is right there, fully present, in His Supper. And when we receive the bread and the wine we receive Christ. It is not some "remembrance meeting", it is the Holy Sacrament of Christ's Supper wherein we receive the food of immortality and life everlasting.

I simply don't recognize non or anti-sacramental theologies as holiding any validity; they are unbiblical and border on being heretical. The lack of any meaningful sacramental theology in much of the modern Protestant world has left it spiritually anemic.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[1watchman]

Jesus said it was His flesh and blood, and the Apostles said it was His flesh and blood, and everyone who came after the Apostles continued to call it His flesh and blood.

Christ is right there, fully present, in His Supper. And when we receive the bread and the wine we receive Christ. It is not some "remembrance meeting", it is the Holy Sacrament of Christ's Supper wherein we receive the food of immortality and life everlasting.

I simply don't recognize non or anti-sacramental theologies as holiding any validity; they are unbiblical and border on being heretical. The lack of any meaningful sacramental theology in much of the modern Protestant world has left it spiritually anemic.

-CryptoLutheran

That is surely NOT the Gospel message, for "he that HATH the Son, hath life eternal" (note 1 Jn. 5:11-12; as well as John 3). That is what gives salvation and eternal life; not the Lord's supper, which is ONLY for "born again" saints, as all the Epistles show. I hope you find that and profit from it, friend.

 

[ViaCrucis]

That is surely NOT the Gospel message, for "he that HATH the Son, hath life eternal" (note 1 Jn. 5:11-12; as well as John 3). That is what gives salvation and eternal life; not the Lord's supper, which is ONLY for "born again" saints, as all the Epistles show. I hope you find that and profit from it, friend.

The Gospel is what God has done for the whole world in, by, and through Christ; namely that by His Incarnation, perfect life, His passion and death, resurrection, ascension, present reign, and coming again. And what is promised by God in Christ, good news of forgiveness, peace with God, and adoption as sons and daughters who are heirs of eternal life with God in Christ Jesus our Lord; even as God has promised to renew all creation and deliver all things over to His own good will and purpose in the end.

We receive Christ and all of God's promises and works through His Word and Sacraments. Which is why the Apostle writes in Romans 10:17 that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ; it is the very powerful word of the Gospel itself that creates faith, as faith itself comes from outside of ourselves and apart from ourselves as the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). We have the promises of God attached to external things like water in Holy Baptism, and the bread and wine of the Holy Eucharist; namely His promise is that we have been washed clean by "the washing of water with the word" (Ephesians 5:26), as the Apostle says in Romans 6:3-4 that we have been united to Christ in Baptism, united to His death, burial, and resurrection; our Lord Jesus Christ Himself taught plainly that we receive new birth from God by the birth of "water and the Spirit" in John 3:5, which the Apostle Paul echoes in his his epistle to Titus (Titus 3:5). Likewise the promises attached to the Lord's Supper, namely our Lord's own holy word: "This is My body which is given for you" and "This is the New Covenant in My blood" (Luke 22:19-20); or as St. Paul has written in 1 Corinthians 10:16 that we partake of the Lord's body and blood through this bread and wine, and goes on to say how those who partake of the sacrifice of the altar are partakers of the altar.

God is not far away, He is near, with us, right here in Word and Sacrament, to fulfill His promises and accomplish His works; because His word to us is inviolate and true. So that as it is written, "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life and I will raise them up on the last day." (John 6:54).

There is a hymn we used to sing at my Baptist school during morning chapel, it went something like this:

"Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Would you o’er evil a victory win?
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.

There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
In the precious blood of the Lamb.

Would you be free from your passion and pride?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide;
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.

There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
In the precious blood of the Lamb.

Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Sin-stains are lost in its life-giving flow;
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.

There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
In the precious blood of the Lamb."

Well here is Christ's body, broken for you.
Here is Christ's blood, shed for you.
Take and eat, take and drink, this do for the remembrance of Him.

There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
In the precious blood of the Lamb.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Leaf473]

By Beholding....

"So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image." 2 Corinthians 3:18.

And the BEST way to Behold Jesus....

Is by reading the Bible....

Reading the Bible is a great way to behold Jesus.

I don't know if it's the best way, though. For one thing, it would leave out illiterate people. And that's a whole lot of Christians throughout history.

Another way to behold the glory of Jesus, from the opening of John:
We beheld his glory, such glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John got to see the individual physical body of Jesus. Today we get to see the church, the body of Christ, in action.

 

[timothyu]

Would God be happy if we merely thought and lived by what He taught. His will, not ours? Consider that the whole purpose of Jesus' Gospel of the Kingdom was the good news God was coming back to take over from the control of mean. Is it necessary to create another means of control over man to indicate this?