This is all true. But we also see that the
PROCESS of conformation must take place even to those who are called, justified, and so forth.
Because those whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brothers; (Rom. 8:29)
Did you see that? This conformation requirers time. Even the passages on baptism into His death speak of GROWING in the likeness of His death and resurrection. This means this nullification of the old man needs growth. Growth is a process requiring the passage of time.
You are correct, but let’s take our time.
Looking closely at the scripture you listed, Romans 8:29 KJV, you will see that the power to conform the Christian is being done by God: “He also predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son.” God required that the Christians posses Christ image, and there is no way we can do this ourselves because we have been crucified on the cross with Christ, we are dead, Colossians 3:3 KJV.
What God Has done is moved the Christian out of the way, and sealed them before starting the work on them through the Holy Spirit.
God Has crucified the old man on the cross, Romans 6:6 KJV, sealed the believer with the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:13 KJV, and Has made the Christian holy and righteous in Christ, Romans 4:24 KJV, which is a finished work of the cross. When a person believes on Christ, then starts the sanctification process directed entirely by God by His Spirit.
It’s only after the believer receives the Holy Spirit, that they go through the sanctification process where he/she must put the actions of the old man off, Ephesians 4:22 KJV, and put the new man on, Ephesians 4:24 KJV, so that what God has already done on the cross, will manifest in the body of the believer, 2 Corinthians 4:10 KJV.
God accomplishes conforming the believer through His word, the gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believe, Romans 1:16 KJV.
Through God’s salvation process we are growing into the likeness of His Son, which does take time as you said. But God will accomplish it for the true believer, 1 Thessalonians 5:24 KJV. It is God Who is doing the work, Philippians 2:13 KJV.
Through God’s sanctification process, there are many difficulties the believer go through, because God’s tests are by fire: 1 Corinthians 3:13 KJV, 1 Peter 4:12 KJV. God also chastises those that are His, which is not a walk in the park, Hebrews 12:7-8 KJV.
Those without these tests and chastisements do not belong to God, and do not have the Holy Spirit.
All true. But like any SEED it is required to grow. The planting of the divine nature, the non-sinning nature of God is instantaneous.
The growth of that seed of life influencing more and more of the believer's life is a life long process.
This is why the Apostle John in the same letter referred to levels of maturity - little children, young men, fathers.
I write to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you because of His name.
I write to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. (1 John 2:12)
They did not all instantaneously reach maturity at the new birth. They all were put on the road to growth into maturity.
The example you are giving relating to a seed growing has to do with earthly seeds that are planted and grows.
The Holy Spirit in us is God’s seed that makes us children of God. And God can’t sin, that’s why the Bible tells us that “we cannot sin”
1 John 3:9 KJV. If a person don’t believe in Jesus, they cannot receive the Holy Spirit, therefore they are left sinners.
God’s SEED does not grow like seeds on earth. This seed 1 John 3:9 KJV is speaking of is the Holy Spirit, placed in the believer, as the new birth, born again, that is born of God. No longer born of Adam. Through God’s actual seed implanted in us, we are His actual, real children, we receive an inheritance in the Kingdom of God. We inherit New Jerusalem, which our inheritance is broken down in Revelation.
Think of human fathers who leave an inheritance to their children who are of their seed. It’s the same premise.
Human inheritance is based on the earthly. Spiritual inheritance is based on the heavenly.
There is no growth period to be born again. Just like there is no growth period to be saved.
If people say that based on working to remove sin from their life, then they will be saved, they are dealing with a work’s based salvation that’s wrong.
This is what you said, “
But like any SEED it is required to grow. The planting of the divine nature, the non-sinning nature of God is instantaneous.
The growth of that seed of life influencing more and more of the believer's life is a life long process.”
There is no such thing as a seed of life growing and influencing the Christian. Nothing is growing inside the Christian. The Christian has been given a new life that they must put on, Ephesians 4:24 KJV, walk according to by putting off the old man. This is accomplished by faith, 2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV, 1 John 5:5 KJV, Romans 1:17 KJV, 1 Timothy 6:12 KJV, Colossians 2:6-7 KJV, There a many more scriptures explaining our walk is based on faith.
The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, Romans 8:11 KJV, is the same Spirit we must have in us to be changed into immortal bodies. These are the Children of the promise, Romans 9:8 KJV.
Our growing is to grow in understanding, and the knowledge of Jesus Christ, 2 Peter 3:18 KJV, we are transformed by the renewing of our minds, and through this, God’s promises manifests more and more in our life through faith.
1 John 2:12 KJV is not speaking about levels of maturity just because he address children, young men and fathers. John is simply speaking to this group letting them know what they have in Christ. You are saying just because John addressed children, young men, and fathers, that this shows a lifelong process based on the level of maturity. This is incorrect!
1 John 3:9 KJV is referring to God’s seed, that is His Spirit, that remains in a believer while growing in Christ. When the believer go through difficult trials, and because the Christian cannot sin, any behavior that identifies with sin, is not imputed unto the Christian as sin. This is not saying a Christisn should sin, no! This is saying the Christian have been made righteous in Christ Jesus and having the Holy Spirit, they have been made holy, therefore if they sin, that sin cannot be counted against them.
Consider the non-believer who do
not have the Holy Spirit, God’s Holy Seed, any sin they commit, that sin is held against them.
