In the book of Genesis 1: 26-28 scripture says
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Man was created in the image and likeness of God, so we can relate, respond and have fellowship with Him. Man was created in the image of God so that man can reflect God’s attributes here on earth. Reflect His love, glory and holiness.
In creation, man possessed the moral likeness to God, obedience, and intimate communion with Him. When Adam and Eve sinned, man lost the moral likeness of God, but took on the image contrary to the likeness of God. God however did not stop at the fall of man but gave His only begotten son Jesus Christ to come in the form of man and redeem man. That is, to gain or regain possession of God’s original plan for man in exchange for payment with His blood. So that through Jesus we all may return to God’s original plan for us.
Romans 8:29
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
The word conform is, to become like, to be fashioned like and to be in union by association to the image of God’s dear son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
To conform to His image has always been in God’s plan from the beginning. We were created in His image, “in the image of God created He, male and female”.
As I read this scripture, I began to realise that Paul was telling the Church that God’s perfect will for the Church was to bring the Church back to God’s number one plan when He created man in His image.
Romans 8:30
Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
The word predestined means to mark out beforehand, to mark out one’s boundary or ones limits beforehand.
What you will notice in this verse is that every verb is in past tense. This is because every believer who has been called has been justified, glorified, all for eternity to be made like the image of His son. Whatever state you are in now, if you are a believer, you are being prepared for eternity, to be conformed to HIS IMAGE.
1 John 3:2 puts it this way, Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
The plan is to be like Him.
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Hence in the book of Romans 12:2, Paul urges the Roman believers not to be conformed to the world but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. This way they will know God’s perfect will for us. The perfect will that they be like Christ.
The Lord Jesus, the Son of God is so clearly different from every man that has ever lived or will ever live. To mention a few things:
The people of the world think highly of themselves, they boast of their achievements but Jesus was the exact opposite of this, He epitomised humility.
Jesus did not retaliate, but He blessed those who came to arrest Him, there was no rude word found in Him.
Jesus knew what it meant to suffer and still pray for those who persecuted Him.
Jesus loved us and died for us while we were yet sinners
So, the sole purpose of the renewed mind is because of God’s bigger plan for us His church, for us to be conformed to the image of His dear son Jesus.
This is why daily every believer must be transformed by the renewing of our mind, because God is bringing us His church to a place of conformity with His son
Praise the Lord we believers have been called, justified and glorified to be conformed into the image of God’s dear Son.
This is a great privilege.
