“For those whom God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…” (Romans 8:29, ESV)
“We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image…” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
In his classic book ‘Mere Christianity’, C.S. Lewis wrote “Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else.”
The two Scripture verses cited above also refer to what we now know as sanctification, or being changed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. One uses the term “conformed”, and the other “transformed”. Both words have a common root, form, meaning a pattern or a mould. “Being transformed” refers to the process; conformed refers to the finished product. Jesus is our pattern or mould. We are being transformed so that we will eventually be conformed to the likeness of Jesus.
One of the YCK Chapel core values is: “We value character development towards Christ-likeness.” This value is especially important because it expresses God’s will that the character of Jesus be formed in each and every one of us.
Do we want to grow in Christlikeness? How do we know that we are doing so? When we study the character of Jesus, we notice that He not only acted righteously, He also loved righteousness and hated wickedness (Hebrews 1:9) His behaviour towards people was loving, kind and upright. At the same time, He hated sin as sin. We should pray that God will work in us so that we will love righteousness and hate sin.
The gospel has a special role in our growth journey. Through the conviction that comes from hearing the gospel, the Holy Spirit gives us freedom from the guilt of sin as well as its power. This is why we all need to hear the gospel over and over again.
God takes us on a special journey when we give our lives back to Him. Whether this road be long or short, sanctification is the goal of the Christian life. Let the Holy Spirit who lives in us, do His good work so that as we grow in Christ, He grows in us. What a wonderful testimony we can be, when others behold something of His beauty and glory in us.
By Aaron Lee, Elder (YCKC Bulletin 14&15 December 2013)