God created
us in His image - a triune being (Genesis 1:26-27). He made us into His
dwelling place by His Spirit (Ephesians 2:22). He predestined us to conform to
the image of His Son (Romans 8:29).
In the first
months and years of our sanctification, we struggle with the sin nature. We
disobey and fail to win the race. Formerly in the likeness of the first Adam's
nature, we fall short of God's glory (Genesis 5:3; Romans 3:23, 6:23).
Yet, as we
fall more in love with Jesus than our self or the world, the things of earth
grow dim in our heart and the things of God take pre-eminence in our decisions
and actions.
The Holy
Spirit works in us according to His good pleasure, molding us into
Christ-minded individuals who realize that Jesus is our whole life (Philippians
2:13; Colossians 3:4).
As the
Spirit transforms us into the likeness of Christ, who is sinless, our desire to
sin wanes. The outward, carnal man is sanctified daily into a Saint instead of
a sinner.
The
character of Christ in now our character. The righteousness of Christ is our
nature. The power of Christ in us overcomes any desire to use our body or soul
- our mind, will or emotions - for carnal or sinful purposes.
Christ in us
gives us His nature that pertains to life and godliness, and He calls us to
live in His glory and virtue. We put on the new man and escape from the
corruption of sin and the world.
We walk in
holiness and purity, conformed to the image of Christ in us. Once we see Christ
in us for who He is, we become like Him (1 John 3:2; Colossians 3:4). More and
more, we are continually changed into His image (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Prayer:
Father God,
help us to realize Your work in our life makes us perfect by Your Spirit just
as You are perfect. It is not just in eternity through glorification, but now
through sanctification as we cooperate with Your Spirit (Romans 8:30; Hebrews
12:23; Philippians 3:21). Salvation is a three-phased progression and is not
something we do.
Just as our
salvation in our spirit is by Your Spirit, so is our sanctification in our soul,
and eventually You will give us glorification with our immortal body (Galatians
3:1-3; Philippians 2:12-13). Remind us that Christ in us is our hope of
realizing Your glory in us now, as Your Spirit replaces our character with His
fruit and our nature with the nature of Christ in us (Colossians 1:27;
Galatians 4:19).
Thought for
the Day:
As we eat
Jesus' body and drink His blood, He transforms us into His image for all the
world to see; and His glory fills us and shines forth from us by His Spirit. -
John 6:54
