In the original the word "conformed" in Rom. 8: 29 is summorphos, which is made

up of sun, "together with", and morphe, "form". The English word "form" is from the

Latin forma, which is but a transposition of the letters of the Greek morpha or morphe.

While the word morphe indicates visible shape, its usage, both in its simple form and as a

compound, compels us to see in it a resemblance that is much deeper than mere outward

conformity. We have, for example in Rom. 2: 20, "a form of knowledge", and in

II Tim. 3: 5 "a form of godliness" which was merely external and "formal". In

Mark 16: 12 and Phil. 2: 6, 7, we have the word used in the account of the appearance

of the Lord to the disciples on the way to Emmaus, and in the exhortation based on that

most wonderful condescension, when He laid aside the "form" of God by taking upon

Him the "form" of a servant. In combination with the preposition meta, we have the

familiar word metamorphosis, a word used in the study of insect development to indicate

the change from pupa to perfect butterfly, a wonderful illustration comparable with the

argument based on the sowing of seed used by the apostle in I Cor. 15: Again we find

the word in Matt. 17: 2 and Mark 9: 2, where it is translated "transfigured". In

Phil. 3: 21,  future resurrection glory is in view, the word "change" being

metaschematizo, and the words "fashioned like" being summorphon.

The primary meaning of "form" is uppermost of these references. We note the change

from that which is external to that which is within in Gal. 4: 19, when the apostle says:

"My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you", and

again in Rom. 12: 2, where we have the two words suschematizo and metamorphoo

translated "conformed" and "transformed" respectively. The difference between the two

words may be better appreciated if we remember that morphe deals more with organic

form, and schema with external appearance.

Here it is most evident that the transformation is internal and not merely outward and

visible. Again, in II Cor. 3: 18, the words "changed into the same image" must not be

construed to refer only to a future resurrection likeness, but to a present spiritual

anticipation. Lastly, the words occurring in Phil. 3: 10: "being made conformable unto

His death", refer to present spiritual transfiguration that anticipates "conformity to the

body of His glory" in that day (Phil. 3: 21).

With this thought we return to Rom. 8: 29. Conformity to the image of His Son is

to be both a present experience and a future hope: the one, associated with the "renewing

of our mind", now (Rom. 12: 2), the other associated with the "redemption of our body",

then (Rom. 8: 23). In Rom. 8: sonship is, here and now, essentially associated with

resurrection, the "spirit" of sonship being expressed in Christlikeness, while literal

sonship itself (adoption, 8: 23), will be expressed in complete likeness to the glorified

Lord, in body as well as in spirit. God's goal for His children should also be consciously

their goal. To be like Christ, the Son, is to satisfy all that Scripture demands in holiness,

righteousness, wisdom, and acceptance.  All growth in grace and all advance in

knowledge must be submitted to this one standard--conformity to the image of His Son.

We have borne the image of the earthy: we look forward to bearing the image of the