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The Goal of God.
(I Cor. 15: 28).
No.14.
Conformed to the Image of His Son.
pp. 1 - 3
We have seen that the heavenly image is to take the place of the earthly, the legacy of
the first man with its corruption and weakness giving place to the glorious gift of
incorruption and power at the resurrection. We have further seen that this change is
anticipated in the transition from law to grace, and now we turn to the third of these
references concerning `change' which is found in the epistle to the Romans.
"For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image
of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He
did predestinate, them He also called;; and whom He called, them He also justified; and
whom He justified, them He also glorified" (Rom. 8: 29, 30).
"LIBERTY", "SPIRIT" and "SONSHIP",
which are important features of II Cor. 3: and 4:, are key words of Rom. 8:
We found it useful to discover the structure of I Cor. 15:, and we shall help ourselves
toward an understanding of Rom. 8: 29, 30 by seeing where it comes in the general
outline.
Romans 8: 1 - 39.
A | 1-5-. No condemnation. God sent His Own Son.
B | -5-15-. Led by Spirit. Sons now.
C | -15-17-. Spirit itself. Sonship (adoption).
D | -17-21. Suffering and Glory. Sons manifested.
C | 22-28. Spirit itself. Sonship (adoption).
B | 29, 30. Conformed to image of His Son, future.
A | 31-39. Who condemns? God spare not His Own Son.
Wonderful and glorious as this chapter is, we must resist the temptation to explore and
must concentrate our attention on the reference to the image. Flesh and Spirit alternate in
the member denominated "B | -5-15-.", which is the experience of the believer now,
and this balances the member "B | 29, 30.", the blessed experience awaiting the
believer in the future, when "the quickening of the mortal body" (Rom. 8: 11) which is
the anticipatory experience of the believer now, will be fully realized when the earthly
image is laid aside and the redeemed at last stand satisfied in the likeness of the Lord.