SELF IMAGE OR CHRIST'S IMAGE?
Whose image do we reveal to the world?
Romans 8:29 says, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.” Your family has the privilege to see the image of Christ in you!
Men of God are not conformers, but rather transformers. We will not let the world squeeze us, or our families, into its mold. Never! God has chosen us men for better things. We have been predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. The image of Jesus Christ is vastly different to the image of this world.
The image of the world is selfishness--self-image, self-accomplishment, self-centeredness, self-appearance, self-space, self- opinionated, self-reliant, self-aggrandizement and self-consciousness.
Opposed to the self image, the image of Christ is to be crucified with Christ. We cannot be transformed into the image of Christ without a radical denunciation of self. The self-life is at enmity with the image of Christ. The self-life is at the very heart of sin.
The self-life is very subtle, to say the least. Self loves to disguise itself through religion. Religious self is most abominable and nauseating to God as Jesus exposed in the Sadducees and Pharisees.
The Apostle Paul, when facing this dilemma, cried out, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:24-25).
I believe it would be a good thing for each of us men to read a chapter each day from the Bible in order to see what Jesus is like and to hear what He says. We can then pray that the Holy Spirit will change us into His image.
Men, we are called to be non-conformists in this self-centered world.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
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Romans 8:29 says, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.” Your family has the privilege to see the image of Christ in you!
Men of God are not conformers, but rather transformers. We will not let the world squeeze us, or our families, into its mold. Never! God has chosen us men for better things. We have been predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. The image of Jesus Christ is vastly different to the image of this world.
The image of the world is selfishness--self-image, self-accomplishment, self-centeredness, self-appearance, self-space, self- opinionated, self-reliant, self-aggrandizement and self-consciousness.
Opposed to the self image, the image of Christ is to be crucified with Christ. We cannot be transformed into the image of Christ without a radical denunciation of self. The self-life is at enmity with the image of Christ. The self-life is at the very heart of sin.
The self-life is very subtle, to say the least. Self loves to disguise itself through religion. Religious self is most abominable and nauseating to God as Jesus exposed in the Sadducees and Pharisees.
The Apostle Paul, when facing this dilemma, cried out, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:24-25).
I believe it would be a good thing for each of us men to read a chapter each day from the Bible in order to see what Jesus is like and to hear what He says. We can then pray that the Holy Spirit will change us into His image.
Men, we are called to be non-conformists in this self-centered world.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
Read More