Day 22 of the 40 Days of Purpose

“Created to Become Like Christ”

Spiritual transformation to become like Christ is made possible through the Holy Spirit transforming us. The worship we studied in the first purpose is made possible by the Spirit’s work within us, and that work causes us to become like Christ – God’s eternal purpose for us.

(Rom 12:1-2 NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. {2} Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

(2 Cor 3:18 NIV) And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

(Rom 8:29 NIV) For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

The idea of being like Christ is an impossible accomplishment! The only way we can even fathom fulfilling this impossible purpose is through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is given for the helpful power we need to accomplish the unimaginable. The context of Romans chapter eight is one of the working of the Holy Spirit. Consider some of the statements in this chapter that point to the work of the Holy Spirit within us:

(Rom 8 NIV) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, {2} because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. …{4} … who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. {5} … but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. {6} … the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; …{9} You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. …give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. …if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, {14} because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. {15} … you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." {16} The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. … {26} In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. {27} And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. {28} And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. {29} For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

The Holy Spirit is the power inside us enabling us to make our bodies a holy temple to the glory of God.

(1 Cor 6:19-20 NIV) Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; {20} you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

(Eph 1:13-19 NIV) And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, {14} who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory. {15} For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, {16} I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. {17} I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. {18} I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, {19} and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, {20} which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

(Eph 3:14-19 NIV) For this reason I kneel before the Father, {15} from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. {16} I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, {17} so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, {18} may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, {19} and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

This reminds me of the work of Bezalel in Exodus to build the tabernacle according to the plans God had given Moses. An impossible purpose to pull off! But he was given the Holy Spirit to not only equip him for the task, but also to teach others to do the work (Ex. 35:30-34). We are given the Holy Spirit to give us what we need to build this tabernacle into Christlikeness to bring glory to God. We can’t do it by ourselves, but the power is there, if we will allow the power to work in our lives.