In Colossians 3 Paul talks about putting off the old attitudes and practices of the flesh and putting on the new after the image of Christ. This is verse 10, “And have put on the new (spiritual self), which is constantly being renewed in knowledge after the image of Him Who created it.”
Now, to me this is a continuation of the thought I ended with in the last lesson regarding looking into a mirror and seeing Who the Lord is. Bear with me here. The “new” in this verse is not kainos, but neos. Paul is not emphasizing a new, better quality here. The meaning of neos is “new”, as in recent. Just like Paul used the present indicative of metamorphoo to indicate the beginning of change in 2 Corinthians 3:18, here he uses neos to illustrate the same idea.
But then in just the few words in the last phrase of this verse Paul describes the on-going process of being changed and how that change takes place. Most translations have “is renewed” or “is being renewed” for the present passive participle anakainoo (remember kainos, renewed, or changed into something qualitatively new or better, so he is still talking about a renewal that results in something better). But since this indicates continuous or repeated action, I add “constantly” to my translation above to emphasize this. Being renewed in the image of Christ is a continuous process, not an instant fact that accompanies confession or repentance, as some would teach.
And the means of this change is clearly indicated by the word “knowledge”. This is from epignosis, and has a specific, important meaning. The common word for “knowledge” is gnosis and means, to know from experience and is usually used to indicate only fragmentary, partial or incomplete knowledge. However, epignosis is an intensive form and is used to describe a more clear or exact knowledge that is a result of a more thorough participation or experience of the one gaining the knowledge.
In other words, what Paul is describing here is an ongoing process of change that begins when the believer decides to put off the old and begin putting on the new. The process then continues as they submit to those times of honest introspection (looking into a mirror) to compare themselves to what they are learning is the character and nature of Christ. It requires their participation and the resulting experiences that the Holy Spirit brings. As they identify those areas where they may fall short, the Holy Spirit gives them opportunity to reject who they are and accept (and even demonstrate) Who He is and in that way they are changed (compare Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:22-24 for much the same language).
Now, in the last lesson I said we would look at the practical side of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, so we’ve been talking about being renewed, transformed or changed into the image of Christ by means of the Spirit. This has admittedly been brief, but hopefully detailed enough to lay a foundation so you will recognize it in other passages of Scripture when you see it. The other thing I mentioned in the last lesson was discussing the end of this process. This is my favorite part.
This may seem a strange place to start, but we’ll go briefly to Romans 7 first. If you’re at all familiar, then you know Paul is talking about the struggles involved in living this life in a physical body of flesh (sin nature). He talks about habitually doing the wrong thing, even though he knows what is right and agrees with it (verses 14-23). Then, at the end of the chapter (verses 24-25) he says this, “Oh wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Oh thank God! He will, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind serve the law of God, but in my sinful nature I serve the law of sin.”
As long as we live in this body of flesh, we’ll struggle with sin. But isn’t that the point of all this? Is it not God’s plan and purpose to deliver us finally, completely and permanently from all the weakness, disappointments and evil associated with this life? So, let’s go on to Romans 8. In verse 18 Paul says the sufferings of this present life cannot be compared to glory that is yet to come (compare 1 Corinthians 2:9 and especially 2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
In my haste to talk about this final deliverance I almost forgot to make the connection it has with the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This is Romans 8:11, “And if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then He Who raised Christ (Jesus) from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, Who lives in you.” The Holy Spirit is not just involved in renewing or transforming us in this life; He is the One responsible for our final and complete deliverance.
And what is the result of this final deliverance? This is Philippians 3:20-21, “But we are citizens of the homeland that is currently in heaven. And from there we patiently await the coming of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who will change the body of our humiliation to conform to the body of His glory, by exerting the power that enables Him to put everything under His complete control.”
Now, if you remember, following the Lord’s resurrection we looked at some of the qualities and abilities of His new resurrection body. The above verse tells us we will have a body just like His. Romans 8:29 says much the same thing. However, since this verse contains the words “foreknow” and “predestinate”, about which there seems to be some confusion with some, let me give an expanded translation. “For those whom He was aware beforehand (in eternity past), He also determined from the beginning (through His plan and purpose) to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first (resurrected man with a spirit body) of many brethren that would come after Him.”
Again, God is not a three-dimensional creature. He cannot be constrained by time or space. His foreknowledge is no more limited than His ability to remember the past. Therefore, He can look forward in time and see who will and who will not accept His predetermined plan of deliverance for mankind. He cannot and will not interfere with the free will of His creation. He does not choose who will or will not believe and trust in the Son and His redemptive work on the cross. To do so would compromise both His character and His nature and nullify His revelation and promises to mankind.
OK, now that I’ve got that off my chest, let’s continue with the subject at hand. In 1 Corinthians 15:42-58 Paul talks about the difference between the physical, mortal body and the spiritual, immortal body and the order of resurrection at Christ’s second coming. We’ll not look at it in detail, I only suggest you read it for now.
To end this, just let me mention the complete fulfillment of God’s plan and purpose. Being conformed to the image of Christ by receiving a spirit body like His own resurrection body is not the end of God’s plan. Earlier in this lesson I translated Philippians 3:20, “But we are citizens of the homeland that is currently in heaven.” That “homeland” is the place Jesus was talking about in John 14:2, the place He is preparing for all those who trust in Him. But the time will come when all evil will be finally dealt with (Revelation 20:10) and that homeland will descend from heaven to the earth, the “holy city, new Jerusalem” of Revelation 21:2. And God will dwell in that city on the earth among men (Revelation 21:3), and He will wipe away all tears and banish all death, pain and sorrow (Revelation 21:4). The curse will be removed (Revelation 22:3) and His plan will be complete for all eternity.