Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son… By the "Image of Christ," is here meant the moral character of Christ. And what a character was that! Goethe says, "I esteem the four Gospels to be thoroughly genuine, for there shines forth from them the reflected splendour of a sublimity proceeding from the person of Christ, and of as Divine a kind as was ever manifest upon earth!" Rousseau confesses, "If the life and death of Socrates are those of a sage, the life and death of Jesus are those of a God." And, to quote only the words of J. S. Mill, "Whatever else may be taken from us by rational criticism, Christ is still left a unique figure, not more unlike all His precursors than all His followers: a Divine person, a standard of excellence and a model for imitation; available even to the absolute unbeliever, and can never be lost to humanity." In the entire conformity to the character of Christ, there is — I. THE COMPLETE SATISFACTION OF THE HUMAN SOUL. In all moral existences there is an ideal character. The cause of moral misery is discordance with this ideal. The character of Christ is this ideal. Souls can conceive and desire nothing higher. Only as men approximate to it they grow in power, rise in dignity, and abound in satisfaction. II. HARMONY WITH THE HUMAN RACE. The human race is sadly divided; it is severed into numerous contending sections. The human house is divided against itself and cannot stand. The human body has not only its limbs amputated, but they are rattling one against the other, and all against itself. It writhes with anguish. A re-union is essential to its health, and peace, and vigour. But what can unite men together? Universal conformity to rituals or doctrines? Such conformity would be no union. Universal conformity to the image of Christ would unite the race. Let all men be Christ-like, and all men will love one another. When all men become Christ-like, and not before then, will all contentions cease, all men embrace each other as brethren and be "gathered together" in Christ as members to one body directed by one will. If you would divide men, preach doctrines, and policies, and ceremonies. If you would unite them, preach Christ. III. THE GRAND PURPOSE OF THE GOSPEL. What is this? To give men theological knowledge and material civilisation? It does this, but does something infinitely grander: it gives men the character of Christ. It is to create us anew in Christ Jesus in good works, and to inspire us with the spirit of Christ, without which we are none of His. Where Christ's gospel does not do this, it does nothing. The testing question is — Are we like Christ? IV. THE SUPREME DUTY OF LIFE. This, the grandest, is also the most practical. 1. We are made by imitation. 2. Christ is the most imitable of all examples — the most — (1) Admirable; (2) Transparent; (3) Unchanging; (4) Intimate. He is always with us. (D. Thomas, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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