“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29 NKJV)
Man was created in God’s image, crowned with glory and honor, and made to have dominion over the works of God’s hands (Psa. 8:4-6).
But when sin set in, man became so distorted, depraved, and corrupted that it grieved God to His heart that He had made man on the earth (Gen. 6:5-8).
Consequently, God destroyed all living beings from the face of the earth by the flood except Noah, his family, and some animals. However, as the sons of Noah multiplied, iniquities, wickedness, and corruption also multiplied (Rom. 3:10-12).
The devastating effects of sin on a man’s spirit, soul, and body cannot be washed off, cured, or reversed by any man, angel, ritual, institution, or religion.
The sacrificial system instituted under the Law given to the nation of Israel through Moses was just a shadow of the good things to come. None of those sacrifices was intended to take away sins or to make sinners righteous, but to cover the people’s sins until the appointed time when God would provide a perfect sacrifice for sins (Heb. 10:1-4).
But when the fullness of time came, God presented to humankind His perfect sacrifice for sins and divine antidote to the poison of sin flowing in man’s veins.
The angels and all the hosts of heaven rose and gazed in amazement as Jesus Christ—God’s perfect sacrifice for sins was born in the manger.
After about 30 years of dwelling among us, perfectly revealing God’s true person, nature, and character, and teaching and demonstrating to us how God intended us to live and reign on earth, Jesus was offered on the cross as a perfect offering or propitiation for our past, present, and future sins (1 John 4:9-10).
God has no other sacrifice for sins for anyone who rejects Jesus Christ—God’s perfect sacrifice for sins, who was once and for all offered on the cross.
The Scripture warns that “there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.” (Heb. 10:26-27 NKJV).
Besides God sending Jesus Christ as a perfect Lamb or sacrifice to atone for our sins and deliver us from their terrible consequences, God also sent the Lord Jesus as His Firstborn to reveal His true person, nature, and character to us and also to model for us how God intended His children to live, reign and operate on the earth (Col. 1:15, Heb. 1:6).
The Scripture amply affirms this truth.
Romans 8:28-30 – NKJV
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Therefore, it is not enough to acknowledge or receive Jesus Christ as God’s perfect sacrifice for your sins; you must also recognize or accept Him as your Elder Brother and obey, follow, and imitate Him in everything as God’s perfect example or model for you.
It is only Jesus’ lifestyle that was well-pleasing to God the Father. God has commanded us to obey, follow, and imitate Jesus Christ!
Matthew 17:1-5 – NKJV
1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;
2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”
Jesus Christ is our perfect example in everything: love, holiness, humility, longsuffering, self-control, faith, wisdom, power, or service. He is God’s perfect standard for us in everything!
Ephesians 5:1-4 – NKJV
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
No other man, living or dead, is perfect and worthy of being obeyed, followed, and imitated in everything. God only permits you to imitate or follow a spiritual leader as He also imitates or follows the Lord Jesus.
Paul cautions, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1 NKJV).
Therefore, you must be careful not to imitate any man of God when and where he is not obeying, following, or imitating the Lord Jesus Christ.
When you become born again through faith in the person and the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, you have become one with Christ in the spirit, wholly conformed to His image in your born-again or recreated spirit.
Paul writes, “But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” (1 Cor. 6:17 NKJV).
“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Rom. 8:29 NKJV).
“For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” (Heb. 2:11 NKJV).
While it is true that the born-again believers are the brethren of Jesus Christ, having become one with Him in our born-again spirits through the New Birth, God wants us also to become wholly conformed to Jesus Christ, our Eldest Brother, in our minds, will, emotions, actions, character or lifestyle.
It is God’s ultimate purpose and expectation for those of us adopted as sons into God’s family through the new birth to grow up to “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.” (Eph. 4:13-15 NKJV).
Beloved, God wants you to acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ as the Firstborn, the Eldest Brother in His family. You are expected to listen to Him, obey Him, follow Him, and walk in His footsteps.
Jesus Christ is God’s Firstborn sent to be a perfect example or model to all God’s children adopted into God’s family. Therefore, be careful not to follow anyone in God’s family, not following Christ, the Firstborn.
The Lord Jesus Christ, the Firstborn in God’s family, is saying to you today, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt. 11:29 NKJV).
“For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:15 NKJV).
Prayer:
My Dear Heavenly Father, I receive Christ Jesus today, not just as a perfect sacrifice for my sins, but also as my Eldest Brother – a Perfect Example or Model of all that You want me to be, in Jesus’ name. Amen.