Conforming to the image of the Son
happens at the resurrection from the dead; or
is a process that begins when believers put their faith in Christ.
Likely, Paul is saying that believers will be conformed at the resurrection from the dead. We can detect that this is Paul’s meaning for two reasons. First, the immediate context has to do with our future hope, which will finally come to fruition when we are released from the bondage of the present reality. In other words, we look forward to being resurrected from the dead, which is to conform to the Son. Second, there are parallel passages where Paul refers to our conforming to the Son in the sense of receiving a new resurrection body. We learn this in Philippians 3:21 and 1 Corinthians 15:49.
Some argue that we are conformed to the Son in the present and the future. These point out that Scripture explains that believers undergo a process of sanctification, which means growing in the fruit of the Spirit. Likely, Paul has this process in mind when he refers to being conformed to the image of the Son.
The problem with this argument is that while it is true that we are conformed to the image of the Son in the present, we need to understand Romans 8:29 in light of the immediate context. When we consider the immediate context, we notice that Paul is focused on our future hope and glory. Further, he says that we will be conformed to the Son who is the firstborn among many brothers. That Jesus is the firstborn suggests that Paul has in mind his resurrected state, for he is the first to rise from the dead. This implies that to conform to the Son is likely to share in Christ’s resurrected body.
So, while it is true that we become more like the Son in this life, when Paul refers to conforming to the Son in Romans 8:29, he specifically has in mind conforming to Christ’s resurrected state.
Interpretation 1:
Believers conform to the image of the Son at the resurrection from the dead.
Summary:
Jesus Christ suffered according to the Father’s will, and by his obedience was raised with a new resurrection body and is now glorified with the Father. Those who put their faith in Christ are predestined to be conformed to the image of the Son, which means that at the resurrection of the dead, believers will be transformed with a new resurrection body.
Our future is filled with unspeakable hope in the fact that we will eventually be transformed after the image of the resurrected Jesus Christ. Christ took on our frail and weak form but was raised with a glorious resurrection body. Eventually, we will follow Christ and be raised with our own resurrection bodies.
Advocates:
James Dunn
Douglas Moo
Frank Thielman
Minor differences:
Our authors agree that to be conformed to the image of the Son is a future event that will happen when believers receive new resurrected bodies.
James Dunn contends that Paul has in mind the notion that humans were created after the image of God, but he transfers this motif to being created after the image of Christ. In particular, he argues that God’s purpose is to transform humans after the image of Christ, but not as Christ was during his earthly ministry. That is, incarnation is not the final purpose of God but resurrection. Thus, believers are conformed after the image of God’s Son in the sense that they will share the transformed, resurrected state of Christ.1
Douglas Moo generally agrees with Dunn but takes a more subdued position. For Moo, to be conformed to the image of the Son is to share in the Son’s future glory, which is related to our resurrected state. Thus, Paul has in mind our future resurrection from the dead.2
Arguments
Possible weaknesses
Interpretation 2:
Conforming to the image of the Son is a process that begins when believers put their faith in Christ.
Summary:
To be conformed to the image of the Son is to endure a process of sanctification that eventually results in resurrection. That is, believers are conformed to the Son in this life as they begin to live by the Spirit and put to death their sinful desires. This process of conformity culminates in the resurrection from the dead.
Advocates:
Leon Morris
Thomas Schreiner
Minor differences:
Our authors generally agree that conforming to the image of the Son is a process that begins in this life.
Leon Morris refers to conforming to the Son as sanctification. He contends that believers are not to muddle along in a modest respectability.
6 Rather, since believers are part of the heavenly family,
we have a high standard to live in accordance with. That is, God’s eternal plan is that his people become like his Son, our elder brother, Jesus Christ.
For Thomas Schreiner, while Paul has sanctification in this life in mind, he also explains that to conform to the Son finally takes place at the resurrection from the dead. Thus, for Schreiner, the resurrection from the dead is the final stage of conformity, but this resurrection process begins in the present.7
Arguments
Possible weaknesses
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.