Skip to main content

Likeness of His Death

"Indeed, if united we have become in the likeness of the death of Him, on the other hand also of the Resurrection we will be."1

This word for united is derived (from sun, "with" and phuó, "I grow") properly grown together, united with. Growing together implies a continued process of abiding. We have become united in the likeness of His death, we participate with Him in his sufferings, we grow with Him in the likeness of His death. This word for likeness is homoióma, "resemblance," a resemblance of His death. Jesus came in "the likeness of man..."2 Jesus emptied himself (made void, valueless) in the likeness of man having been made and in appearance having been found (he learned) as a man, he humbled himself, having become (signifies a change of condition, state or place) obedient unto death, death on the cross.3 He valued us so that we might be made of value.

"Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?" He was despised and forsaken of men a man of sorrows acquainted with grief and we hid as it were our faces from him, he was despised and not esteemed by us.2 Have you ever turned your eyes from someone? possibly they were so disfigured, from an accident or otherwise but without even thinking, reflexive you turned your gaze from them. Christ was disfigured so that people turned their eyes from Him.

Contrary to his portrayal in movies there was no beauty to be desired, he was not kingly nor majestic in appearance. He was like a shoot out of a root in a dry ground. The sickness and pain of the whole world he carried, yet He was considered touched.3 This word for considered also is translated as stricken. They thought Him touched or followed by harm, the "touch" of death, imperfect, they thought it was his fate and lot to be beaten. Like Job's friends who thought so of him, afflicted because of unrighteousness. They considered him stricken (touched) and struck (smitten, beaten) by God and afflicted (defiled).4

But he was wounded (pierced) for our transgressions, He was crushed (bruised, beat to pieces, broken) for our iniquities, the chastisement (reproof, instruction, discipline) of our peace (completeness, wholeness) was on him, by his scourging (stripes) we are healed. God has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.5 He was oppressed and afflicted but He did not open his mouth. By oppression and from justice he was taken, the shoot was cut off out of the living, "For the transgression of my people was he stricken."

He was reviled but did not retaliate, he suffered at the hand of man but he did not threaten, he gave himself over to him who judges justly. "The sins of us himself bore in the body of him on the tree that to sins having died, to righteousness we might live by those wounds healed."6 Yes, we are United with Him in the likeness of His death. Our thoughts are to be on things of God.7 We must die to live, the old man must be crucified with Him, entombed with Him in His death. It is by the wounds of Christ we are healed. We have communion with Christ, in His death.  

"If anyone desires after me to come let him deny himself and take up the cross of him and follow me., whoever indeed, desires the life of him to save, will lose it, however, whoever might lose the life of him on account of me will find it. What indeed will it profit a man if the whole world he gains and the soul of him loses or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"8 

The world esteemed him not, but to those called according to his purpose, these have esteemed all these things loss because of Him. "Indeed, also I count all things loss to be because of the surpassing knowledge of Christ."9 This word for surpassing is hyperéxō (from hypér, "beyond, above" and exō, "have"), it is to have or hold over, to stand out, rise above. It is because of this surpassing, "rising above" knowledge of Christ that Paul considers all things rubbish, dung. Is that not divine persuasion? to find his will good, pleasing, and perfect, his burden light and easy, to find him humble and gentle at heart.

What is this surpassing knowledge that causes Paul to rise above the desires of the flesh and this world? This surpassing knowledge is founded as Paul writes, in the righteousness of Christ, on the basis of faith.10 And it is a process of conformation, "to know Him and the power of His Resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to the death of him."11 It is linked intrinsically; in death is communion and in Resurrection power. "Indeed, as often as you might eat this bread and drink this cup, the death of the Lord you proclaim, until that he comes."11 We participate in His suffering.

"Those whom he foreknew also he predestined to be conformed to the image of the Son of Him, for to be him firstborn among many brothers."12

This word for conformed is symmorphóō, (from sýn, "with" and morphóō; "changing form in keeping with inner reality") it means the same as "being conformed to the death of him." It is similar to metamorphóō (from metá, "change after being with" and morphóō, "changing form in keeping with inner reality") It is finished and it is a process. It is different than "be not conformed to the age..."12 This conform is sysxēmatízō (sýn, "identified with" and sxēmatizō, "having outward shape") Do not identify externally, but be changed inwardly after being with Jesus and be outwardly changed as one abides in Christ. One speaks of our salvation, of our spirit being born again, and the other of working out our salvation.

There is a death and resurrection and a continued process of being conformed to the death of him. It is as Jesus said,"if anyone desires to come follow me, let him deny himself and take up his cross every day and follow me."14 This word for deny is arneomai, properly, deny (refuse); hence, contradict, refuse to affirm or to confess (identify with). I am to refuse to identify with the old man, "in keeping with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught to put off your former way of life, the old man, which is being corrupted by its desires of deceit; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."14

"Because all of you have become dross..."15  Devouring widows homes, taking many precious things, destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain, prophets who see false visions and tell divining lies, saying, Thus says the Lord, when He has not spoken. The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery, and they have wronged the poor and needy and have oppressed the sojourner without justice.16 Polluted offerings God despises. "Take away the dross from the silver, And there comes out a vessel for the smith."17

Jesus came to sit as a refiner and purifier, refining his people, then he will have men who bring offerings in righteousness.17 "I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as a smith refines silver and they will be tried as gold, then they shall call on my name and I will hear them and will say, my people and they shall say, the Lord is my God."15 "Behold, I have refined thee, but not as silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."16 "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire."17 I will try you so that the proving of your faith is genuine. 

A doctrine, a teaching of putting off the old man, a renewing in the Spirit of the mind. What good is it to put on the armor of God when one is clothed in the old man? To be clothed in the old is to "be infants, tossed to and fro, carried about by the wind...."15 But you were taught to put off... the old man... to be renewed in the spirit of your minds. This word for renew is ananeoó, (from aná, "up, completing a process," which intensifies néos, "recent, new") recently born, youthful fresh. It is in contrast to kainós, "new in quality" recently made. "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old things have passed away, behold has emerged the new."16 There is the new in quality, of being born again, and the renewal, of completing the process. 

"Thanks moreover to God that you used to be slaves of sin moreover you have obeyed from the heart, that which you were handed, type of doctrine."18 This word for type, tupos, (týptō, "strike repeatedly") – properly, a model forged by repetition; (figuratively) the correct paradigm, based on reliable precedent for others to then follow. This paradigm is forged by repetition. Repetition is essential in the renewal of the mind, and by such we are being transformed so that we find his will good, acceptable, and pleasing, and are obedient from the heart.

I am being transformed to the image of the Son of God. I died in Him, and I am being conformed by the likeness of his death, I participate in His suffering, by such I am raised in knowledge of Him, I was raised with Him and I am being raised in knowledge of Him and one day I will be raised like Him. "Indeed, if united we have become in the likeness of His death, certainly also of the resurrection we will be."17






Popular Posts

The Tripartite Nature of Humanity: Spirit, Soul, and Body

The Tripartite Nature of Humanity: Spirit, Soul, and Body in Biblical Understanding The human being, as depicted in the Bible, is a multifaceted creation, often understood through the distinct yet interconnected components of spirit, soul, and body. While some theological perspectives lean towards a bipartite view (soul and body), which we do see in the Old Testament, a careful examination of the New Testament scripture reveals a compelling case for a tripartite understanding, where each is divided into or composed of three parts. Let’s explore the biblical distinction between spirit, soul, and body. The Body: Our Earthly Vessel The body is the physical form that interacts with the material world. From the very beginning, Genesis 2:7 states, " Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being ." This verse clearly establishes the body's origin from the earth, emphasizing its connec...
Read more

Lord, Stand By Me

"... present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness ." 1 This word for present means "I bring, present, come up to and stand by," it is parístēmi (from pará, "from close-beside" and hístēmi, "to stand") – properly, stand close beside, i.e. ready to present (exhibit). I pray Lord stand by me which expresses that I put my trust in Him, or I come up to and stand by Him. We use phrases like surrendering or bowing at the cross to explain such a moment, surely it is a coming to the end of ourselves and it is desirable that I find His will acceptable, but it is important to understand that it is about trust, not my will power, the key is that it is in Christ. The terminology the scriptures use is "present yourselves to God," or come up to and stand by and walk with Him. "... present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this...
Read more

Blessed Are The Forgiven

Blessed! the one whose lawless deeds are forgiven and the one whose sins are covered over, blessed is the man whom sin, the Lord will not consider . * Paul writes David foresaw and spoke " blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered . *  Blessed, is the one whom sin is not considered, this word considered  means "to credit, count, reckon, to set down as a matter of account; regard, think, consider." This blessing comes through faith and according to grace, " also David speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God considers righteousness apart from works ." *  The word for  lawless deeds speaks of the violation of the Law and the word for sin  speaks of missing the mark of God's righteousness. Blessed are those who (by faith in Christ according to grace) have been forgiven. In Him receiving the redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of trespasses according to the riches of His grace . * This fundamental ...
Read more

The New Living Way

The New Living Way "... Now, at the present released from the Law, having died in that which held us captive, so that we serve in newness of Spirit and not the old written code " -- Romans 7:16 Paul states that we are now united to Christ in his death and also raised with him into newness of life. What held them captive was sin but also the Law, it was a guardian until the appointed time God would send a Messiah (see School Master ). Paul uses the metaphor of marriage to describe how we are released from the Law; like a wife whose husband dies, now she is released from the Law and can marry another, so also have we died with Christ and are released from the Law and bound to Christ in a new covenant. The purpose of this is that we live in a new living way of the Spirit and not fleshly through the old written code or Mosaic Law. " So then brothers, you also have died to the Law through the body of Christ to the extent you exist by creation of another, the one raising you f...
Read more

Spirit of Life

" Indeed, the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus liberates from the law of sin and death ." 1 This word for liberates "I free, set free, liberate" is from a root word meaning free, exempt, not bound by an obligation. As partakers of God's divine nature, being born of Spirit, we are no longer obligated to the sinful nature but to righteousness which is God's nature. When we believe we receive the Spirit of promise, a guarantee of our inheritance, a great testimony that we are His children, it is a Spirit of Life. " Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." 24 The Son came not to condemn the world but to save it. "One trespass   led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. " 6 " He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and wa...
Read more

New Testament Growth in Christ: From Foundation to Fullness

  New Testament Growth in Christ: From Foundation to Fullness The New Testament presents a vibrant and multifaceted picture of spiritual growth, not as a static event but as a dynamic, lifelong journey for the believer. This journey, with emphasis on a strong foundation, progresses through a transformative process of maturity forged by endurance, ultimately aiming for the profound goal of experiencing the "fullness of God in Christ." The Foundation: A New Creation The inception of growth in Christ is marked by a radical spiritual new birth, a foundational shift that defines the Christian experience. It is not merely a moral reformation, but a divine act of creation. The apostle Paul declares this truth in 2 Corinthians 5:17 : " Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come ." This new creation is initiated by faith in Jesus Christ, where believers are justified and reconciled to God through His sacrifice. ...
Read more

All Who Are Thirsty

“ Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;  and he who has no money,  come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk  without money and without price.  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,  and your labor for that which does not satisfy?  Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,  and delight yourselves in rich food. .." (Isaiah 55). " Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price ." Buy is defined as to acquire the ownership of by giving an accepted price or consideration therefore; to accept or believe as true .[ 1 ] When we buy something we consider the price that we must pay, we accept this and purchase the thing we have considered worthy of the sacrifice we make in payment. W e can not buy, with money or price, redemption from t his tragic flaw we are born into. However Jesus paid the price for us, so we buy or accept through consideration, the Greek word is  logizomai.[ 2] ...
Read more

True Widows: A Biblical Perspective

True Widows: A Biblical Perspective Throughout Scripture, God's compassion for widows is evident. He is portrayed as their defender, provider, and source of justice. The Bible repeatedly calls believers to care for widows, reflecting God's own heart for the vulnerable. However, in his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul provides a specific definition of a "true" widow, emphasizing the church's responsibility in supporting those who are genuinely in need. God's Compassion for Widows The Old Testament is rich with passages that reveal God's concern for widows. In Exodus 22:22, God commands, "You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child." This verse underscores His protective nature, ensuring that widows are not mistreated or neglected. Similarly, Deuteronomy 10:18 declares, "He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing." Here, God is depicted as a just and loving prov...
Read more

Called According to His Purpose: A Biblical Examination

  Called According to His Purpose: A Biblical Examination 📖 Introduction The phrase “called according to His purpose” appears in Romans 8:28 (ESV), a foundational verse that reads: “And we know that for those loved of God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” This statement gives comfort and more—it is a declaration about identity, destiny, and divine intent. To be “called according to His purpose” means participating in God’s sovereign, redemptive plan. God's plan is being manifested through the church through the "new covenant in his blood" as it was established by the death of Jesus. The calling is not arbitrary or based on human merit, but is rooted in God’s purpose, eternal will and love. 🔍 The Nature of the Calling In Scripture, God's calling is effectual—that is, it accomplishes what He intends. Paul writes: "...those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified,...
Read more

Putting On the New Self

Putting On the New Self Theme: Spiritual Growth & Identity in Christ Key Scripture: “And to put on the new man, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” — Ephesians 4:24 (ESV) 🕊️ Day’s Reflection The Christian journey is not about becoming a better version of our old selves. It is about walking in The New Living Way , putting on the new man created in the likeness of God. Scripture calls us to put on the new man , and this call is not symbolic or abstract. It is a command grounded in spiritual truth and lived out in daily walking as Christ walked. 📜 Scripture for Meditation 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Ephesians 4:22–24 (ESV) “To put off your old man, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new man, created after the likeness of...
Read more