55. Conformed to the Image
Romans 8:29 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.
For those whom God foreknew and predestinated (those who believe in Jesus) He promises they will be conformed to the image of the Son of God. The result is that the only-begotten Son will have many brothers. Believers are brothers of Jesus Christ, adopted, not begotten, as sons of God.
Just like children bear the image of their parents and have some semblance of similarity to their siblings, so also in the family of God the children look like their Dad and their Sibling. We are Christ-like; we look like God; we reflect the character and nature of God the Father. All men lost the originally created image of God when the First Man sinned in the Fall: Adam fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and ever after the entire human race (with one exception) is born in the image of Adam. The image of humanity is not a bad thing by itself, but it is so spoiled and corrupted by Sin that the image of God is entirely obscured.
Since the Fall God, the Creator, is in the business of restoring the image of God in human beings through His unfolding plan of salvation, culminating in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. During the course of our short lives on earth God, the Holy Spirit, works at the long process of conforming us to the image of his Son. As believers, who know the Word of God, we have a good idea what that looks like. The ideal of being Christ-like is only partially realized, but the good news is that the process is ongoing and the conforming will not stop until we die. Then, in death and resurrection, the process will be completed, and we will be conformed and transformed. Change is good; progress is daily, and the promise is that it will be finished.