In 2Corinthians 5:16-17 we've learned that we've become new creations in Christ Jesus. Many of us know that and even declare that this is true, but we continue living as mere men on this earth. It almost seems like we're not expecting to really be born again, until after we die. We clean up our act and go to church, but we act like the new birth stops at this.
Romans 8:29 (Amplified) says we've been born again and are to be like Jesus. Thus, it says, "For those whom He fore knew (of whom He was aware and loved beforehand) He also destined from the beginning (fore ordaining them) to be molded into the Image of His Son (and share inwardly His Likeness) that He might become the firstborn among many brethren."
According to the above scripture, we "bear inwardly (our spirit man) the very Image of Jesus Himself." We are not Jesus, but we are like Him in this new creation. Just as you bear the likeness, image and attributes of your earthly father, we bear the like, image and attributes of our Heavenly Father (just like Jesus did). Jesus referred to Himself as, "The Son of God" in John 5:23. In John 5:27 (Amplified) Jesus referred to Himself as the son of man, saying, "And He (God) has given Him authority and granted Him power to execute (exercise, practice) judgment because He is a son of man (very man)."
Why is this important? God said in genesis 1:26 (Amplified), "Let Us (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) make mankind in Our Image, after Our Likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the (tame) beasts, and over all the earth, and over everything that creeps on the earth."
When Jesus, Who was always the Son of God, took upon Himself the form of man, He took back man's authority over the earth and restored it back to God's new creation. Through Jesus, we have once again become what man was to be before the Adam's fall in the Garden of Eden. John 3:3-6 (Amplified) says, "Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above) he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with and experienced) the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to Him; How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother's womb again and be born?" Verses 5-6 go on, "Jesus answered, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and (even) the Spirit; he cannot (ever) enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of (from) the flesh is flesh (of the physical is physical); and what is born of the Spirit if Spirit."
We are all familiar with the above verses and quote them, but we don't understand that they are true now and not just for when we go to heaven. The Father intended His children to enter into His legacy and have authority upon the earth once more. God never intended for the devil to be "god of this world," but for His Own children to have dominion. Through Jesus, we who were born of the flesh (natural man) had our dominion given over to an outlaw spirit. Now, satan became the god of this world by using man's God-given authority.
Jesus made a point to declare that "God has given Him authority and granted Him power to execute (exercise, practice) judgment because He is a Son of man (very man)," in John 5:2 (Amplified). Through our new birth, we have been delivered from the bondage of fallen man and have been restored back into the God-given authority He gave to man in the beginning. Through being born again in Christ Jesus, we have been born on High and brought into right standing with God as His children, just like Jesus Who was the Firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29 (Amplified) tells us, "Be molded into the Image of His Son (and share inwardly His Likeness." Jesus became Man to share outwardly our Image in the flesh. Now He, Who was inwardly Spirit, can become like the first Adam was intended to be, a natural (flesh and blood) man, with a living God like spirit living and dominating the earth from within himself. Jesus became a natural man, in a natural earth, living a perfect fellowship and walking with God. Adam was supposed to be like Jesus was in the earth, living by, listening to, and doing God's will and purpose in the earth.
Through our new birth, we have been restored into the Image God had for His children in the beginning. As we took on the attributes of our earthly fathers, so too, we took upon ourselves the attributes of our Heavenly Father. 1Peter 1:23-25 (Amplified_ says, "You have been regenerated (born again) not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm) but from one that is immortal by the ever living and lasting Word of God. For all flesh (mankind) is like grass, and its glory (honor), like (the) flower of grass, the grass withers and the flower drops off, But the Word of the Lord (this seed, sperm, divine instructions the Gospel) endures forever. And this Word is the Good News which was preached to you."
Paul goes on to say in Romans 8:30 (Amplified), "And those whom He thus fore ordained, He also called, and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them in right standing with Himself) And those whom He justified, He also glorified (raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being)."
This is why Jesus is not ashamed to call us "brethren." Hebrews 2:10-11 (Amplified) says, "For it was an act worthy (of God) and fitting (to the divine nature) that He for Whose sake and by Whom all things have their existence, in bringing many sons into glory, should make the pioneer of the salvation perfect (should bring to maturity the human experience necessary to be perfectly equipped for His office as High Priest) through suffering. For both He Who sanctifies (making men holy) and those who are sanctified all have one (Father). For this reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren."
Denying the fact we are "like Him" now, is saying we don't believe Jesus' Sacrifice was not enough to make us like Him and we are still sinners. We have been made a new creation and that means exactly what is says, a new creation. We weren't just patched up and puttied over, but we were made to look new and we are new. We are once again in the Image and Likeness of God, just like He desired in His heart from before the foundations of the world. It was always in the father's heart to have family and children to love and fellowship with. When Adam fell, it broke the family and the fellowship between God and man. Jesus came in the weakness of the flesh, but the power of the Spirit and His union with the Father, overcame the weakness of the flesh and restored man back into position of ruler over the earth and everything in it, according to Genesis 1:26.
Jesus redeemed us back into the rightful position the Father made for us in the beginning. He took back the authority that satan suckered Adam out of, and as a man filled with God Jesus reclaimed everything that was and now is once again ours. He gave it to us through the new birth. We are flesh and blood, earthly men filled with God's Own Spirit, as Adam was and Jesus was on earth. Romans 8:17 (Amplified) says, "And if we are (His) children, then we are (His) heirs also; heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ (sharing His inheritance with Him)."
The "suffering" we endure, is for His Name's sake. John 15:18 (Amplified) says, "If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you."
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