IMHO, "conforming to the likeness of his Son" is the New Covenant understanding of being "made new in the image of God". The image of God in the NC is defined as the image of Christ, image of His Son, etc. Pastor Chad Richard Bresson Clearcreek Chapel Springboro, OH http://breusswane.blogspot.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carlo Rose" <rosec007@...> To: <soundofgrace@...> Sent: Friday, February 24, 2006 11:28 PM Subject: Re: [soundofgrace] sanctification > Chad: I believe the answer is "conformed to the likeness of his Son" via > "the sufferings of this present time" (vs. 18). > JGR:Where does "sanctification" fit into these golden links? Rom 8:29-30 > 29 > For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness > of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And > those > he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those > he > justified, he also glorified. > > Carlo: It's possible that the "conforming to the likeness of His Son" can > be sanctification. I stress "possible" and "can." It's also possible that > the text above doesn't outline sanctification. Sanctification is > defined, > I believe, as a work of God's grace by which our whole person is made new > in > the image of God, and we are able to be made more and more able to become > dead to the power of sin and made more alive to righteousness. One might > reason that the conforming to the likeness of Jesus, could be > sanctification > in the text. But I don't think it's clear. The conforming could also be > the order of salvation of the "Union with Christ." Either way, more clear > texts that speak of sanctification are Rom 6:7; 1 Cor 6:11; 1 Pet 4:1 - > for > definitive sanctification. For progressive sanctification you have 2Thess > 2:13; Rom 8:13; 2Cor3:18; 7:1. > > Notice some other ordo salutis elements at least explicitly or clearly > missing from Rom 8:29-30 - (1) regeneration; (2) conversion (faith and > repentance); (3)perseverance/preservation of the saints. > > What's important, in my view, in order for sanctification to take place, > there actually has to be a person (born), in order for the facets of > sanctification (definitive and progessive) to take place. Sanctification > does not take place without the person. My body did not exist in eternity > past when I was elected. Nor was there any conversion on my part in > eternity past. I did not exist. I was not unioned with Christ when my > election was made. The Lord did not declare me not guilty at eternity or > nor was I glorified and nor will I be glorified with a new body until > Christ > returns. > > > > > -- > Read the Sound of Grace pages at > http://www.soundofgrace.com > > To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: > soundofgrace-unsubscribe@... > > To view our online archive go to our web page at > http://www.associate.com/groups/soundofgrace > > >