Naming the Process of Becoming More ‘Like Christ’

In the previous post, we learned what God’s great purpose for us is. It is to become increasingly more ‘like Jesus Christ.’

We also discovered that we are invited to actively cooperate with the Holy Spirit in his work of transforming us.

We should not be surprised that God employs a wealth of terms and metaphors to draw us into this vital process.

Here are four.

 

1. Spiritual Transformation

Building on the previous post, this process is conveyed by words such as “changed” and “transformed.”

In 2 Corinthians 3:17-18, those ‘in Christ “are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory” by the Spirit.

“Transformed” translates the Greek word metamorphoomai – a term English has embraced as “metamorphosis.” As a metaphor, this naturally lends itself to the process of caterpillars becoming butterflies.

Here is a helpful definition supplied by Jeffrey Greenman:

Spiritual [trans]formation is our continuing response to the reality of God’s grace shaping us into the likeness of Jesus Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit, in the community of faith, for the sake of the world.”[1]

This description is the focus of the series “To Make Disciples Is to Transform …” 

 

2. Spiritual Growth

The language and metaphor of growing from infancy to maturity are also used for this process.

For instance, Paul writes to Christians in these terms (Ephesians 4:13-15):

become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, … we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

Another text (Hebrews 5:11-14) is:

Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

And Peter encourages those who have recently received Jesus Christ with these words (1 Peter 2:2-3):

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

This metaphor also encompasses the dynamic process by which the Holy Spirit progressively transforms a person into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

 

3. Sanctify, sanctification

“Sanctify” translates the Greek root word hagia*, which conveys the concept of setting aside something for a special purpose, consecrating, dedicating, or making holy.

This Greek word family is used 194 times in the ancient Greek Old Testament (LXX) and the New Testament (NT). Here I list some of the occurrences in the NT, and encourage you to read each of these carefully in their context to get a better sense of the range of meanings for this word: John 17:17, 19; Acts 20:32; 26:18; Romans 15:16; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 6:11; 7:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:13;  and 1 Peter 1:2. 

As a sample, here is 1 Thessalonians 5:23:

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The theologian, Millard Erickson, states that:

Sanctification is the continuing work of God in the life of the believer, making him or her actually holy. By “holy” here is meant “bearing an actual likeness to God [‘like Christ’].” Sanctification is a process by which one’s moral condition is brought into conformity with one’s legal status [justified ‘in Christ’] before God. … In particular, sanctification is the Holy Spirit’s applying to the life of the believer the work done by Jesus Christ.[2]

Note the similarity of this description of sanctification to the dynamic process of the Holy Spirit transforming a person more and more into the likeness of Jesus Christ. 

 

4. Making disciples, discipleship

In the NT, the words translated “disciple” (mathētēs), “to disciple” or “to learn” (manthanō), and “to make disciples” (mathēteuō) occur about 290 times. That means there is a wealth of material informing us what it means to be a disciple.

These “disciple” words include the concept of deliberately following and learning from a teacher or master. In general, this involves a relationship to gain specific knowledge and/or a way of life.

There were disciples who followed teachers or masters other than Jesus. This is illustrated by Mark 2:18.

Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?”

Different teachers lead to different understandings and behaviors in their disciples. It is the Holy Spirit, working through mature followers of Christ, who are making disciples of Jesus Christ.

Here are two working definitions of what it is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

James G. Samra writes:

Discipleship is the process whereby someone becomes more like Christ. It encompasses both the entry into the process (salvation) and growth in the process (sanctification).[3]

After considering many biblical texts, Michael J. Wilkins, in Following the Master, proposes an expansive description:

Discipleship and discipling mean living a fully human life in this world in union with Jesus Christ and growing in conformity to his image.[4]

Again, note the resemblances with the earlier definitions. Essentially, making disciples is the dynamic process by which the Holy Spirit transforms a person more and more into the likeness of Jesus Christ. 

So, it seems that spiritual formation, spiritual growth, sanctification, and discipleship refer to aspects of the same divine process—they just use different language. These are four ways of naming the process of becoming more ‘like Christ.’

Hopefully, these definitions provide a clearer, broader view of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the source, substance, and goal of true discipleship. 

What are some of the implications?

 

Summing up

a. This is a process:

Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is neither instant nor even short-term—it is life-long. Like physical growth and metamorphosis, the Spirit’s transforming work is a lengthy process.

b. Growth is the norm:

Growing up to maturity in Christ is not only normal but also necessary. If an infant does not grow, something is wrong!

Again, we hear from Hebrews 5:11-14:

We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Paul was also critical of Corinthian Christians for their prolonged spiritual infancy (see 1 Corinthians 3:1-3).

c. Your participation:

Strong, healthy physical growth requires attention to diet, exercise, and other disciplines. So, making disciples and being a disciple calls for your active cooperation with the Spirit in his work of transformation.

This series will explore the Gospel according to Matthew as a paradigm for making disciples. It invites you to diligent, relational participation in listening, learning, and living as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

d. All of life is impacted:

In the lifelong process of being a disciple of Jesus Christ, expect every aspect of your life to be transformed. It incorporates and permeates all of who you are and how you live. Being a disciple of Jesus is not a one-size-fits-all program, a short-term course, or a dose of religious education. It is about being transformed increasingly more into the likeness of Jesus Christ in every area of life.

e. A recommendation:

As a solid foundation for this series, I recommend you watch the following three videos:

1. “Who Are We?”  (11:54);
2. “From ‘in Adam’ to ‘in Christ’”  (13:40); and
3. “Living Toward God’s Great Purpose for Us.” (16:55).

(As an aside: If you find the videos helpful, leave a ‘like’ and subscribe.)

Feel free to contact me with your comments and questions using this link.

In future posts, we will explore how the Matthew Paradigm can be used by the Spirit to transform lives in amazing ways.

 

BACK TO God’s Great Purpose for You 

TO START at the beginning of this series 

Notes:

[1] Jeffrey Greenman, Life in the Spirit: Spiritual Formation in Theological Perspective (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2010), 24. I have added “[trans],” proposing that formation and transformation are interchangeable in this context.

[2] Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1985), 967-8. I have inserted the words in “[ ]” and the emphasis in bold print.

[3] James G. Samra, “A Biblical View of Discipleship,” Bibliotheca Sacra 160 (April-June 2003): 234.

[4] Michael J. Wilkins, Following the Master: A Biblical Theology of Discipleship (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992), 42.

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