God has enabled men to become just like Christ and Him. This document gathers together what the Bible has to say about this. It uses the What the Bible Actually Says approach in doing it.
An overview of the sections presented is:
Becoming Physically Like Christ: Christ and we go through a similar process and physically wind up in the same end state. Man starts off having been created in the image of God and becomes physically just like Christ and God.
Becoming Spiritually Like Christ: We go through a process enabled by Christ to become spiritually like Him. We must be born again, through faith be sanctified and have our works judged by Christ.
Being Like Christ: In the end, we become both physically and spiritually like Christ who is like God and we will live our lives as they do. We become eternal lives, inherit all things and will rule over nations.
Summary: This brings together the information presented in the previous sections into a summary of the process and its outcome.
Becoming Physically Like Christ
We Preexisted with God
Christ
Christ existed with God the Father in the beginning before He was born on earth:
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Us
Like Christ, man existed prior to coming into this world:
Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
We Receive a Physical Body
Christ
Christ took on a physical body:
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. … 14 And the Word [Christ] was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Christ received his physical body by being born of his earthly mother, Mary:
Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Us
God created man in his own image:
Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Man’s being in the image of God is like a human son being in the image of his human father:
Genesis 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; 2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. 3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:
It is the man, who is in God’s image even after the Fall of Adam:
1 Corinthians 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
God put man’s spirit into the body he created from the dust of the earth:
Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Father
Since the only thing that was created was man’s body from the dust of the ground (see Genesis 2:7 above) and since man was created in the image of God (see Genesis 1:27 above), then it follows that man’s body is in the image of God. Therefore, it also follows that God the Father has a body. The idea that our Father has a body is reinforced by the fact that all of us and Christ will have glorious resurrected bodies (see “We Receive a Resurrected Body”) and be like our Father:
Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
In this statement Christ articulates a physically similarity between us and Himself and Himself and the Father.
Our Physically Body Dies
Christ
Christ was crucified and his body died:
John 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. 31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: 34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. 35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. 36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. 37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced. (see also Romans 5:8)
Us
The first man, Adam, died:
Genesis 5:5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
Just like Adam all men will die:
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (see also 1Corithians 15:20-22)
We Receive a Resurrected Body
Christ
Christ has risen from the dead:
1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
Us
Just like Christ every person will be resurrected:
John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
The resurrected body will be a spiritual body:
Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
1 Corinthians 15:35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Becoming Spiritually Like Christ
Disciples of Christ have been called to the obtaining of the glory of Christ:
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. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We Die Spiritually
Adam sinned and brought about his spiritual death:
Genesis 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
Genesis 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Just as Adam sinned, all men sin and spiritually die:
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
We Must Be Spiritually Reborn
A sinner must be reborn or born again:
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (see also 1Peter 1:22-23)
Salvation comes by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ manifested in good works:
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (see also James 2:14-26)
Spiritual rebirth requires repentance:
Matthew 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The repentant individual receives baptism by water:
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Following baptism by water is baptism by the Holy Spirit:
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
We Must Be Sanctified
Salvation is a process through which the Holy Spirit sanctifies the individual:
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spiritand belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (see also 1Peter 1:1-2)
Entering into eternal life requires keeping the commandments, a trial of faith, and endurance to the end:
Matthew 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (see also 1Peter 1:7)
1Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (see also 1Peter 1:6-9)
Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. (see also Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13)
The Church’s role is to help perfect the individual:
Ephesians 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. … 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
We shall be like Christ:
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
We Will Be Judged
Men will be judged according to their works:
Revelation 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (see also Matt 16:24-27)
Christ will render eternal life unto those who have sought for glory, honour and immortality according to their deeds:
Romans 2:6 Who[Christ] will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Being Like Christ
We Will Be Eternal Lives
Christ is an eternal life that was with the Father:
1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
Eternal life is being like (or “knowing”) God and Christ:
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Those who purify themselves become pure like Christ:
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he[Christ] shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
We Will Receive All Things
We are the children of God and shall inherit all things:
Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Revelation 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
We Will Rule over Nations
Those who believe in Christ and follow him in faith overcome the world:
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Those who overcome will sit with Christ in His throne:
Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Those who overcome will rule over nations like Christ:
Revelation 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Summary
Becoming Physically Like Christ
We Preexisted with God: Christ existed with God the Father in the beginning before He was born on earth (John 1:1-2).
Like Christ, man existed prior to coming into this world (Genesis 2:7; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Jeremiah 1:5).
We Receive a Physical Body: Christ took on a physical body (John 1:1-2, 14). Christ received his physical body by being born of his earthly mother, Mary (Matthew 1:18-21).
God created man in his own image (Genesis 1:26; 2:7). Man’s being in the image of God is like a human son being in the image of his human father (Genesis 5:1-3). It is the man, who is in God’s image even after the Fall of Adam (1 Corinthians 11:7-9). God put man’s spirit into the body he created from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7; Ecclesiastes 12:7).
Since the only thing that was created was man’s body from the dust of the ground (Genesis 2:7) and since man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), then it follows that man’s body is in the image of God. Therefore, it also follows that God the Father has a body. The idea that our Father has a body is reinforced by the fact that all of us and Christ will have glorious resurrected bodies and be like our Father (see section “We Receive a Resurrected Body”).
Our Physical Body Dies: Christ was crucified, and his body died (John 19:28-37).
The first man, Adam, died (Genesis 5:5). Just like Adam all men will die (Hebrews 9:27).
We Receive a Resurrected Body: Christ has risen from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).
Just like Christ every person will be resurrected (John 5:28-29). The resurrected body will be a spiritual body (Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:35-50).
Becoming Spiritually Like Christ
Disciples of Christ have been called to the obtaining of the glory of Christ (Romans 8:29-30; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).
We Die Spiritually: Adam sinned and brought about his spiritual death (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:12; 3:22-24).
Just as Adam sinned, all men sin and spiritually die (Romans 5:12).
We Must Be Spiritually Reborn: A sinner must be reborn or born again (John 3:3-8). Salvation comes by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ manifested in good works (Ephesians 2:8-10). Spiritual rebirth requires repentance (Matthew 3:1-2). The repentant individual receives baptism by water (Mark 16:16). Following baptism by water is baptism by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39).
We Must Be Sanctified: Salvation is a process through which the Holy Spirit sanctifies the individual (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). Entering into eternal life requires keeping the commandments, a trial of faith, and endurance to the end (Matthew 19:16-17; Philippians 2:12-13; 1 Timothy 6:11-12; Matthew 10:22). The Church’s role is to help perfect the individual (Ephesians 4:4-6, 11-13). We shall be like Christ (1 John 3:2-3).
We Will Be Judged: Men will be judged according to their works (Revelation 20:11-15). Christ will render eternal life unto those who have sought for glory, honour and immortality according to their deeds (Romans 2:6-8; John 17:1-3).
Being Like Christ
We Will Be Eternal Lives: Christ is an eternal life that was with the Father (1 John 1:1-2). Eternal life is being like (or “knowing”) God and Christ (John 17:3). Those who purify themselves become pure like Christ (1 John 3:2-3).
We Will Receive All Things: We are the children of God and shall inherit all things (Romans 8:16-18; Revelation 21:6-7).
We Will Rule over Nations: Those who believe in Christ and follow him in faith overcome the world (1 John 5:4-5). Those who overcome will sit with Christ in His throne (Revelation 3:21). Those who overcome will rule over nations like Christ (Revelation 2:26-27).