God's Hand in Shaping Conformity to Christ
God's Hand in Shaping Conformity to Christ
The concept of God's hand in shaping conformity to Christ is rooted in biblical teachings that emphasize God's sovereignty in the salvation and sanctification of believers. According to 1 Peter 1:2, believers are chosen "according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ" [1]. This verse highlights the role of God's foreknowledge and the Spirit's sanctifying work in shaping believers' conformity to Christ.
The biblical basis for this concept is further reinforced by passages that describe the goal of Christian maturity as attaining "the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13) [2]. This goal is achieved through the work of God, who "gives comfort and strength" to believers, enabling them to be "of the same mind with one another in harmony with Christ Jesus" (Romans 15:5) [3]. The process of conformity to Christ involves reconciliation with God, which is effected through the death of Christ (Romans 5:10; Ephesians 2:16; Colossians 1:21-22) [4].
Theological traditions have articulated this concept in various ways. The Wesleyan tradition, for example, emphasizes the role of sanctifying grace in conforming believers to Christ. According to Adam Clarke, baptism in the name of Jesus Christ implies a public profession of Christianity and a commitment to follow Christ [9]. The Baptist/Reformed tradition, as represented by John Gill, highlights the importance of union with Christ in the process of sanctification. Gill notes that believers are "joined unto the Lord" and that this union has a profound impact on their redemption, sanctification, and glorification [8].
The biblical concept of union with Christ is central to understanding God's hand in shaping conformity to Christ. As Torrey's Topical Textbook notes, union with Christ is described as Christ being in believers and believers being in Christ (Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 1:27; 2 Corinthians 12:2; 1 John 5:20) [5]. This union is maintained through faith, abiding in Christ, and obeying His commandments (John 15:4, 7; 1 John 3:24) [5].
The hand of God is also seen in the guidance and direction of believers' lives. According to Tyndale House, the phrase "the hand of the Lord" in Luke 1:66 indicates that God was at work in the life of John the Baptist [7]. Similarly, in Acts 4:28, "God's hand had been directing events all along in order to achieve his purpose" [6].
Sources
- 1 Peter “1 Peter 1:2 (NASB) — according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.”
- King James Version “[KJV] Ephesians 4:13 — 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:”
- Romans “Romans 15:5 (BBE) — Now may the God who gives comfort and strength in waiting make you of the same mind with one another in harmony with Christ Jesus:”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Reconciliation With God — Predicted -- Da 9:24; Isa 53:5. Proclaimed by angels at the birth of Christ -- Lu 2:14. Blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances is necessary to -- Eph 2:16; Col 2:14. Effected for men By God in Christ. -- 2Co 5:19. By Christ as High Priest. -- Heb 2:17. By the death of Christ. -- Ro 5:10; Eph 2:16; Col 1:21,22. By the blood of Christ. -- Eph 2:13; Col 1:20. While alienated from God. -- Col 1:21. Without strength. -- Ro 5:6. Yet sinners. -- Ro 5:8. While enemies to God. -- Ro 5:10. The ministry of committed to ministers -- 2Co 5:18,19. Mi”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Union With Christ — As Head of the Church -- Eph 1:22,23; 4:15,16; Col 1:18. Christ prayed that all saints might have -- Joh 17:21,23. Described as Christ being in us. -- Eph 3:17; Col 1:27. Our being in Christ. -- 2Co 12:2; 1Jo 5:20. Includes union with the Father -- Joh 17:21; 1Jo 2:24. Is of God -- 1Co 1:30. Maintained by Faith. -- Ga 2:20; Eph 3:17. Abiding in him. -- Joh 15:4,7. His word abiding in us. -- Joh 15:7; 1Jo 2:24; 2Jo 1:9. Feeding on him. -- Joh 6:56. Obeying him. -- 1Jo 3:24. The Holy Spirit witnesses -- 1Jo 3:24. The gift of the Holy Spirit is an ev”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 4:28: 4:28 God’s hand had been directing events all along in order to achieve his purpose. A similar awareness of God’s hand guiding the affairs of his people is found in the Old Testament (cp. Ezra 7:6, 9, 28; 8:18, 31; Neh 2:8, 18; Eccl 9:1; Ezek 8:1; Rom 8:28; 1 Pet 5:6).”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 1:66: 1:66 the hand of the Lord: This anthropomorphism (describing God with human characteristics, cp. 1:51) meant that God was at work in John’s life.”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 6:17: He that is joined unto the Lord,.... As every elect person is; his whole person, soul and body, is united to the Lord Jesus Christ, to his whole person, as God-man and Mediator; even as Adam and Eve, whose marriage was a representation of the marriage between Christ and his church, were personally united, and were called by the same name; and as the whole human nature of Christ, consisting of a true body and a reasonable soul, was united to the person of the Son of God; and as appears from the influence that union with Christ has upon the redemption, sanctifica”
- Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 10:48: To be baptized in the name of the Lord - That is, in the name of Jesus Christ; which implied their taking upon them the public profession of Christianity, and believing on Christ Jesus as their Savior and Sovereign; for, as they were baptized in his name, they professed thereby to be his disciples and followers. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days - They felt the necessity of farther instruction, and prayed him to continue his ministry a little longer among them; and to this he no doubt consented. This was properly speaking, the commencement of the Christian C”