Reflecting Christ in Our Physical Appearance and Behavior

The concept of reflecting Christ in physical appearance and behavior is rooted in the New Testament understanding of believers' union with Christ and their calling to embody His life. This reflection is not primarily about outward conformity but an internal transformation that manifests externally.

Scripture emphasizes that believers are "in Christ" and Christ is "in us" ^[6]. This union is described as a spiritual bond, knitting believers together with the Father and the Son ^[7]. Paul writes, "Euery where we beare about in our bodie the dying of the Lord Iesus, that the life of Iesus might also be made manifest in our bodies" (2 Corinthians 4:10, Geneva 1599) ^[2]. This suggests that the physical body becomes a vessel through which Christ's life is revealed.

The act of "putting on Christ" is central to this idea. Adam Clarke, commenting on Galatians 3:27, explains that those who have been "baptized into Christ" have "put on Christ," meaning they have "received his Spirit, and entered into his interests, and copied his manners" ^[8]. This "putting on" implies assuming Christ's character and acting His part ^[8]. It is a public declaration of having received Christ as Lord and Savior ^[8].

This transformation extends to behavior, requiring self-denial and a reorientation of priorities. Torrey's Topical Textbook lists Christ as the ultimate example of self-denial, citing passages like John 6:38 and Philippians 2:6-8 ^[3]. Self-denial is presented as a test of devotion to Christ and necessary for following Him, involving the denial of ungodliness, worldly lusts, and the control of appetites ^[3]. Matthew Henry notes that living to Christ involves "regeneration," which includes being "weaned from the world" and not pursuing "carnal ends and outward advantage" ^[9].

While the emphasis is on spiritual and behavioral transformation, the physical body is not excluded from this reflection. The incarnation, where Christ took on human nature, signifies the importance of the physical in God's redemptive plan ^[4]. The resurrection of Christ, a cardinal fact of the gospel, underscores the future glorification of believers' bodies ^[5]. Paul speaks of a future transfiguration where the "body of our humiliation" will be "conformed unto the body of His glory" (Philippians 3:21) ^[10]. This future hope implies that the physical body, though currently subject to humiliation, is destined for a glorious transformation that reflects Christ's own resurrected body ^[10].

The distinction between the "natural" and "spiritual" body is also relevant. Tyndale House commentary on 1 Corinthians 15 explains that Adam founded a humanity that is "natural and earthly," while Christ founded one that is "spiritual and heavenly" ^[11]. Believers, who currently possess physical bodies like Adam, will someday be like Christ, the "heavenly man," experiencing the Kingdom of God in resurrection bodies ^[12]. This does not negate the present significance of the physical body but places it within a broader eschatological framework.

The apostle Paul also addresses the issue of judging by "outward appearances." In 2 Corinthians 10:7, he challenges those who are "looking at outward appearances," asserting that if anyone is confident they belong to Christ, others should recognize that Paul and his companions belong to Christ just as much ^[1]. This suggests a caution against superficial judgments based solely on external factors, while still affirming that an internal reality should manifest externally.

Sources

II Corinthians “II Corinthians 10:7 (BSB) — You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does.”
II Corinthians “II Corinthians 4:10 (Geneva1599) — Euery where we beare about in our bodie the dying of the Lord Iesus, that the life of Iesus might also be made manifest in our bodies.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Incarnation — That act of grace whereby Christ took our human nature into union with his Divine Person, became man. Christ is both God and man. Human attributes and actions are predicated of him, and he of whom they are predicated is God. A Divine Person was united to a human nature (Acts 20:28; Rom. 8:32; 1 Cor. 2:8; Heb. 2:11-14; 1 Tim. 3:16; Gal. 4:4, etc.). The union is hypostatical, i.e., is personal; the two natures are not mixed or confounded, and it is perpetual.”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Resurrection of Christ — One of the cardinal facts and doctrines of the gospel. If Christ be not risen, our faith is vain (1 Cor. 15:14). The whole of the New Testament revelation rests on this as an historical fact. On the day of Pentecost Peter argued the necessity of Christ's resurrection from the prediction in Ps. 16 (Acts 2:24-28). In his own discourses, also, our Lord clearly intimates his resurrection (Matt. 20:19; Mark 9:9; 14:28; Luke 18:33; John 2:19-22). The evangelists give circumstantial accounts of the facts connected with that event, and the apostles, ”
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”
John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 17:21: that they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they may be one in us--The indwelling Spirit of the Father and the Son is the one perfect bond of union, knitting up into a living unity, first all believers amongst themselves; next, this unity into one still higher, with the Father and the Son. (Observe, that Christ never mixes Himself up with His disciples as He associates Himself with the Father, but says I in THEM and THEY in US). that the world may believe that thou hast sent me--sentest me. So the grand impression upon th”
Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 3:27: As many of you as have been baptized into Christ - All of you who have believed in Christ as the promised Messiah, and received baptism as a public proof that ye had received Christ as your Lord and Savior, have put on Christ - have received his Spirit, and entered into his interests, and copied his manners. To put on, or to be clothed with one, is to assume the person and character of that one; and they who do so are bound to act his part, and to sustain the character which they have assumed. The profession of Christianity is an assumption of the character of Ch”
2 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 5:16: In these verses the apostle mentions two things that are necessary in order to our living to Christ, both of which are the consequences of Christ's dying for us; namely, regeneration and reconciliation. I. Regeneration, which consists of two things; namely, 1. Weanedness from the world: "Henceforth we know no man after the flesh, Co2 5:16. We do not own nor affect any person or thing in this world for carnal ends and outward advantage: we are enabled, by divine grace, not to mind nor regard this world, nor the things of this world, but to live above it. The”
Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 3:21: Greek, "Who shall transfigure the body of our humiliation (namely, in which our humiliation has place, Co2 4:10; Eph 2:19; Ti2 2:12), that it may be conformed unto the body of His glory (namely, in which His glory is manifested), according to the effectual working whereby," &c. Not only shall He come as our "Saviour," but also as our Glorifier. even--not only to make the body like His own, but "to subdue all things," even death itself, as well as Satan and sin. He gave a sample of the coming transfiguration on the mount (Mat 17:1, &c.). Not a ch”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 15:45: 15:45-49 Adam and Christ founded two distinct humanities: One is natural and earthly, enslaved to sin and death; the other is spiritual and heavenly, purified and destined for life. Adam represents the natural (physical) body and Christ the spiritual (resurrection) body. See also 15:21-22; Rom 5:12-21. 15:45-46 Just as Christ’s life-giving Spirit supersedes the natural life, the spiritual body will supersede the physical body.”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 15:49: 15:49 Like the earthly man, Adam, we have physical bodies in this life. But we will someday be like Christ, the heavenly man, experiencing the Kingdom of God in resurrection bodies (cp. Rom 6:4-14).”

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