Jesus Christ is shaping His bride into a precious gem, a delight He foresaw before the transformation even began. Unlike mere human endeavors, His goal is to prepare us as His bride for the glory of the Father, transforming us from our lowly state into the very image and likeness of God. Though we may stumble and feel uncomfortable in this process, occasionally regressing into behaviors that embarrass our Teacher, He persists in guiding us, and we must also persevere in the pursuit of righteousness. Gradually, with our small part of cooperation and by the grace of God, the unleavened life of Jesus Christ becomes as natural to us as it is to Him. This transformation, planned from the beginning, is for the glory of God, as we grow into the perfect helpmate for Jesus Christ by His grace alone.

If we are to be transformed into God's likeness, it must align with the clear revelations of His form and shape as described in Scripture. God reveals Himself consistently with a body, having tangible qualities like shape and size, as seen in Jesus Christ after His resurrection, demonstrating He is corporeal with flesh and bone. We are to be conformed to the image of Christ, Our Elder Brother, indicating not just physical likeness but also personality and character. God's own word shows Him with form, as evidenced by numerous accounts where He appeared as a man to Abraham, Moses, and others, displaying physical attributes like feet, a voice, and a face. This transformation into His likeness is the ultimate goal, supported by the consistent biblical testimony that God has a body and form, which we are destined to share. We are called His children, partakers of the divine nature, and thus, it is logical that we should reflect His image fully as His offspring. This clear revelation from God Himself establishes the pattern we must follow to understand our potential and strive toward becoming like Him.

Conversion involves a complete turnaround, a transformation initiated and maintained by the grace of God. It is a total shift from our former ways to embodying humility, trust, submission, and love—childlike attitudes that reflect Christ's character. This process is not something we can achieve on our own; only God has the power to save us from destruction, to cleanse us, and to set us on the right path toward His Kingdom. God's instructions are perfect and exhaustive, capable of turning a life around. They restore us, helping to transform every facet of our existence from a sinful state under the sway of the adversary to becoming godly. This transformation is not merely about overcoming a single sin but involves a total change of our entire way of life. Through learning and applying God's way, we become thoroughly convinced that it is the only way to live. Conversion is not a one-time event but a continuous process. Even after initial conversion, we may fall away in certain areas and need to be reconverted, turning back to the right way. These episodes of conversion occur throughout our lives as we stray and must be realigned with God's path. It is a lifelong journey of transformation, addressing specific sins and weaknesses, and striving to reflect Christ's image more fully. This transformation is both internal and external. It begins with a change of mind, a shift in perspective and thinking, followed by a change in conduct, altering the way we live. Both aspects are essential, confirming conversion through a visible turnaround in lifestyle. God considers this dual process of repentance and conversion as prerequisites to forgiveness and His presence in our lives, bringing a sense of joy, relief, and rest as we align with Him. As we work to be transformed into Christ's likeness, we must recognize that not all are converted to the same extent or in the same areas. Some struggle with specific sins while being aligned in others. Patience and forbearance are necessary as God works to turn each person back to godly living. In bearing one another's burdens, we support this ongoing transformation, preparing ourselves and others for the Kingdom of God.

The sovereign purpose of God the Father is to transform us into the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ, aligning perfectly with the meaning of the Days of Unleavened Bread. These days symbolize our journey to become Christ-like by purging sin from our lives through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Father, and His Son. The Father's love intricately weaves every circumstance of our lives into a beautiful tapestry, shaping us with a purpose that He has predetermined. This purpose, as outlined by Paul, is to conform us to the image of His Son, ensuring that Christ is the firstborn among many brethren. God has marked us out with boundaries for our development and protection, molding our character to reflect that of Christ. The Father's ultimate plan is to replicate Christ's character within a multitude of unique personalities, unifying them through a shared holiness. This transformation requires us to follow Christ, allowing His mind to be instilled in us. As we are called and respond in faith, the Father justifies us, guiding us to overcome sin and embody righteousness. The process culminates in glorification, where we will fully bear the shining glory of God, reflecting His light perfectly in a renewed existence. To be Christ-like is not a choice but a necessity, driven by the Father's pursuing love and His desire to adopt us into His family, shaping us through every trial and triumph according to His eternal plan.

For those who have responded to God's call, been baptized, and received His Holy Spirit, He has made them alive, though they were once dead in trespasses and sins. This transformation is a profound change, a spiritual renewal that mirrors the resurrection of Christ Himself. As He was raised from the grave, so are we raised spiritually, no longer bound by the realm of sin and death. We are united with Christ, dying with Him to the old self and living with Him in a new life, sharing both His sufferings and His joys. This process of being raised together with Christ means we are no longer under the wrath of God or condemnation. We are justified through His resurrection, emerging from the spiritual grave as He emerged from the physical one. Our status changes; we are no longer slaves to sin, though we may still face temptations. Our citizenship is now in heaven, reflecting a complete shift from the dominion of sin to a new spiritual realm in Christ. Positively, this transformation makes us alive to God. Where once we were dead to Him, now we have a living relationship with Him, awakened to His infinite nature. Our enmity towards God is replaced with a desire for Him, recognizing His love, mercy, and righteousness. We no longer flee from Him but seek intimacy through prayer and a longing to draw nearer. Our greatest desire becomes to be with God and to reflect His likeness. We walk in newness of life, living according to God's way, with a renewed mind that thinks in terms of eternity rather than temporary pleasures. Our values shift, assessing everything by how it glorifies God and impacts our relationship with Him. Our desires turn towards righteousness and true holiness, grieving over sin as an offense against God who loved us so deeply. This new life manifests in a heart that loves brethren and shows compassion for those outside, reflecting a will aligned with God's, striving to develop righteous character through overcoming challenges and living out His love.

Our destiny, as revealed through Scripture, is to be transformed into God's likeness, a concept often misunderstood and criticized as blasphemous. Yet, this transformation is central to God's purpose for us. We are children of God by creation, but through a cooperative, time- and experience-consuming process, God is creating something far greater within us. This is not a mere fiat creation, but a spiritual transformation guided by the Holy Spirit, moving us from human nature to godly nature. This process is evident in our walk toward a divine destination, motivated not by the carnal mind, which leads to death, but by the Spirit, which brings life. Those in the Spirit have Christ dwelling in them, and through His imputed righteousness, they are promised a greater life—eternal life. We are called to be glorified together with Christ, entering a state of blessedness and honor, reflecting the very glory of God. This glory is not just a future hope; it has already begun as we are transformed by the divine nature within us. We will be qualitatively equal with God, sharing the same kind—the God-kind—possessing the same quality of life as the Father and Son. However, we will not be quantitatively equal, as there will be differences in rank and glory within the God-kind. Some will shine brighter than others, just as celestial bodies vary in brilliance, yet all will be of the same divine essence. Our rank, though not equal to the Father or the Son, will be exceedingly high, placing us in the central governmental structure of creation, as part of Christ's staff in His Kingdom. In summary, we are created to grow into literal sonship, becoming sons of God who are qualitatively equal to our Father in kind, yet always in thankful submission to our quantitatively greater Creator, Father, and Elder Brother. This transformation into God's likeness is the ultimate purpose of our resurrection and the hope of glory that drives us forward.