Notes of Faith May 13, 2026
Pastor’s Pen Pulpit
February 23, 2003
“FAMILY LIKENESS”
Romans 8:29
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren.
When a mother shows off her newborn, admiring friends will remark, “he looks just like his daddy”, or, “my, how much she looks like your Aunt Gertie!”
Did you know that all believers in Jesus have a family likeness? While we are on this earth this likeness is in our characteristics. In Philippians 2:5 we read, “Have this attitude in yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus.” What is this attitude? The answer is found in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self- control . . . “
However, one day we will be fully like our Lord Jesus Christ, - “conformed to His image” as we see in today’s verse. This means the full, final and complete part of the believer’s redemption – the believer’s actual likeness to Christ. This change will be not only in attitude, character and nature, but also physically (and the older I get, the more I look forward to that perfect body)!
What does it mean to be “conformed to the image of His Son (Jesus)”?
• “Christ conformity” does not mean that we will all be prototypes of Christ. Each of us will retain our own individuality. We will recognize each other. It does mean that our body will undergo a complete change in molecular structure – the type and substance of our Lord’s body (Philippians 3:20-21). This body will be completely adapted to our new environment – Heaven!
• The new body will not be composed of flesh and blood
(I Corinthians 15:50 ff).
• The new body will be indestructible (I Corinthians 15:42, 53). We will no longer face sickness or death.
• The new body will be a glorious body (I Corinthians 15:43). Our new body will reflect the divine nature that indwells it!
• The new body will be powerful (I Corinthians 15:43) – like the Energizer Bunny we will go on and on and on!!!
• The new body will be a spiritual body (I Corinthians 15:44). The source of our natural life is our blood while the source of our new body will be Christ’s Spirit within us.
• The new body will be a heavenly body (I Corinthians 15:47-49). It will be adapted to a new dimension of existence – Heaven!
So how should all of this affect us today in our walk with the Lord?
On March 11, 1830, a little English girl was doing her lessons with her tutor, and the lesson that day had to do with the royal family. As she studied the genealogical chart in the book, she became aware of the astounding fact that she was next in line for the throne! At first she wept, and then she looked at her tutor and said, “I will be good!” The fact that little Victoria would one day be queen motivated her to live on a higher level.
Beloved, as believer’s we are today children of the King of Kings. Let’s live accordingly. God bless.
Love to you all,
Pastor Charles Covington
John 1:12-13
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Acts 17:26-28
He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and exist
Rom 8:16-17
he Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
1 John 3:1-3
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
1 John 5:1-4
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.
How blessed we are to be children of God…now act like it! Sorry, I couldn’t control myself. But understand that I am speaking to myself as well as those of you who read the entire devotion. May you be blessed in obedience today!
Pastor Dale