Introduction: Gospel Formed Life

Who am I becoming?

I believe that one thing distinguishing us from the rest of creation is our ability to comprehend who we are and who we are becoming.

For example, a plant isn't self-aware as a seed. It has no cognitive awareness of the type of flower it will be. It isn't conscious of its development into a tulip or oak tree. Yet, encoded in its DNA is the genetics that dictates what it becomes. As a seed develops, it cannot change its mind and become something else. A tulip doesn't trim its own leaf. It doesn't decide to grow acorns instead.

Yet, we humans are aware of who we are and who we are becoming. We are capable of understanding our own change and participating in this change. Of course, as others often point out, this isn’t perfect or omniscient awareness, but we are aware nonetheless.

I was doing some spiritual work with friends recently. It was kind of a small group led by a spiritual guide. The woman leading the discussion told my friend she wanted to tailor a spiritual discipline specifically for her. She suggested that she paint a picture. This was not just any picture. She wanted her to paint a picture of the person she did not want to become late in life.

I was so curious about this exercise. What did that person look like? What was her smile like? What was her facial expression?

She also wanted her to paint a picture of who she did want to be later in life.

What did that person look like?

What was her smile like? What was her facial expression?

Though the practice wasn't for me, it stuck with me. I thought about it a lot and still do.

Now, if I painted a picture of the person I didn't want to be or the person I was going to be, it would be the same picture since I can only draw stick figures!

Who would you draw? What would your painting look like?

Who is the person you are becoming? Who is the person that you want to be?

We spend so much time and effort on the how of formation but not nearly enough time dwelling on the who. We have prayer practices, solitude retreats, giving audits, spiritual gift assessments, etc. The list goes on and on. We focus on the how, but Scripture points to the who.

As the church of the living God, we are being formed into Christ. Our little seed is growing into Christ's likeness. At the end of our life, the person we will paint looks like Jesus, smiles like Jesus, and loves like Jesus.

Our transformation is not a process of self-discovery; it is a formation into God's character as revealed in Jesus, the Messiah. The author of Hebrews describes Jesus as the exact representation of God's being. Paul says that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Jesus himself says anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.

It's an incredible thought. We are being formed into Christ's likeness. Christ is the fullness of God. God is transforming us into himself.

In historical Christian theology, this is referred to as theosis. Theos is the Greek word for God. Thus, theosis means becoming God or becoming like God.

As beautiful as a spring tulip is, it is not nearly as beautiful as who you are becoming. God is painting you into the image of his son.

Read these different passages and meditate on this concept for today.