4-Who are Christians?

After studying all 27 books of the New Testament, focusing on this specific question, one of the clearest conclusions I reached is that the destiny Scripture gives Christians is far greater than I had previously understood. Christians are not merely people who believe in Jesus and receive forgiveness. They are God’s children, Jesus’ brothers and sisters, members of his body, and people whom God is actively transforming into the image of Christ. Not every New Testament book

Orthodox Christianity maintains that Christians will truly be like Jesus. But what does this mean based on the Bible? How is being like Christ possible if he is God? 1 John 3:2–3 says, “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” (1 John 3:2–3) The word “like” is homoioi in Greek, f

What does it actually mean to become like Christ? First John gives Christians an astonishing promise: “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”—1 John 3:2 Romans says something similar: “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”—Rom

3. The Similarities and Differences between Jesus and Christians Only Jesus 1. Only Jesus is firstborn. 2. Only Jesus is preeminent. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And h

The diagram below shows that Jesus and believers are, or ultimately will be, alike in many profound ways while retaining distinct roles. Jesus is Savior, Lord of Lords, and King of Kings. Scripture also states that God saved Jesus from death (Hebrews 5:7): Jesus needed a Savior too, namely, God Himself. The comparison below identifies 40 significant ways Scripture places Jesus and Christians in parallel or describes realities they share, or ultimately will share. Therefore, I

1. Believers will truly be like Christ as fellow children of God, specifically as believers will become “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). However, each believer has a different role in the body of Christ, and no one will share Christ’s unique role as: the Head/Lord/King of kings/Leader and Savior of the Church Judge: Christ uniquely judges believers, while Christ and the Church together will judge more generally. 2. Psalm 139:13–15 says, “For you formed my

The movie “Remember the Titans” is based on real events surrounding the 1971 T.C. Williams High School football team in Alexandria, Virginia. That year, Alexandria consolidated its high school students at T.C. Williams, and the newly integrated football team went on to win the Virginia state championship. The interracial coaching staff of Herman Boone and Bill Yoast helped foster greater racial respect within the team during a period of significant tension surrounding school

Alexandria City Public Schools. “Brown v. Board and Titan Football.” Alexandria City Public Schools, https://www.acps.k12.va.us/about-us/history-of-acps/desegregation/titan-football. Alexandria City Public Schools. “T.C. Williams.” Alexandria City Public Schools, https://www.acps.k12.va.us/about-us/history-of-acps/tc-williams. Ellis, P. (2022). New Testament scriptures used to support original sin. Escape to Reality. https://escapetoreality.org/2022/08/18/new-testament-script