The Watchmans Study

I read a devotional which pointed out in Romans 8:29 “we must be conformed to His Sons image” which is Gods image because Jesus is God manifested image in flesh. So it raised a question, how do we become conformed back to the original image after the fall?

Conformation to God’s image

> if we are created in the image of God, then how do we become conformed to His image?

The tension you’ve identified reflects a crucial biblical distinction: humanity retains the status of bearing God’s image even after the fall[1], yet sin has damaged how people manifest and live out that image, making renewal and restoration necessary for believers[2].

Though the personal qualities that connect humans to God formally remain after the fall, they operate in twisted, corrupt ways—with fallen people directing their hearts and minds toward self, sin, and evil rather than toward God[1]. This explains why conformity to God’s image isn’t about recovering something lost, but rather about transformation in how you function.

Jesus himself perfectly imaged God through sinless relationships with the Father, others, and creation, and through his redemptive work restored people to harmonious relationships across all three dimensions[3]. Believers’ ultimate destiny involves becoming like Jesus—imaging him perfectly as he perfectly images God—making Christ-likeness the essence of Christian godliness[3].

This conformity happens through active engagement with Christ. As you behold the Lord’s glory with unveiled face, you’re progressively transformed into his image through the Spirit’s work (2 Cor 3:18). This transformation requires refusing worldly patterns and allowing your mind to be renewed, enabling you to discern God’s will (Rom 12:2). The new self is continuously renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator (Col 3:10), suggesting that growing in understanding of God and his character directly facilitates conformity.

The process is both progressive and ultimate: your inner self experiences daily renewal even as your outer self decays (2 Cor 4:16), yet your complete transformation awaits Christ’s return, when you’ll become fully like him (1 John 3:2).

[1] Kenneth M. Gardoski, “The Imago Dei Revisited,” Journal of Ministry and Theology Volume 11 (2007), 11:2:28–29.
[2] John S. Hammett and Katie J. McCoy, Humanity, ed. David S. Dockery, Nathan A. Finn, and Christopher W. Morgan, Theology for the People of God (Brentwood, TN: B&H Academic, 2023), 84.
[3] David L. Turner, “Image of God,” in Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1996), 366.