A while back I wrote a devotional on the Promises of God, and pointed to the scripture in 2 Peter 1:4 that tells us that it is through God's promises that we "may participate in the divine nature."   In other words, God's word and His promises are a roadmap to help us conform to the image of Christ.  In Romans 8:28 we see the word conformed mentioned:

Therefore, it is evident that God has a plan for the life of His child.  His plan began before we ever knew Him.  But He knew us.  His plan was initiated through His Son Jesus before you and I were born.  Jesus is the first man who walked this earth who conformed to the image of God in every way.  Jesus became that which the law and mankind could not produce.  He is the firstborn of mankind who paved the way for the rest of us.  When we receive Christ, we are given the rights and privileges of sonship, for when God looks at us He sees Jesus, who perfectly conformed to God's image.  By this substitutionary arrangement, we are given, by God's grace, the conforming image of Christ.  But that is only the beginning of our conformity.  The Father does not want us to stop there.  His objective is to then help us grow into Christlikeness.  This is the incredible truth of sanctification.  When we believe and receive Christ, we are sanctified by Him while at the same time we are being sanctified by Him into Christ's image.  This is why a transformation into conformity to His image is necessary and why remaining in Christ is essential for this process.   Before I completely confuse any of you with the mystery of sanctification, let me make a connection as to why Jesus told us to abide in Him even though we may already be saved by Him. Remember what he told the disciples?  "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you."  It is because we are already clean(saved) that we must remain in Him.  His words, not mine.  It is there that the transformation takes place.

Our transformation process is found in close proximity with Christ and that is why Jesus has said clearly that we must come and remain in Him and He in us.  It is in this place that our flesh characteristics are exchanged for His spiritual characteristics which are called the "fruit of the Spirit."  Does this mean that we are more saved or more sanctified because we remain in Him?  No, it means that we are in the process that He invites us to that helps us be more like Him, and this can be seen as a necessary equipping and empowering of our life for serving Him like He served His Father.

What are some indications that we are not in His prescribed process that conforms us into His image?  Consider the frustration we feel by feeling ill equipped and uninspired to serve others?  This alone would indicate that we are operating without His power and favor.  We hold onto a form of godliness but deny its power. (2 Timothy 3:4)   When we are transformed and conformed, this frustration is replaced with a calm assurance and awareness of our role in serving Christ.  Selfish motives and agendas are replaced with a simple motivation to love and honor Christ by loving and serving others.  The truth is, a greater love for Christ increases when we have greater exposure to Him.  We simply get to know Him through abiding in Him and it creates in us a sincere desire to bring Him pleasure with our life by serving others.

I hope you are beginning to understand that God knows His creation and He realizes that since He gave us the right to choose, He waits for us to respond.  He does not demand that we remain in Him.  He has the right to do so.  But He waits for us to finally figure out that He knows what is best for us and His way is the best way.  My question to you is, "Will you accept His invitation?  Will you remain in Him?"