When we talk about spiritual formation, what do we say is being formed? Really what we’re talking about is a re-formation. So to answer our question, we need to back up to the way humans were originally created.

When God set out to create human beings, he said, "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like ourselves" (Genesis 1:26). He made Adam and Eve to reflect his own character. They lived in a loving relationship with God, each other, and the world around them. They could think and create. They had the ability to rule the earth. When those first humans sinned, however, these qualities were damaged, and they remain damaged in us. The image of God was marred by sin.

There is only one way back. God must create us again in his image. He does this by changing us to resemble Christ. Romans 8:29 says, "For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." Since Christ himself is God, to be conformed to the image of Christ means to be fully restored to the image of God in which we were first created.

So when we speak of spiritual formation, this is what is being formed, the character of Christ within our own lives. Paul tells us what this character is like when he lists the results of the Spirit’s work in us: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).

Sharing Christ’s character doesn’t mean we give up our individuality. God isn’t interested in erasing the unique personality he created for you. Instead, that personality is directed toward Jesus’ goals and driven by his motivations. We gain his perspective on life and express it each in our own way. As Romans 12:2 tells us, "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

Becoming like Christ is a process of transformation. 2 Corinthians 3:18 puts it this way: "So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image."

In the end, it will be not only our minds and hearts that are transformed into Christ’s image but our bodies as well. In this life our bodies don’t always cooperate with our desire to live like Jesus. We grow old, our abilities are limited, and our appetites and needs lead us into temptation. But as John says, "Dear friends, we are already God''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is" (1 John 3:2.) Our outer capabilities will match our inner desires, and the image of Christ in us will be complete.

This article is adapted from "Being Conformed to Christ’s Image" by J. I. Packer, in Practical Christianity, edited by LaVonne Neff, Ron Beers, et al (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1987).