基督是模型，我们是复制
基督是典型、模子和模型。神已将我们都放在祂里面，使我们模成祂长子的形像。有时候姊妹们作饼，将面团放在模子里。面团放在模子里，就有模子的样式和形像。不但如此，面团也必须烘烤，使饼成形，有模子的样式。神的长子基督是原型、模型和模子。我们都已被放在模子里，现今神的手正在揉我们。
我们已被命定模成神儿子的形像，使祂在许多弟兄中作长子。神的目的是要产生祂长子的许多弟兄。当基督是独生子时，祂是独一的，但神渴望得着许多儿子，作祂儿子的许多弟兄。这样，神的独生子就成为许多弟兄中的长子。
神得众子的目的是要我们团体的彰显神
神得众子的目的是要我们团体的彰显神。神的国是由祂的众子建造的，基督的身体是由祂的众弟兄建造的。没有众子，神绝不能得着国；没有众弟兄，基督绝不能得着身体。因此，神的众子是为着神的国，基督的众弟兄是为着基督的身体。神的国就是身体生活，在教会里的这身体生活就是神的国，在此祂得着彰显，并且祂的管治权在地上得以施行。
罗马书八章三十节说，“祂所豫定的人，又召他们来；所召来的人，又称他们为义；所称为义的人，又叫他们得荣耀。”在永远里我们被豫定，在时间里我们蒙呼召。为甚么神这样安排我们的环境、境遇和景况，使我们经历苦难？我们必须领悟，神的目的是要使我们成为长成的儿子，而不是小孩子。我们不该满意于一直作小孩子，享受祂的顾惜和爱。神要使我们成为长成的儿子，完全长大成为法定的后嗣，使我们在这宇宙中承受祂的一切所是，并使我们彰显祂，且在地上施行祂的管治权。
请享受生命诗歌373首 (点击诗歌名）
Conform to the Image of God’s Son — Rom. 8:29
God’s firstborn Son is the prototype, and we are the mass production. God has put us all into Him that we may be molded into the image of His firstborn Son. Sometimes when the sisters make cakes they put dough into a mold. By being put into the mold the dough assumes the pattern and image of the mold. Furthermore, the dough must also be baked so that the cake may bear the pattern of the mold without any change. Likewise, Christ, the firstborn Son of God, is the prototype, pattern and mold, and we are pieces of dough. We all have been put into the mold, and are now being kneaded by the hand of God.
We have been predestinated to be conformed to the image of God’s Son that He may be the firstborn among many brothers. God’s purpose is to produce many brothers of His firstborn Son. When Christ was the only begotten Son, He was unique, but God desired to have many sons who will be the many brothers of His Son. In this way the only begotten Son of God becomes the firstborn among many brothers.
The Purpose of God Gaining Many Sons Is to Express Him Corporately
The purpose is that we express God in a corporate way. God’s kingdom is built up with His many sons, and the Body of Christ is built up with His many brothers. Without the many sons God could never have a kingdom, and without the many brothers Christ could never have a Body. Thus, the many sons of God are for the kingdom of God, and the many brothers of Christ are for the Body of Christ. The kingdom of God is simply the Body life, and this Body life in the church is God’s kingdom where He is expressed and where His dominion is exercised on the earth.
Rom. 8:30 says, “And whom He predestinated, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” In eternity we were predestinated and in time we were called. Why does God arrange our environment, surroundings, and situations in such a way that we experience suffering? We must realize that God’s purpose is to make us full-grown sons, not little children. We should not be content to remain children enjoying His cherishing and loving. God intends to make us full sons, completely grown up to be legal heirs that we may inherit all that He is in this universe and that we may express Him and exercise His dominion over the earth.