THE ETERNAL PURPOSE OF GOD: TO FORM SONS IN THE LIKENESS OF JESUS by Dr Josimar Salum

THE ETERNAL PURPOSE OF GOD: TO FORM SONS IN THE LIKENESS OF JESUS

Dr. Josimar Salum — August 3rd, 2025

For centuries, many have reduced faith to a religious system and the hope of “going to heaven” after death. But the Bible reveals something infinitely greater, deeper, and eternal: God called us, chose us, and predestined us with a glorious purpose — to be conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.

God’s eternal plan is not merely to rescue us, but to form in us the character, nature, and life of His beloved Son, so that Jesus may be the Firstborn among many brothers. This is God’s revelation, the heart of the Gospel of the Kingdom, and the eternal destiny of true disciples.

“For those he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

— Romans 8:29

THE FATHER REVEALED IN THE SON

Jesus did not come merely to forgive sins. He came to reveal the Father. He is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15), the radiance of God’s glory (Hebrews 1:3), the Word made flesh who dwelt among us (John 1:14).

“No one has ever seen God; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.”

— John 1:18

By revealing the Father, Jesus taught the eternal being to the sons of God. He is the perfect Son — and God desires many sons like Him. This is the eternal purpose: not merely to save sinners, but to form sons.

THE SON, THE IMAGE OF GOD

Jesus is what the Father desires to see in us. Being a disciple is not just about learning doctrine, but following Jesus, walking as He walked, living as He lived, obeying as He obeyed.

“Everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.”

— Luke 6:40

“Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”

— 1 John 2:6

THE DISCIPLE IS TRANSFORMED INTO HIS IMAGE

The Holy Spirit works in us to transform us, day by day, glory by glory, into the image of Christ. This transformation is not superficial — it is inward, deep, continuous, glorious — the essence of our life.

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

— 2 Corinthians 3:18

A NEW HUMANITY OF SONS

From eternity, God planned to form a family of sons in the likeness of Jesus. Not just servants, but sons born from above, holy, true, and obedient — in whom Christ dwells.

“He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love; and he predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ.”

— Ephesians 1:4–5

“Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

— Colossians 1:27

TO BRING MANY SONS TO GLORY

Jesus did not come merely to save isolated individuals, but to bring many sons to glory, forming a new family in the likeness of the Son.

“It was fitting for him, for whom and through whom everything exists, to bring many sons to glory.”

— Hebrews 2:10

THE HOPE IS NOT TO DIE TO GO TO HEAVEN, BUT TO RISE AND REIGN WITH HIM

God’s purpose for His sons is not to go to heaven when they die, but to rise with Christ and reign with Him. Death is not a desirable end but the last enemy to be destroyed.

“If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him.”

— 2 Timothy 2:11–12

“The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”

— 1 Corinthians 15:26

HOPE MANIFESTS TODAY AND WILL BE FULFILLED ON THE LAST DAY

“For if by the offense of one man death reigned through him, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ. So then, just as through one offense judgment came upon all men to condemnation, so also through one act of righteousness grace came upon all men to justification of life.”

— Romans 5:17–18

“See what great love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! For this reason, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and what we shall be has not yet been revealed. But we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

— 1 John 3:1–3

THE CLIMAX OF THE PURPOSE: GOD ALL IN ALL

In the end, when everything is restored, the Son will hand over the Kingdom to the Father, and God will be all in all. This is the climax of the eternal purpose: all things reconciled, subjected, redeemed, and governed by God through Christ.

“Then the end will come, when he hands over the Kingdom to God the Father… and the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.”

— 1 Corinthians 15:24–28

THE PURPOSE OF THE SON OF GOD

The eternal purpose of the Son of God, according to the Scriptures, is:

• To fully reveal the Father (John 1:18);

• To fulfill the Father’s will with perfect obedience (John 6:38);

• To establish and manifest the Kingdom of God on earth (Luke 4:43);

• To reconcile all things with the Father through the blood of the cross (Colossians 1:20);

• To bring many sons to glory (Hebrews 2:10);

• And finally, to hand over the Kingdom to the Father, so that God may be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28).

CONCLUSION

The eternal purpose of God is not to take men to heaven, but to form sons in the likeness of Jesus.

He predestined us to be conformed to the image of the Son, to share in His life, nature, obedience, mission, cross, glory, and Kingdom.

This is the Gospel of the Kingdom. This is the eternal purpose of God. And it will not fail.

#ASONE

GOD OR GOD: THE REMNANT WHO WILL NOT BOW. By Donald Ingabire

 

GOD OR GOD: THE REMNANT WHO WILL NOT BOW. Uncompromised. Unshaken. Unstoppable.

By Donald Ingabire

We live in a time where compromise has become normalized.

• Watered-down sermons.

• Comfortable Christianity.

• Sinful relationships masked as “grace.”

• Disobedience dressed up in nice quotes.

There is no room for compromise.

The Kingdom of God has no middle ground. There is no half God and half world.

In this gospel of the Kingdom, there is no 99% Jesus and 1% self.

It is either God or God. No alternatives, no negotiations, no backup plans.

But God is raising a remnant — a people who will stand even when others bow.

A generation who will not be moved by trends, applause, threats, or rewards.

A people who are not seduced by the temporary pleasures of sin.

A people who are dead to self and alive in Christ.

“I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.”

— Galatians 2:20

God is looking for such men and women today:

Men who would rather be thrown into a fiery furnace than bow to Babylon.

Women who would rather lose the palace than compromise their purity.

Young people who would rather lose followers than lose the fire.

Where are the Daniels?

Where are the Esthers?

Where are the Pauls?

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

— Joshua 24:15

They may not understand our decisions.

They may not understand why we say no to some things.

But we have seen the fire of God.

We have touched the hem of His garment.

We have tasted His mercy, and we have made our choice.

We will stand with this gospel of the Kingdom —

even if we stand alone, we will follow.

Even if the road is narrow, we will burn.

Even if the world is cold, we will not turn back.

We have nothing else but God.

It is either God or God.

• No plan B.

• No looking back.

• No second thoughts.

The Kingdom of God is at hand.

We are all in — sealed, surrendered, sold out, and set apart.

#AsOne

ROMAN CATHOLICISM / PROTESTANTISM X KINGDOM OF GOD By Josimar Salum 8/8/24

ROMAN CATHOLICISM / PROTESTANTISM X KINGDOM OF GOD By Josimar Salum 8/8/24

   1 - The church (building) is the center of the city X The disciples of Jesus, the community of Saints is the Church.

   They are people of all ages, born again, and they have nothing to do with the temple. 

   Note that, per example, in every Brazilian city the “church” is built in the central or highest place of the city. In other words, the Catholic temple in Brazil or the Protestant temple in American cities is the center. 

   The temple replaces King Jesus. It is not His Throne that is the center, but the altar of these “churches”. 

   So different from what the Bible says: 

   “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, of all nations, and tribes, and people, and tongues, STANDING BEFORE THE THRONE AND BEFORE THE LAMB, clothed in white robes, and palm branches in their hands.” Revelation 7:9 NIV 

   2 - The altar is a sacred place inside and in front of a temple where God dwells X God dwells in the Church, in His people everywhere.

   The Church is the House and Temple of God.

   “But if I am delayed, you should know how people ought to conduct themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15 NIV 

   “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16 NIV 

   3 - The church (the temple) is the center of devotion to God X The disciples work and live everywhere in devotion to God on a daily basis.

   “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17 NIV 

   4 - Priests, fathers and pastors are the representatives or vicars of Christ on Earth X The Saints are the Body of Christ on Earth.

   “Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ himself as the cornerstone, in whom the whole building is shaped and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you too are being built together to become a dwelling place for God by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV 

   5 - The Mass is the perpetual memorial of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and worship services are the central activity of the Christian life X The disciples are Jesus Christ on Earth, alive and resurrected among men, they are like Jesus, Salt of the Earth and Light of the world.

   The Eucharist and the Lord's Supper are a sacred memorial and are not part of any daily family meal. They are the exclusive act of the vicar or pastor and are not part of the family meal. 

   “WHILE THEY WERE EATING, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 

   Then he took the cup, gave thanks and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 

   I tell you, do not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.” Matthew 26:26-29 NIV 

   6 - Meeting in the temple on a specific day to worship and have fellowship X While they meet daily for fellowship (to eat bread together) and continue in the apostles' doctrine, in prayers and in the breaking of bread, they are the Church in the city. 

   7 - Only singing, praising, praying is spiritual X Living in a family, working, studying are equally spiritual to God.

   Jesus never scheduled a meeting with His disciples in the Temple of Jerusalem. But He scheduled and participated in meetings in the kitchens and living rooms of many families while He walked the dusty streets and roads of Israel. 

   The Church does not need a temple to be Church. The good tradition of believers meeting in buildings cannot suppress the Church that meets naturally every day. 

   In the life of the disciples with Jesus in the lands and cities of Israel there was no set time to be the church. The Church (the meeting), although it could be called to be a solemn assembly, was church every time the disciples met with one another. 

   Certainly, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers were given to perfect the Saints for the edification of the Body, but in Acts they gathered together because in the course of the days they had already gathered together and it was in these acts of meeting that the Church manifested itself. 

   Finally, the most important aspect of the Church is that it is an Ekklesia which is more than an assembly or gathering, but a Body to exercise the Authority of Christ.

   ““Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. 

   If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 

   But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 

   And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. 

   “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “

   Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 

   For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.””Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭15‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

   #ASONE