Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
What is this nature and this image? Where, how and when does it come to the predestinate?
We are all born in the image of the first man Adam and the first man Adam was Romans 5:14 the figure of him that was to come.
Now then the question was asked. Heb. 2:6 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? From Psalms 8:4
And the answer was given: Hebrews 2:7,8 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing not put under him.
This was never given to the first man Adam and never intended for him and those in his image, yet it is the intent of God for man. What man? The last Adam Jesus the Christ who came in the image (figure) of the first man Adam. And in who's image we can and will be.
As the last part of verse 8 states: But now we see not yet all things put under him. (mankind)
Heb. 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Heb. 1:1,2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Appointed heir says at one point in time he did not have all things and after inheritance he had all things.
Hebrews 1:4 tells us one of the things he obtained by inheritance was a name more excellent than the angels. He inherited it when it was said, "Thou art my Son, (More excellent than the angels) this day have I begotten thee."
What day was it that he by inheritance obtained a name more excellent than the angels.
The firstborn from the dead. He was begotten of God the Father and born of the virgin Mary and he was also the firstborn from the dead.
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, (begotten by God in Heaven) the Son of man which is in heaven.
Thou art the Christ the Son of the Living God.
