Becoming a Copy of Christ VS Experiencing Christ as the Shepherd of Our Souls

Becoming a Copy of Christ VS Experiencing Christ as the Shepherd of Our Souls

 

Rom 8:29 - "Because those whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brothers."

1 Pet 2:25 - "For you were like sheep being led astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."

Matt 11:28 - "Come to Me all who toil and are burdened, and I will give you rest."

 

Aspect	Becoming a Copy of Christ	Experiencing Christ as the Shepherd of Our Souls
Goal	To become a reproduction and copy of Christ	To receive shepherding, revival, and rest for our souls
Path	1. Not by self-effort to imitate 2. Through processes related to the riches of divine life 3. Let Christ live in us, be formed in us, make home in our hearts	1. Christ as life-giving Spirit shepherds from our spirit 2. Extends to every part of our soul (mind, emotion, will) 3. Take His yoke, accept the Father's will
Results	1. Become Christ's corporate expression 2. Express Him according to His image 3. Be constituted with Christ organically	1. Soul receives complete peace and satisfaction 2. Gain inner rest 3. Not only experience Christ but also enjoy Him
Example	Like the process of photocopying, producing an identical copy from the original	Like a shepherd caring for sheep, attending to all their needs and wounds
Application	1. Let Christ possess every part of our inner being 2. Let Christ grow fully within us 3. Be one spirit with the Lord, share one life	1. Let Christ shepherd and heal in our soul 2. Let Christ renew and transform our soul 3. Enjoy and taste Christ in our soul
Related Verses	1. 1 Pet 2:21-23 Christ as example 2. Gal 2:20 Christ lives in me 3. Eph 3:16-17 Christ makes home in heart 4. Rom 8:29 Conformed to Son's image	1. 1 Pet 2:25 Shepherd and Overseer of souls 2. Matt 11:28-30 Find rest for souls 3. Psa 23:3 Restores my soul 4. Phil 1:27, 2:2 Enjoy Christ in soul
Distinctions	1. Emphasizes life growth and transformation 2. Stresses Christ's reproduction and expression 3. Focuses on Christ's formation in us 4. Results in outward expression	1. Emphasizes life enjoyment and rest 2. Stresses Christ's shepherding and care 3. Focuses on Christ's shepherding of our soul 4. Results in inner satisfaction
Relationship	1. Mutually complementary: shepherding leads to reproduction, reproduction needs shepherding supply 2. Christ as soul's Shepherd is vital path to becoming His copy 3. Becoming copy needs soul's renewal, which comes from Christ's shepherding 4. While enjoying Christ as soul's Shepherd, we naturally become His copy 5. Both need Christ as life-giving Spirit working in us

 

"This table shows that these two truths are complementary: we need to let Christ be not only our pattern and life, but also let Him shepherd and transform us in our soul, so that we can genuinely enjoy and live out Christ."

 

*Please refer to the 2024 International Thanksgiving Conference  'Living the Christian Life and Church Life under God's Government for God's Economy'  Chapter 4 Becoming a Replica of Christ and Experiencing Christ as the Shepherd of Our Soul