Greater Conformity To Christ - What It Means

The Words Used

The English word means,

con•for•mi•ty \kən-ˈfȯr-mə-tē\ noun

plural -ties 15th century

1: correspondence in form, manner, or character: agreement 〈behaved in conformity with her beliefs〉

2: an act or instance of conforming

3: action in accordance with some specified standard or authority 〈conformity to social custom〉

Three Greek Words

A substantival adjective (an adjective functioning as a noun).

58.5 σύμμορφος, ον: pertaining to that which has a similar form or nature—‘similar in form, of the same form.’ προώρισεν συμμόρφους τῆς εἰκόνος τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ ‘he set them apart in order that they might be similar in form to the nature of his Son’ Ro 8:29; σύμμορφον τῷ σώματι τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ ‘of the same form as his glorious body’ Php 3:21.

Romans 8:29 NKJV

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Philippians 3:21 NKJV

who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

A verb from the same root word (morphee).

58.6 συμμορφίζομαι: to come to be similar in form to something else—‘to share in having the likeness of, to take on the same form as, to become like.’ συμμορφιζόμενος τῷ θανάτῳ αὐτοῦ ‘to come to be similar in form to him in his death’ .

Philippians 3:10 NKJV

that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

“The participle is present: it implies a continual progress. ... not a mere external resemblance, but a deep, real, inner conformity. The reference is not to the impending death of martyrdom, but to that daily dying unto self and the world which the apostle exhibited in the heroic self-denials of his holy life: he was ‘crucified with Christ’” (; comp. also ).” (The Pulpit Commentary).

A verb from a different word.

41.29 συσχηματίζομαι: to form or mold one’s behavior in accordance with a particular pattern or set of standards—‘to shape one’s behavior, to conform one’s life.’ μὴ συσχηματίζεσθε τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ ‘do not shape your behavior to the standards of this world’ .

Romans 12:2 NKJV

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

1 Peter 1:14 NKJV

as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;

The Working in Us!

Being conformed to Christ means being like Him!

It is being like Him, not only the way we live but in the way we think and feel.

It is being so much like Him that there is no likeness to this world.

It is being so different from our former person that we are completely unrecognizable as that old man.