Can I ever expect to actually be like Jesus?

Galatians 2:20My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Philippians 1:6I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

John 14:12-14“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!”

Because Christ lives in you through his Holy Spirit, your old self is dead and your new self is growing to be more like Jesus. Will you ever actually be perfect? Not this side of heaven. But you will become more and more like him as you walk through life with him. Pray to continue becoming as much like the Lord as possible. Jesus promised that you will be empowered to do great things for him.

Romans 8:9You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)

1 Corinthians 1:30God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.

By yourself you cannot hope to live like Christ, for in your humanity you are not capable of it. But controlled by the Spirit of Christ in you, you can do what pleases God.

1 John 3:2-3Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.

You are made like Christ when you accept him as your Lord and Savior. In a sense, you are already perfect and not yet perfect at the same time. You will not be completely like Christ until you leave this temporal world. The promise of becoming like Jesus should motivate you to live a pure life in body and mind.