Then God is not configuring us into the pattern of his son.
But we know that he is.
My friend, only the blood of a spotless lamb could be offered up in the temple for the sins of the people.
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" - 1st Peter 1:18
The ONLY thing mentioned in the NT that can cleanse a person of sin is the blood of Christ. Please search and see - and tell me if I am wrong.
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Christians are indeed being made like Christ - but there are certain things about Christ that will be forever unique - his ability to suffer and pay for our sins in one of those things! Remember in the Revelation...
"I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals."
There are certain things that Christ alone can do.