WHAT IS THE GOD IMAGE?
“….let us make man in our IMAGE,
after our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26 KJV).
“…..God created man in his own
image…..male and female created he them…” (Genesis 1:27 KJV). “….God formed man of the dust of the ground (body), and breathed into his nostrils the breath
of life (HIS Spirit
or His IMAGE); and man became a living soul (soul)…” (Genesis 2:7 KJV).
“….let us make man in
our IMAGE, after our likeness…”
(Genesis 1:26 KJV).
“…God is not human (he is not a body, he
is not a self, or the flesh, or a soul)…” (Numbers 23:19 NIV). “…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…the Spirit of God dwell in you (and dwelt in Adam and Eve)…” (Romans 8:9 KJV).
*
What
is an image? An image is a mental or visual representation, you have, of
yourself or someone else. A representation of that image is something that or
someone who reveals or demonstrates what that “image” is like.
A representative also reveals
or demonstrates the exact likeness of a particular image such as a picture,
sculpture, painting, drawing, or carbon copy.
What is an “likeness”
of an image?” An likeness of an image, is NOT “the” image, but it will resemble
that image, in some way. The resemblance of an image provides a visual or
mental depiction, or idea, or description of something or someone.
The
God Image is not a mental or visual
representation of God as we understand it, but it is an spiritual representation of God and provides an understanding of
his LIKENESS. By faith, we understand, that the whole world was created by God.
“… BY
FAITH (trusting in and depending
upon God) we understand that THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE WAS FORMED at God’s
command...” (Hebrews 11 NLT). By faith, we understand, what God is LIKE. “… BY FAITH (by trusting in and depending upon God) we understand ....that what we now see did not come from anything
that can be seen...”
(Hebrews 11 NLT).
The first man, Adam,
was created “in” HIS IMAGE “after” his
LIKENESS! “….LET US
MAKE man … after our likeness (to resemble us) …”
(Genesis 1:26 KJV). “…in his OWN IMAGE (A
representation)…..male and female created he them …” (Genesis 1:27
KJV). “…And the LORD God
formed man [of] the dust of the ground (body), and breathed into his nostrils the breath
of life (SPIRIT (God's image));
and man became a living soul (soul)…” (GENESIS 2:7 KJV).
In order to understand
what that likeness IS; you must first understand GOD’S IMAGE. “…GOD IS SPIRIT (the BREATH of LIFE)…”
(John 4:24 KJV).
God’s image was
breathed into Adam, which made Adam a representative of his image. “…And the LORD God ...breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life (His Spirit or image)…” (GENESIS 2:7 KJV).
“….let us make man in our image,
after our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26 KJV). “…God is not human (he
is not a body, he is not a self, or the flesh, or a soul)…”
(Numbers 23:19 NIV). “…GOD IS
SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…the
Spirit of God dwell in you (and dwelt in Adam
and Eve)…”
(Romans 8:9 KJV). Adam and Eve were originally, created representatives of HIS
IMAGE (SPIRIT).
Remember, God is Spirit. “…GOD IS SPIRIT…”
(John 4:24 KJV). God’s IMAGE is SPIRIT. “…God
is not human …” (Numbers 23:19 NIV).
“…GOD IS SPIRIT…”
(John 4:24 KJV).
"… that which is born (starts to
exist) of the Spirit is spirit…” (John 3:6 KJV). “…And the LORD God ...breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life (His Spirit or image)…” (GENESIS 2:7 KJV). When
Adam and Eve came into existence, they came into existence with HIS IMAGE,
which is SPIRIT.
“… BY FAITH we understand that ...[Adam and Eve]... WAS FORMED at
God’s command...” (Hebrews 11 NLT).
They resembled God, the Holy Spirit, because they were able, through his “breath of life” or indwelling Holy Spirit to represent HIS IMAGE. “…And ...man became a living soul (a soul connected or united with the God
IMAGE or SPIRIT)…” (GENESIS 2:7 KJV).
His likeness is clearly WITNESSED by the
things God creates. “… since the creation of the world His invisible
attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have
been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made…”
(Romans 1:20 NASB). God MADE mankind.
Adam and Eve were MADE
by God and initially represented HIS IMAGE (which
is SPIRIT). HIS IMAGE, however, was
not and could not be a BODY IMAGE or a self-IMAGE, because God is SPIRIT. “…God is not human (not
body; not self) …” (Numbers 23:19 NIV). “…GOD IS SPIRIT…”
(John 4:24 KJV).
"… that which is born (is created)
of the Spirit is spirit…” (John 3:6 KJV). “…And the LORD God ...breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (His Spirit or image)…” (GENESIS 2:7 KJV).
“… since the creation of the world His invisible
attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have
been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made…”
(Romans 1:20 NASB).
“… since the creation of the world His invisible
attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have
been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made
(through the “making” of adam and eve)…”
(Romans 1:20 NASB).
“… BY FAITH we understand that ...[Adam and Eve]... WAS FORMED at
God’s command...” (Hebrews 11 NLT). His command was: “….LET US MAKE
man … after our likeness …”
(Genesis 1:26 KJV).
“…in his OWN image
(Spirit IMAGE)…..male and female created (MADE) he them …”
(Genesis 1:27 KJV). “…And
the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground (body), and breathed into his
nostrils the breath of
life (His Spirit or IMAGE); and man became
a living soul (soul)…”
(GENESIS 2:7 KJV).
The
God IMAGE is the SPIRITUAL likeness someone HAS (such as his INDWELLING Holy Spirit) that
makes them RESEMBLE, REVEAL, or DEMONSTRATE what God is LIKE. “…And the LORD God ...breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life (His Spirit or image)…” (GENESIS 2:7 KJV).
“….LET US
MAKE man (woman) … after our likeness (to resemble God, to demonstrate
God, to reveal God etc.) …” (Genesis 1:26 KJV). “…in his
OWN image (his OWN likeness)…..male and female created (MADE) he them …” (Genesis 1:27
KJV).
“The Son is ...the
exact representation of
his being (of the God IMAGE)…”
(Hebrews 1:3 KJV).
“…Jesus
saith … he
that hath seen me hath SEEN THE FATHER (has seen His IMAGE, his LIKENESS)…” (John 14:9 KJV). “…
I and my Father are ONE (Jesus resembled,
revealed, demonstrated God’s IMAGE or LIKENESS)…” (John 10:30 KJV). They are
just alike, son like father.
What the bible is
saying is that Adam was originally made or created with a GOD IMAGE and it had
NOTHING to do with his BODY IMAGE, SELF-IMAGE, or any other image. “… since the creation of the world (including
the creation of Adam and Eve) His (God, the Holy Spirit’s) invisible attributes, [which are]...His eternal
power and divine nature, have
been clearly seen, being understood (make aware of) through what
has been made (through
the “making” or creating of adam and eve)…”
(Romans 1:20 NASB).
God’s creation of Adam
and Eve was meant to make the earth AWARE of God, the Holy Spirit, through their representation of HIS IMAGE.
Adam and Eve were not
God, but they were created to RESEMBLE God’s IMAGE, which is SPIRIT, invisible, a divine nature, and eternal power.
Jesus was also created
to make the world AWARE of God, the Holy
Spirit, through his representation of HIS IMAGE. “…the Word (Jesus) was made (created) FLESH, dwelt among us, and we saw His glory
(God’s IMAGE (his presence, his goodness, and his power), glory (God’s IMAGE) as of the only begotten
(specially created (made)) from the Father, full of grace and truth....”
(JOHN 1:14 KJV).
God’s HOLY GLORY
is basically manifested in the MANY expressions of his invisible PRESENCE witnessed “through”
the things he has “made” or “created.”
“…God anointed (made him resemble
his image) Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Ghost (His IMAGE or character) and WITH POWER (His LIKENESS or conduct). [And he]...went about doing good, and healing all that
were oppressed of the devil; for GOD (who is SPIRIT) WAS WITH HIM.
And we are witnesses of all things which
he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem…”
(Acts 10:38-39 KJV).
“The Son (jesus) is ...the
exact representation of
his being (the exact representation of the God IMAGE)…” (Hebrews 1:3 KJV). God’s HOLY GLORY (IMAGE) was manifested(revealed)
through Jesus. We SAW his PRESENCE witnessed “through”
Jesus, who he “made” or “created” to be an exact representation of his IMAGE.
How exactly do we witness his PRESENCE in Jesus. “…Jesus of Nazareth...went about DOING good, and HEALING "ALL" that were oppressed of the devil; for GOD (who is SPIRIT) WAS
WITH HIM. And WE ARE WITNESSES of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in
Jerusalem…” (Acts 10:38-39 KJV).
Jesus manifested God’s
PRESENCE by what he DID, because the indwelling IMAGE was within him. “…The
Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he hath anointed me (empowered
me) to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the
brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to
the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable
year of the Lord…” (John 4:16-21 KJV).
Jesus revealed God’s
PRESENCE by TELLING, those watching, who was DOING the powerful works they were
witnessing. “…I do
nothing of myself…”
(John 8:28 KJV). “…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…”
(John 14:10 KJV).
Let’s talk about two other images for a
moment. Body IMAGE is a mental representation one has of his or her body. Self-IMAGE
is a mental representation one has of his or herself or character. Body IMAGE
and self IMAGE keeps people occupied with how they SEE themselves physically or
their own self-concepts.
Self-IMAGE and Body IMAGE heavily affect a
person’s self-esteem (worthiness) and confidence (self-abilities) because of
the mental representation they have of themselves.
The majority of people, upon earth, are inundated
with how they look, their outward image, the impressions they make, what others
think, the negative things they think of themselves, whether they’re liked or
disliked, or their reputations.
For instance, body IMAGE affects the way a
person SEES themselves, physically, especially when they look in the mirror.
According to statistics 90+% of people, upon earth, also struggle with a NEGATIVE self IMAGE.
A negative self IMAGE can affect how
a person behaves and their social interactions. It can also produce feelings of
insecurity and unhappiness with one’s body and/or physical self.
In addition, self-IMAGE also affects the
way a person SEES their OWN personal characteristics. According to statistics
the MAJORITY of people, upon earth, also struggle with a NEGATIVE IMAGE of their character.
Thus, both a negative body/self IMAGE can affect how
a person behaves, their thoughts, their beliefs about their self-abilities,
their performances, their perception of worthiness or respect, and how they
love or allow themselves to be loved.
Body image and self-image are earthly
concepts, which are developed from early childhood, and have nothing to do with God image.
My sister-in-the- Lord, Crystal, told me there is NO body image in the SPIRIT.
I would add, that most likely, there is NO self-image either.
Body image is concerned with the physical
self and self-image is concerned with the mental perception of self according to the flesh. However,
God IMAGE is concerned with the soul and the spiritual perception of the self according to God's word.
Adam had the “breathe of life.” “…And the
LORD God ...breathed into his (Adam’s) nostrils the breath of life (His Spirit or
image)…” (GENESIS 2:7 KJV).
The characteristics that Adam had that was
LIKE God’s, the Holy Spirit, and were
produced by the indwelling Holy Spirit. “…The fruit (characteristics) of the Spirit (his divine nature) is love,
joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). "....The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives …” (Galatians 5 NLT).
These
characteristics have NOTHING to do with a person’s BODY IMAGE or SELF-IMAGE.
These characteristics are PRODUCED by the indwelling
Holy Spirit or GOD IMAGE. Apart from the GOD IMAGE no man or woman can
produce “these” spiritual characteristics! "....The Holy
Spirit produces
this kind of fruit in our
lives …” (Galatians 5
NLT). “…Apart from [the Holy Spirit]… [mankind cannot]... do nothing [they
cannot produce spiritual fruit or characteristics LIKE God, the Holy Spirit]…” (John 15:5 NIV).
Even if you have a healthy and
positive body image or self-image they WILL NOT produce the God IMAGE. “…Apart from [the indwelling Holy Spirit]… [mankind cannot]... do
nothing [they cannot produce spiritual fruit or characteristics LIKE God, the
Holy Spirit]…” (John 15:5 NIV).
“...why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle!
Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? ...Such rules are mere human
teachings (even those that encourage
healthy and positive body and self-images)...These
rules may seem wise (having healthy and
positive body and self-images seem wise)...But they provide no help in conquering (overcoming) a person’s evil desires (regarding body image or
self-image)...” (Colossians
2:20-23 NLT).
“….human desire (regarding body or self-image) is NEVER SATISFIED…”
(Proverbs 27:20 NLT). Therefore, “… [YOU]…
are NEVER SATISFIED
(with your body image or self-image)...” (HABAKKUK 2:5 NLT). “… [God, the Holy Spirit] … will supply all [your
need for a healthy and positive IMAGE]…” (Philippians 4:19 NASB). “… [God, the Holy Spirit, ALONE will]… satisfy …and refresh everyone …” (Jeremiah
31:25 NASB). “…Apart
from [the indwelling Holy Spirit]… [mankind cannot]... do nothing (can’t find
satisfaction of body or self-image)…”
(John 15:5 NIV).
God GIVES each of his children the IMAGE he desires them to conform to and it is “…his OWN image…..male and female created he (God,
the Holy Spirit) them (as NEW CREATIONS)…” (Genesis 1:27 KJV).
“….
if any man (woman) be in Christ, he (she) is a NEW creature...”
(2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
“…God …predestined [his children] to be conformed to the image of his
Son…” (Romans 8:29 NIV). “…until Christ be formed in ...[them]…”
(Galatians 4:19 KJV).
Without the indwelling Holy Spirit, which imparts
the God IMAGE, mankind and God, the Holy
Spirit, are NOTHING alike. “…there is none like
unto thee…” (Jeremiah 10:6 KJV).
“…The
trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to [body image and self-image]. …I don’t really understand
myself, for I want to [like God] …but I don’t [allow myself to trust in or
depend upon God’s indwelling Spirit to develop a new IMAGE]... Instead, I
do what I hate. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is
[my body image and self-image]… living in me that does it. And
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to [be
like God) … [which]… is right, BUT I
CAN’T…Who will free me from this life that is dominated by [body
image and self-image]?...” (Romans
7:14-25 NLT).
“…The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord…”
(Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “….Apart from [jesus, the indwelling spirit],
[his children]… can do nothing…” (John 15:5
NIV).
God and mankind SHARE no
similar attributes or characteristics, without HIS indwelling Holy Spirit. “…there is none like unto thee (no body image
or self-image like God)…” (Jeremiah 10:6 KJV). “…You (God, the
Holy Spirit) are very GREAT;
You are
clothed in SPLENDER and MAJESTY,
Covering Yourself with LIGHT as with a cloak…”(Psalm 104:1-2 NASB).
For example, mankind
has a soul that needs to be RESTORED to the indwelling
Holy Spirit or God IMAGE. “…He restoreth my SOUL…” (Psalm
23 KJV).
HOW is the SOUL of man restored? “…It is the SPIRIT who gives LIFE (restores the soul through
the indwelling Holy Spirit or God image)…” (John 6:63 NASB). “The
Son (jesus) is ...the exact representation of
his being (the God IMAGE)…”
(Hebrews 1:3 KJV).
“……God made you ALIVE with Christ (the God IMAGE).
He forgave [you]… all [your]… sins…” (Colossians 2:13 NIV). “…he(she) that is joined unto the Lord
(Jesus, the God image) is ONE Spirit…
[with God again]...” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV). “…. old things (body image, self-image) are
passed away; behold, all things (God IMAGE) are become new...” (2
Corinthians 5:17 KJV). Body image or self-image are NOT necessary or reliable
resources for becoming a NEW CREATION . “…Therefore if any man (woman) be in Christ, he (she) is a new creature...”
(2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “… all things are … [MADE]
… NEW…” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “…I will
put a new spirit in you. …” (Ezekiel 36:26 NLT).
“...
and man(woman) ...[will become]... a living soul (AGAIN)…” (GENESIS 2:7 KJV).
“...For in him (in the God image) we (his children) live, and move,
and have ...[their]... being (identity, IMAGE); as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring (children)...” (Acts 17:28 KJV).
The indwelling Holy Spirit begins to PRODUCE the likeness of God, in
and through NEW CREATIONS and they will DISPLAY who God “IS” and what God is
“LIKE.” “... and
man ...[becomes]... a living soul
(AGAIN)…”
(GENESIS 2:7 KJV).
“…Now God (the indwelling Holy Spirit/ the God
IMAGE) GIVES US many kinds of special abilities, but it is the same HOLY SPIRIT who is the SOURCE of them all. …it is the same God who does the work IN and THROUGH all of us who are his. The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power THROUGH each of us … It
is the … Holy Spirit who gives all these gifts and POWERS…
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).
NEW CREATIONS resemble God,
not because of body image or self-image, but because of the “breathe of life, “ “the indwelling Holy Spirit,” or “the God IMAGE” that’s WITHIN THEM! “…It is God (the indwelling Holy Spirit)
which worketh IN YOU (his children) both to will and to do
of his good pleasure…”
(Philippians 2:13 KJV).
“…That great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with
everything good for doing his will…”
(Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…That great Shepherd of the sheep …work “IN
US” what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ (the God IMAGE), to whom be
glory (the witness of his PRESENCE, his goodness, and his eternal power) for
ever and ever. Amen…” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV).
If God is
NOT limited by body image or self-image, neither are his NEW CREATIONS!! “...For in him (the God
image) we (his children) live, and move, and have ...[their]...being
(identity); as certain also of your own
poets have said, For we
are also his offspring (children)...” (Acts 17:28 KJV).
Body image and self-image,
even if they are healthy and positive, are limitations when compared to God’s
image. “...why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle!
Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? ...Such rules are mere human
teachings (even those that encourage
healthy and positive body and self-images)...These
rules may seem wise (having healthy and
positive body and self-images seem wise)...But they provide no help in conquering (overcoming) a person’s evil desires (related, connected, and
impacted by body image or self-image)...” (Colossians 2:20-23 NLT).
God IMAGE produces spiritual
fruit, opens up revelation knowledge, and anoints with POWER.
FRUIT: “…The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: … peace….”
(Galatians 5 NLT).
REVELATION KNOWLEDGE: “…What we have received(THE INDWELLING HOLY
SPIRIT) is not the spirit of the world, but
the Spirit who is from … [GOD] … so that we may understand
(become aware of) what God has freely given
us. ….The
person WITHOUT the Spirit DOES NOT accept
the things that come from the Spirit of God …and cannot understand
(become aware of) them because they are discerned only through the Spirit (the indwelling
Holy Spirit/God IMAGE). …” (2 Corinthians 2:12-15 KJV).
POWER: Jesus
says: “… All power is given unto me in
heaven and in earth…” (Matthew 28:18 NASB). “… I appeared … as God Almighty…”
(Exodus 6:3 NASB). “…power
belongs to God…” (Psalms 62:11 NASB). “...One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples
and gave them (his children) power and authority to cast out all demons and to
heal all diseases...” (Luke 9:1 NLT).
Having the God IMAGE means you have been restored back to God through Christ.
You have been GIVEN all that is needed to produce spiritual fruit, reveal his
presence to others, to represent the goodness of his divine character, and to
demonstrate his eternal power!
The God IMAGE was witnessed
through Jesus Christ! “...The Son (jesus) is ...the
exact representation of
his being (the God IMAGE, his spiritual being or divine nature)…” (Hebrews 1:3 KJV).
The God IMAGE allowed Jesus to
experience who God “is” and “was” when he was WITHIN him. “…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and WITH POWER: who
went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for GOD WAS WITH HIM.
And we are witnesses of all things which
he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem…” (Acts 10:38-39
KJV).
“…The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me
to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and
recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To
preach the acceptable year of the Lord…”
(John 4:16-21 KJV).
The God IMAGE allowed Jesus to
recognize God, the Holy Spirit’s
presence, his divine nature through his goodness toward mankind, and his
eternal power. “…I do nothing of myself…” (John 8:28 KJV). “…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…”
(John 14:10 KJV).
“...This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves…”
(2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT).
The God IMAGE allowed Jesus to participate
in God’s holiness (freedom from sin, anointing, being set apart, etc.) and
righteousness (obedience)! “…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and WITH POWER ....for GOD WAS WITH HIM…” (Acts
10:38-39 KJV). “...that
by these (the Holy Word, Jesus, the God image) ye might be partakers (participants) of the
divine nature,
having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. …” (2 Peter 1: 4-9 KJV). Jesus,
the indwelling God image is “…the GIFT
of righteousness…” (Romans 5:17 KJV).
“... God’s
wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through ...Jesus Christ ...God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God (being restored, reunited with the Holy Spirit again) ...God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will
live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ...” (Romans 5:10-16 NLT).
“… my righteous servant (Jesus, the God IMAGE)
... [made]... it possible for many
to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins…” (Isaiah 53:11 NLT). “…
[He sent the ] …one … who can reconcile
God and humanity—the
man Christ Jesus (the god image)…”
(1 Timothy 2:5 NLT). “…[Jesus]...the GIFT of righteousness…” (Romans 5:17 KJV).
Every man or woman born into the world is
born WITHOUT the God image. They will forever be reduced and limited by body
image and self-image unless they repent and are restored back to the God IMAGE.
Those restored back to the God IMAGE must
trust in and depend upon God to free them from the limitations of body and
self-image!
The purpose of being restored back to the God image is not simply to know who you are “in” Christ, but to
also know and experience who Christ is, when God’s IMAGE is BACK “within” YOU!
“... It is God
(the indwelling Holy Spirit, the God IMAGE) which worketh in you...” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). “…The Spirit of God dwell[s]… in
you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). “…The Lord (the God
image) is that Spirit...[within me]…” (2 Corinthians 3:17 KJV). “…Jesus
Christ (the God IMAGE) is IN YOU…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV).
“…The
[Holy] Spirit of God (the God IMAGE) dwell[s] in you …”
(Romans 8:9 KJV).
The God IMAGE is not simply about WHO you are
“in” Christ, but WHO is Christ when he is “IN” you? “… We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars
containing this great treasure. This
makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves…” (2
Corinthians 4:7 NLT).
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