Signs of Being A Son of God-Bearing the Image
Bearing the image.
How often do we say a child looks just like their parents? As children we show the image of our parents in our eyes, hair color, complexion, etc. In fact, as we get older and look at pictures of our family, it is often said that we are the “spitting image” of our parents.
But as sons/daughters, we show that we are the image of our parents in more than our looks. We show it in our speech, mannerisms, and actions. We imitate what we have been taught and we often desire to grow up to be just like our parents. Maybe we’ll learn the same job as our father did, or go to the same school he did, or even talk like he did.
So let’s look at what it means as a son/daughter of God to bear His image. Turn with me to Gen 1:26:
Ø Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Image- 6754 צֶלֶם, צֶלֶם [tselem /tseh·lem/] n m. From an unused root meaning to shade; TWOT 1923a; GK 7512 and 7513; 17 occurrences; AV translates as “image” 16 times, and “vain shew” once. 1 image. 1a images (of tumours, mice, heathen gods). 1b image, likeness (of resemblance). 1c mere, empty, image, semblance (fig.). Shadow—not an exact duplicate (what is seen)
Likeness- 1823 דְּמוּת [dâmuwth /dem·ooth/] n f. From 1819; TWOT 437a; GK 1952; 25 occurrences; AV translates as “likeness” 19 times, “similitude” twice, “like” twice, “manner” once, and “fashion” once. 1 likeness, similitude adv. 2 in the likeness of, like as. Shape, manner, model (similarity)
When God created man, He created him as a shadow and in the same shape as God. In other words, man bore the very image of God as much as was possible in the human body he was given. He did not create man to be God or to be an exact duplicate of God. Rather
“. . . man was placed on earth as God’s representative, and . . . He resembles God in certain ways. Just as God is a Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), so man is a tripartite being (spirit, soul, and body). Like God, man has intellect, a moral nature, the power to communicate with others, and an emotional nature that transcends instinct. There is no thought of physical likeness here.”[i]
Example: My hand on the screen shows a ring as a shadow so you can tell it is in the shape of a ring, but you can’t tell exactly what kind of ring it is (e.g. wedding, college) or what color of jewel it has (or if there are any jewels). You can only see the shadow and shape of a ring, but not an exact duplication of it.
Notice that a result of man being made in the image (shadow) and likeness (shape) of God is that Man was given authority to rule over the earth—God’s creation. God created man to be as much like Him, so that when the enemy saw man, he saw the shadow and shape of God walking around on this earth exercising God’s authority. The enemy knew that man was in charge of God’s creation, and when he saw man, he saw God’s shadow and shape. Is it no wonder that satan wanted to destroy the image of God—man?
But I think there is also more to this than appears on the surface. As we dig a little deeper, we will discover how it truly was in the Garden of Eden.
Ø Gen 2:24 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
Have you ever thought about that? This man and woman walked around naked and were not ashamed, but we know that after the fall they were ashamed because they tried to cover their nakedness with fig leaves.
Ø Gen 3:7-10 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. 8 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”
So the two immediate results of their sin were shame and fear (not trusting God). Why were they not ashamed before the fall? I believe it is because they were actually covered with the glory of God! In fact, I believe what satan saw walking around on this earth was the very glory of God in man!
Why do I say this? Because God created man as much like Him as was possible as His very shadow and shape—His representative on the earth. And when He recreates us at salvation He makes His sons/daughters the very shadow and shape of God. Look with me at 2 Cor 3:18:
Ø (NASB) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image (shadow) from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Ø (NIV) And we, who with unveiled faces all reflecta the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness (shape) with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Ø (NLT) So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image (shadow).
Do you see what the Holy Spirit is doing in us as sons of God—making us look just like God! We are not only looking into the mirror so we can reflect the glory of God, but we are being changed (metamorphosed) into that same image (shadow) of God. Now, this is not new age teaching that says we are gods on the same level as God. But scripture tells us that God makes us partakers (sharers) of His divine nature (glory):
Ø 2 Pet.1:4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers (sharers) of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
—so when we get born again as His sons/daughters we share the same nature (glory) that God has.
Now go back to 2 Cor 3:13-16 and think about what is being said here by Paul.
“In the Old Covenant, Moses alone was allowed to see the glory of the Lord. Under the New Covenant, we all have the privilege of beholding ... the glory of the Lord. Moses’ face had to be veiled after he had finished speaking with the (Lord), but we can have an unveiled face. We can keep our face unveiled by confessing and forsaking sin, by being completely honest with God and ourselves. . . . beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord. The mirror is the word of God. As we go to the Bible, we see the Lord Jesus revealed in all His splendor (glory). We do not yet see Him face to face, but only as mirrored in the word.
And note that it is the glory of the Lord that we behold. Here Paul is not thinking so much of the moral beauty of Jesus as a Man here on earth, but rather of His present glory, exalted at the right hand of God. . . .
As we are (pre-) occupied with the glory of the risen, ascended, exalted Lord Jesus Christ, we are being transformed into the same image. Here, in a word, is the secret of Christian holiness—(pre-) occupation with Christ. Not by (pre-) occupation with self; that brings only defeat. Not by (pre-) occupation with others; that brings disappointment. But by (pre-) occupation with the glory of the Lord, we become more and more like Him.
This marvelous, transforming process takes place from glory to glory, that is, from one degree of glory to another. It is not a matter of instant change. There is no experience in the Christian life that will reproduce His image in a moment. It is a process, not a crisis. . . .
The power for this wonderful process is the Holy Spirit of God—just as by the Spirit of the Lord. As we behold the Lord of glory, study Him, contemplate Him, gaze on Him adoringly, the Spirit of the Lord works in our life the marvelous miracle of increasing conformity to Christ (making us in His image and likeness).
. . . Whereas only one man had the glory on his face in the Old Covenant, today it is the blood-bought privilege of every child of God. Also, instead of merely reflecting the glory of God in our faces, we all in the New Covenant are actually being transformed (lit., metamorphosed) into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. Whereas Moses’ face reflected (God’s) glory, our faces radiate glory from inside.”[ii] (Believer’s Bible Commentary)
One thing I believe in very strongly is that the work Christ did on the cross was more powerful that the work the enemy did in the garden! The whole purpose of redemption is to restore what was lost in the fall of man. If not, then the enemy was more powerful than God when he caused man to fall, and Christ’s resurrection was not powerful enough to reverse the damage caused by the enemy. NOT!!
When a man get born again, his spirit becomes a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). His spirit goes from being dead to alive! He receives the very nature of God in His spirit. He then has the responsibility to renew his soul with the word of God so that his mind, will, and emotions agree with God’s Word. Of course the last thing that will be restored is our bodies, but even in that there is a promise that one day they will be restored (Rom 8:23; 1 Cor 15:50-57) and this takes away the power of death over us.
So, when the Lord recreates His children according to His image (shadow) and likeness (shape) today at salvation, He is restoring the pattern that was lost in Eden. He is creating us in His shadow and shape, so that we become the image and likeness of God walking around on the earth.
Ø Rom 8:29-30 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed (shaped or molded) to the image (shadow) of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
God by His Holy Spirit is working in us daily to make us more like Christ—to shape and mold us so that we are the shadow and shape (image and likeness) of God Himself! In other words, so that we resemble our Father!
Ø Eph 4:24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Ø Col 3:8-10 (NASB) 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—
Ø (NCV) 10 You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you. This new life brings you the true knowledge of God.
Ø And we are told to in Eph. 5:1: “be imitators of God, as dear children.”
As a son/daughter of God we can know that though we were once children of darkness, we are now children of light. We can have the eyes of our understanding enlightened by the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:18). Our hearts can be united with the will of God and it is our delight and desire only to do His will in our thoughts, words, and deeds. Our speech can be that of our Father—the Words recorded in His Holy Word—that we speak just as His Son, Jesus would. We are being conformed to the image of Christ as we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us (Rom 8:29) so that others (including the enemy) will see His glory, not us.
Folks that is what Christ did on the cross and by His resurrection. He restored the glory to man that was stolen from him at the Fall. He restored the very image (shadow) and likeness (shape) so that today we can walk in His authority and glory.
Does the enemy see God’s shadow and shape walking in His authority when we walk into a place? If so, then he hates it and will try to destroy it. But thank God we have the power of God dwelling in us through Christ, so that he cannot destroy it and we can be victorious as the sons/daughters of God. So let’s go bear the image of our Father well everywhere we go! Let the enemy see God walking around on this earth in us! AMEN!
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n n: noun
m m: masculine
TWOT Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
GK Goodrick-Kohlenberger
AV Authorized Version
n n: noun
f f: feminine
TWOT Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
GK Goodrick-Kohlenberger
AV Authorized Version
[i]MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (electronic ed.) (Ge 1:26). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Gen 18:33; Lev 26:12; Deut 23:14
Lit wind, breeze
a Or contemplate
2 Pet 2:19
Lit Through which (things)
lit. Greek
[ii]MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (electronic ed.) (2 Co 3:18). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Rom 9:23; 11:29; 1 Cor 2:7; Eph 1:5, 11
Rom 8:28; 9:24; 1 Cor 1:9; Gal 1:6, 15; 5:8; Eph 1:11; 3:11; 2 Thess 2:14; Heb 9:15; 1 Pet 2:9; 3:9
1 Cor 6:11
Rom 13:14
Rom 6:4; 7:6; 12:2; 2 Cor 5:17; Col 3:10
Lit man
Lit according to God
Eph 2:10
[iii]New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Eph 4:24). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
Or Stop lying
Eph 4:25
Eph 4:22
Eph 4:24
Lit renovated
Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 4:16; Eph 4:23
Gen 1:26; Rom 8:29
2 Pet 3:9, 13
James 1:27
[iv]New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (2 Pe 1:4). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
Eph 4:13, 24; Heb 12:10; 1 John 3:2
2 Pet 2:18, 20