Genesis 1:26-27 In His Own Image

(Gen 1:26-27)  “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.’  God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (NASB)

Among the other details of the creation, Genesis records the creation of man.  This brief two verse account provides some meaningful truth of which we should be aware.

First, God made a plan.  Another glimpse into the Trinity provides a dialogue during the period of creation.  God speaks to God saying, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness”.  Now this is significant.  It is significant because this isn’t true of any other created thing.  Only man is created in the image of God.  Many today lump man into the category of all other animals, nothing special at all in their view.  Scripture is clear; man is made in the image of God.

Okay, just what does that mean?  We look like God looks?  Well, yes perhaps but I believe the image of God goes further.  The image of God after which man was modeled goes further than appearance, much further.  We are clearly NOT God or gods at all but as a part of creation we are unique.  There are characteristics of God that are also imputed to man.  These then encompass the image of God as it pertains to man.

So some of the qualities of man that are unique in all creation involve our ability to reason, our ability to love, and our ability to comprehend life and death.  We also have the ability to develop relationships.  Perhaps most importantly, our being made in the image of God allows God to have a relationship with us.

The most important relationship we as believers can have is one with Jesus.  Remember that opening dialogue?  “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness”.  We said that conversation was God speaking with God right?  Well it was.  Jesus was part of that conversation and in fact it is Jesus who then did the creating.  Jesus Himself created man in His image.  ”For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him.” (Col 1:16)  It is worth reading all of the first chapter of Colossians to gain the full context.

Much later, after man fell and Moses recorded the Law to point to the need for a savior, God provided one.  Our Savior came to us as a baby human with a human mother.  So then was Jesus born in the image of man?  Not exactly.  Scripture says He, “… emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Php 2:7-8)  Jesus took on “The form of a bond-servant and the likeness of men”.

This helps prove to us that appearance isn’t the full meaning of, “in Our image, according to Our likeness”.  It isn’t possible for us to be made in His image and then have Him be made in our image.  Where is the original?  Well, it isn’t man – it is Jesus.  His image is more than, “Likeness” and “Appearance”.

So the relationship of man to God is by design from the beginning.  It goes beyond the way we have a pet that we care for, even love.  Pets don’t share God’s image.  The relationship God has with us is first based on our ability to have that relationship and that is based on the fact that we ARE made in His image.  When we blew it, He provided a way to bring us back into relationship with Him.  Even that is predicated on being made in His image because it provides the foundation for our reconciliation, for our redemption.  AMEN!

Galatians 4:4-7 Abba! Father!

Galatians 4:4-7  “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’  Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” (NASB)

Now today’s Scripture is just too big a bite to chew in the format of the periodic devotion and yet it is incomplete if chopped up.  So I’ve chosen to give you the whole passage but I’m going to reference only one of many points to make from it.  Please read and take at face value the message of our inheritance.  Today I’d like to focus on the God part of the passage.

I have referred to the Trinity in past entries and we’ve even seen Scriptural examples referencing the Father and the Son or the Son and the Spirit.  The significant aspect of this passage that I’d like to address today is the Trinity.  In Galatians 4:6, just one little verse, all three persons of the Trinity are revealed.  This passage reads, “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’”.

Let’s break it down.  Although Father, Son and Spirit are all God, this passage initially references the first person of the Trinity as, “God”.  We know this because of verse 4 which says, “God sent forth His Son”.  In other words, Jesus didn’t send himself.  He “Emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men” Phillipians 2:7 in obedience to the direction of the Father.  It was the Father, “God” who sent Him.

So we have established the presence of the Father and the Son in the passage.  Verse 6 goes on to share the results of our, “Adoption as sons”.  That result is the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit being sent.  “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit”.  So again we have the Father sending but this time He sends the Holy Spirit.  And it is worth noting here where the Holy Spirit is sent.  The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of His Son, is sent, “Into our hearts”.  When Christians claim Jesus in their heart, this is the Scriptural basis for the claim.

Let’s also not neglect the affect referenced here as to the Spirit of the Son living in our hearts.  That affect is an outpouring of, “Abba! Father!”  This phrase is interesting because it is actually the same word twice.  So, Abba! Father! Literally means Father, Father.  It is rendered “Abba! Father!” Because Abba is actually the Syrian word while patēr is the Greek word also for Father.  The Bible dictionary I consulted indicates that with mixed languages in use words were often doubled in this way.  So the Holy Spirit evokes from us our plea to our Heavenly Father, “Abba! Father!”.

So as Christians we believe that God is one but exists as three persons, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  This passage referring to all three is a significant proof text for this doctrine.  We are thankful today that the Father sent His Son, Jesus and that when His work on earth was finished and He returned to heaven the Father sent the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts and testify from within as to the Truth of His Word.  AMEN!

Philippians 2:5-7 Christmas part 3: Emptied

Philippians 2:5-7  “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” (NASB)

Have you considered the pre-thinking of the birth of Jesus?  You know, what was it He thought of the whole idea?  Scripture gives us some insight into what was considered and perhaps more importantly what was NOT considered prior to the incarnation of Christ.

This passage in Philippians explores what is known as the “Kenosis”.  This concept comes from the Greek word kenoō translated here, “Emptied”.  The doctrine of Kenosis is this idea that Jesus the eternal second person of the triune God came to earth in the form of man.  He did this having “Emptied Himself” of some aspects of his deity in order to make it possible.  The nature and extent of this emptying is fodder for debate and discussion but several things are clear. 

First, Jesus made the decision.  Jesus, “Emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant …”  So whether it was in obedience to the Father it was Jesus that did the deed.  He did the emptying.

Second, although Jesus became a man during this incarnation, He remained God.  We say that He is fully God and fully man at the same time.  His life demonstrated that both his divinity and his humanity were at work.  As a man he was tempted, he became hungry and ate, he became tired and needed sleep and etc.  At the same time he was fully God maintaining control over his creation, casting out demons, healing the sick and even raising the dead.

But the key thing I’d like to point out about his decision or thinking comes from the phrase, “Although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped”.  Jesus gave Himself up to this emptying even though He didn’t have to.  He, “Did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped”.  That is He didn’t hold on to it, He let it go.  His choice; let go.

Jesus coming to earth in the form of man as the baby Jesus born of Mary in an animal stall was His choice. It was His gift to us. He gave up His cushy place in heaven to put on flesh and walk among us for 33 years enduring all we endure. But, He endured even more, He not only surrendered when he became a man but he surrendered to the crucifixion though he had not sinned. His life and His death are the ultimate Christmas gifts to us. AMEN!