Made in Gods Image The Meaning of Image

Made in God’s Image

The Meaning of Image • “Image” – “You shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their figured stones and destroy all their metal images and demolish all their high places. ” (Numbers 33: 52) – LXX – “eikon” (Icon) • Man’s Purpose – Represent God • “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. ” (Exodus 20: 4) – Spread God – Be Fruitful & Multiply

The Fractured Image • What Went Wrong? – Genesis 6: 1, 5, 11 – Sin = “To miss the mark” • Fractured Images – “Sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it. ” (Genesis 4: 7) – “ 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ” (James 3: 7 -8)

Restoring the Image • The Promise of Restoration – “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ” (Colossians 1: 15) – “ 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. ” (Colossians 2: 9 -10)

Restoring the Image • How Restoration Happens – “…and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. ” (Colossians 3: 10) – “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. ” (2 Corinthians 3: 18) – “ 10 He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. ” (Hebrews 12: 10 -11)

Restoring the Image “ 18 And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. ’” Matthew 28: 18 -20