Post by Redeemed on Apr 22, 2023 14:26:01 GMT -8
God is restoring His image in us by conforming us to the image of Christ. It is through union with Christ that we are made like Him:
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers (Romans 8:29).
Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven (1 Corinthians 15:49).
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).
You have put off the old self [literally “man”] with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator (Colossians 3:9-10).
Only the last passage explicitly refers to the image of God, referring to Him as the “creator.” The other passages instead refer to the image of Christ—“the image of his Son,” “the image of the man of heaven,” and the “image” of the “Lord.” The image of God is not just being restored in us, but we are also being made into the image of Jesus. We are being “conformed” to Jesus’ image, “transformed . . . from one degree of glory to another.” And this is the work of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).
So we can see all three persons of the Trinity involved in this process. We were created in the image of God, presumably the Father. The Son took on human flesh and is thus the very image of God. Through union with Him, we as Christians are being conformed to His image, thus fulfilling the original design of God’s creation. And all this comes from the work of the Holy Spirit.
This conforming to Christ’s image takes place in this life. We rule over creation through work and cultural advancement (Genesis 1:26-28), and we herald Christ’s reign through discipleship and gospel proclamation (Matthew 28:18-20). However, complete restoration of God’s image must await Christ’s return:
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2).
Then God will give us our resurrection bodies that “bear the image of the man of heaven” (1 Corinthians 15:49). Oh how we await that glorious day!
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers (Romans 8:29).
Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven (1 Corinthians 15:49).
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).
You have put off the old self [literally “man”] with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator (Colossians 3:9-10).
Only the last passage explicitly refers to the image of God, referring to Him as the “creator.” The other passages instead refer to the image of Christ—“the image of his Son,” “the image of the man of heaven,” and the “image” of the “Lord.” The image of God is not just being restored in us, but we are also being made into the image of Jesus. We are being “conformed” to Jesus’ image, “transformed . . . from one degree of glory to another.” And this is the work of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).
So we can see all three persons of the Trinity involved in this process. We were created in the image of God, presumably the Father. The Son took on human flesh and is thus the very image of God. Through union with Him, we as Christians are being conformed to His image, thus fulfilling the original design of God’s creation. And all this comes from the work of the Holy Spirit.
This conforming to Christ’s image takes place in this life. We rule over creation through work and cultural advancement (Genesis 1:26-28), and we herald Christ’s reign through discipleship and gospel proclamation (Matthew 28:18-20). However, complete restoration of God’s image must await Christ’s return:
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2).
Then God will give us our resurrection bodies that “bear the image of the man of heaven” (1 Corinthians 15:49). Oh how we await that glorious day!