In His Image

Romans 8:29 Page 17582 Corinthians 3:18 Page 1797

Last Week:

• God Uses the “Good” and the “Bad”.

Romans 8:28-30 Page 1757-1758

• RO 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness (NASB – Image)

of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

“Conformed”• sýmmorphos – properly, conformed, by sharing

the same inner essence-identity (form); showing similar behavior from having the same essential nature (used in Phil 3:10)

• Verse 29 reminds me that before the beginning of our existence God planned that we would be changed so that we took on the image of Jesus in our character and nature. It is God’s plan for us to be an image of Jesus.

Genesis 1:26-27• Then God said, "Let us make man in

our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.“ 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

“Image”

Back to Greek• 1504 eikṓn (from 1503 /eíkō, "be like") –

properly, "mirror-like representation," referring to what is very close in resemblance. Image (1504 /eikṓn) then exactly reflects its source. For example, Christ is the very image of the Godhead (see 2 Cor 4:4; Col 1:15).

• "1504 (eikṓn) assumes a prototype, of which it not merely resembles, but from which it is drawn" (R. Trench). 1504 (eikṓn) then is more than a "shadow"; rather it is a replication.

Colossians 3:5-11 Page 1834• Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to

your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Colossians 3:5-11 Page 1834• 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have

taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

In The Process of Becoming…• Our lives are in the process of becoming an

image of Jesus. His life gives us the image of God who had remained invisible. In chapter 1 of Colossians Paul uses verse 15 to remind us:

• COL 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

• It is our responsibility to share this image without distortion!• 2 Corinthians 4:1-4

2 Corinthians 4:1-4 Page 1797• Therefore, since through God's mercy we

have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 3:18 Page 1797• And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect

the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Digital Camera• Most of the time the image is a true copy of

what the camera saw but not always. • Have you taken a blurry picture or one that

did not turn out right?

• Pictures from the morning!

Exact Copy????• God created us in His image to be perfect, but

just like a computer can "warp" or change an image until you can't recognize the person in the photo, so sin warped the image of God in us.

• God, however, sent His perfect image, Jesus Christ, to restore God's image in us as we accept Him as our Savior and Lord.

Looking Too Closely

Pictures or Words?• Which do you think would be more accurate,

a picture of the person, or a physical description?

• How about if someone gave you both?

Reflecting Jesus

• Tell Me When You See Your Reflection.

2 Corinthians 3:18 Page 1797• And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect

the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Taking It Home:• What parts of your life best reflect Jesus?• What parts need the most transformation?• Who is looking to you to see Jesus?• How are you using your life and words to

make the image more complete?• This week let’s commit to showing and telling

others about Jesus.

Next Week• Balancing Faith and Works

• James 2:14-18• Page 1882