Viewpoint Brief Bible Study #32 |
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JESUS calls US to be |
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The Christian religion is the worship and service of Jesus Christ. It’s not Mary we worship, but her Son. We worship neither saints, angels, a law code, nor even God’s Spirit. It’s JESUS who is to be honored. The Bible is our guide. |
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From The Word of Truth Publication.
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MAN -- MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle , and over all the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them" (Genesis 1:26-27) JESUS, THE EXPRESS IMAGE OF GOD
One of the neglected truths of the Gospel is the incarnation of Christ. The Christian community has allowed the juvenility of contemporary views of "Christmas" to turn their attention from the real intent of Christ entering the world, to the tender scene of an infant in a manger. But this is not the primary view of Christ's birth presented in God's Word. Keep in mind, this is the Person of Whom it was said, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was GOD" (John 1:1).
Christ's Identity With The Fallen
In His birth, Jesus identified with the fallen race. Let it be clear, that such identity would not have been possible, if the divine image had disappeared from the race. Jesus became like the ones He came to redeem! Hear the Word of the Lord.
"For verily He took not on him the nature of angels; but He took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people" (Hebrews 2:16-17).
The Full Image In Christ Jesus
In Jesus, the Divine image is perceived; i.e., made accessible to those who believe the Gospel. The "fullness of the Godhead" dwelt "bodily" in Him, and it "pleased" the Lord for this to be the case (Colossians 1:19; 2:9). Here, in Christ, we obtain a proper view of the Living God. This is why the Gospel is so vital in maintaining our grasp of God and the things of God. In the heavenly Kingdom, nothing makes proper sense apart from Christ. Everything is wrapped up in Him, and Him alone.
A good understanding of human sciences and languages will never satisfactorily clarify God. God has NOT invested these things with the fullness of His image!
The "FULLNESS" of the Godhead is found bodily, or in a perceptible and accessible way, in Jesus Christ. This being the case, the incarnation not only provided a way for sin to be removed and its power destroyed. It also provided the means by which remission can be appropriated by the individual. This would not be possible if man did not bear the image of God.
There are several statements in Scripture that affirm this to be true. A brief review of some of them will accentuate the magnitude of our salvation.
The Express Image
"Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews1:3).
The relationship of the "express image" to our redemption is very important. Christ is set forth as possessing and using the cohesive power behind all things. Having been given "all authority in heaven and earth" (Matthew 28:18), Jesus is presently orchestrating all things for God's glory and for the good of His people. There is no aspect of the divine working over which He does not rule and reign.
The government has been placed upon His shoulder, and He is reigning in the midst of His enemies. In this capacity, He Himself is a precise revelation of God. He rules the way God rules. He holds everything together like God does. There is no difference between His administration and that of His Father. What is more, He upholds all things by His Word. He does not do it by coercion, nor does He do it by some form of magic. His Word is the force because of His Person! It is the Word of HIS POWER! That is a revelation of God. While some would prefer to think of God as upholding everything independently of His Word, He actually upholds all things by means of His powerful Word.
"By Himself," the Lord Jesus purged our sins. He removed them from us as far as the East is from the West (Psalm 103:12). He cast them in the depth of the sea (Micah 7:19), putting them behind the back of God (Isaiah 38:17). Not even God can see them now, for the Lamb of God has "taken away the sins of the world" (John 1:29). Here is a revelation of God; a precise revelation of God. In the capacity of a Savior, Jesus is the "express image of God." This is what God desires for humanity! He desires for their sins to be removed, and thus our Savior came to accomplish the Father's will. If you have ever wondered if your sin can be forgiven, wonder no more!
The "express image of God" purged your sins! His identity with us makes forgiveness possible.
The good pleasure of the Father is also seen in the current position of Christ Jesus. He is sitting on the right hand of "the Majesty on high." This is a position of favor and authority. He sits there because God is pleased with Him because of His redemptive work on our behalf. He is there now, executing the will of God!
In joyful expectation of glory, Given O. Blakely
Brief Bible Study #32 from Ray Downen. To go back to
Viewpoint's first page, click < here. Or here to go on to Viewpoint Study 33. For Ray's concluding remarks, click HERE.
