In His Image

1
In His Image

• Rom. 828-30

2
Rom. 828-30

• And we know that all things work together for
  good to those who love God, to those who are the
  called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He
  foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to
  the image of His Son, that He might be the
  firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom
  He predestined, these He also called whom He
  called, these He also justified and whom He
  justified, these He also glorified.

3
Conformed

• sýmmorphos properly, conformed, by sharing the
  same inner essence-identity (form) showing
  similar behavior from having the same essential
  nature (Phil. 310)
• Before the beginning of our existence God planned
  that we would be changed so that we took on the
  image of Jesus.

4
Gen. 126-27

• 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 both male and female He created
  them.

5
Image
6
Back to Greek

• 1504 eik?n - "be like", "mirror-like
  representation," referring to what is very close
  in resemblance, then exactly reflects its source.
  For example, Christ is the very image of the
  Godhead (2 Cor 44 Col 115).
• "1504 (eik?n) assumes a prototype, of which it
  not merely resembles, but from which it is drawn"
  (R. Trench). 1504 (eik?n) then is more than a
  "shadow" rather it is a replication.

7
Col. 35-11

• Therefore put to death your members which are on
  the earth fornication, uncleanness, passion,
  evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
  6 Because of these things the wrath of God is
  coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which
  you yourselves once walked when you lived in
  them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off
  all these anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy,
  filthy language out of your mouth.

8
Col. 35-11

• Do not lie to one another, since you have put off
  the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on
  the new man who is renewed in knowledge according
  to the image of Him who created him, 11 where
  there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor
  uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor
  free, but Christ is all and in all.

9
In The Process of Becoming

• Our lives should be in the process of becoming an
  image of Jesus. His life gives us the image of
  God who had remained invisible.
• He is the image of the invisible God, the
  firstborn over all creation. Col. 115

10

• It is our responsibility to share this image
  without distortion!

11
2 Cor. 41-4

• Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we
  have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But
  we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not
  walking in craftiness nor handling the word of
  God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the
  truth commending ourselves to every man's
  conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if
  our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who
  are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age
  has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light
  of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the
  image of God, should shine on them.

Distort
12
2 Cor. 318
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a
mirror the glory of the Lord, are being
transformed into the same image from glory to
glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
13
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?

14
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
  believe and obey Him as our Savior and Lord.

15
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?

16
Reflecting Jesus
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2 Cor. 318
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a
mirror the glory of the Lord, are being
transformed into the same image from glory to
glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
18
Application

• 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 lets commit to showing and telling
  others about Jesus.

19
In His Image
Hear Jn. 1248 Believe Jn.
824 Repent Lk. 133 Confess
Matt. 1032 Baptized Mk.
1616 Faithful Matt. 2413