Renewed in the Image
- “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;
let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the
air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing
that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the
image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis
1:26-27).
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When we are born again, we are recreated, in the same image in which we were originally formed: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are renewed
in the same image in which we were created: "Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put
on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew,
circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all." (Colossians 3:9-10).
Now, which man is renewed in the image of God: the inward man or the outward man? The inward man!: "Therefore we do not lose heart.
Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16). Thus
we know it was the inward man who was created in the image of God in the first place, not the outward man. It's our minds and spirits
which are made in the image of God, an image which has grown tarnished and dim through sin, and is polished up and renewed in Christian rebirth.
Dissenters like Joseph Smith, Finis Dake, and the Kabbalists, point to
the many Bible references to God's hands and feet. They omit reference
to His wings:
"The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of
the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust." (Ruth 2:12).
"Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy
wings..." (Psalm 17:8).
"How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children
of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings." (Psalm 36:7).
Human beings do not have wings, so even if these authors insist upon taking
all language about God corporeally, the 'image' must mean something other
than physical resemblance. Better watch out for that rock with wings!:
"The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth
over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God." (2 Samuel 23:3).
The renewal looked for in Christian rebirth is a renewal of the mind, not of the body: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will
of God.." (Romans 12:2). Many can testify, from personal experience,
to the reality of the new birth: "...and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:23). While there are many who can testify to having been "renewed in the spirit of your mind," has anyone experienced a change in physical conformation upon being born again? The restored image is from heaven, not of earth.
- “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
(John 4:24).
- "Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as
you see I have." (Luke 24:39).
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Bodies have an inside and an outside. Any point in the universe can be identified as being within, or without,
the body's circumscribed limit. A 'figure' is that which is bounded: "figure. . .The form of anything as expressed
by the outline or contour. . ." (Webster's International). What is outside God?:
- "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there." (Psalm 139:7-8).
- "Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits
of the Almighty? They are higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than
Sheol—what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and broader
than the sea." (Job 11:7-9).
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