The Image of God, What Is It?

[nephilimiyr]

Simple enough question, I shouldn't need to explain further. I however wish to hold my thoughts for awhile.

 

[Lion King]

Jesus Christ.

 

[riverrat]

I am getting goose-bumps waiting for your thoughts!

 

[Habakk]

Simple enough question, I shouldn't need to explain further. I however wish to hold my thoughts for awhile.

Gods plan in for man in Genesis.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… (Genesis 1:26)

A few thousand years later and several books of the bible later, God’s plan is still the same.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. (Colossians 1:14)

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (Romans 8:29)

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you. (Galatians 4:19)

 

[CherubRam]

Basic human form.

 

[Tigger45]

A burning bush.

 

[Rick Otto]

Spiritual life is His image.

 

[John Zain]

Trinities everywhere!

IMO, God has a body, soul (mind, will, emotions), and spirit.
However, His body is incorruptible, while ours is corruptible.

If you make it to Heaven, you will see Jesus in the form of a man.
And your body will also be incorruptible.

But, let's concentrate on getting to Heaven.
.

 

[ViaCrucis]

Simple enough question, I shouldn't need to explain further. I however wish to hold my thoughts for awhile.

When ancients built a temple to worship their god(s), usually the final act was to place the image or idol of that god into the temple. That image represented the focus and locus of the divinity.

Scripture, in the first chapter of Genesis, paints the picture of the creation of the heavens and the earth as a kind of temple-building narrative. God is creating the Temple in which He will dwell. His final act is to place His image, which is not made of wood or stone; but rather it is to fashion human beings. Human beings are created in the Divine Image.

That image is about our purpose in creation, to reflect God to the whole of creation. More than just images, we are also priests; as image-priests we are the caretakers of God's temple, those who represent God to the rest of creation and reciprocally represent and stand on behalf of the rest of creation in the worship of God.

It's not that we "look like" God. It's about our purpose as God-bearers in creation.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Rick Otto]

When ancients built a temple to worship their god(s), usually the final act was to place the image or idol of that god into the temple. That image represented the focus and locus of the divinity.

Scripture, in the first chapter of Genesis, paints the picture of the creation of the heavens and the earth as a kind of temple-building narrative. God is creating the Temple in which He will dwell. His final act is to place His image, which is not made of wood or stone; but rather it is to fashion human beings. Human beings are created in the Divine Image.

That image is about our purpose in creation, to reflect God to the whole of creation. More than just images, we are also priests; as image-priests we are the caretakers of God's temple, those who represent God to the rest of creation and reciprocally represent and stand on behalf of the rest of creation in the worship of God.

It's not that we "look like" God. It's about our purpose as God-bearers in creation.

-CryptoLutheran

I am Rick Otto & I approve of this message.

 

[sunsong12]

My image of God is this:

God is all, creator, big and mighty, bearded male. God walks about the earth with a large staff, long white cloth robe with a hood.

God allowed a man to be born, Jesus, to show us love, forgiveness, kindness. For me Jesus is all that is good in this life and shares in the brokenness of all. Jesus is my refuge, the one I cry with, the one who knows everything about me yet, still loves me. I don't feel abandoned when I think of Jesus.

Christianity tells me God, Jesus and Holy Spirit are one. I believe this, yet I also believe in the separateness of each. I feel an overwhelming sense of love and kindness when it comes to Jesus, yet, when it comes to God, I don't.

I feel like God is somewhere else and distant right now, but have always felt I will have to answer to God for all the wrong I have done in my life when I die. I feel like God is more angry with me than pleased. I don't have a warm fuzzy image of God. I don't think God fixes everything or provides all the answers.

I believe Jesus wants me to have a better image of God, and I am working on it. Lately, I feel like I need to read Revelations. I have found a pretty good self study guide.

 

[Emmy]

Dear nephilimiyr. God is Love, and God made Man in His Imagine. That makes Man capable of much Love and Compassion. Adam and Eve, (our proto-types)
were in the Garden of Eden with God, and they loved God. Until Satan came, in the guise of the Serpent, and tempted them to ignore God`s Loving Warning. Adam and Eve succumbed to the Serpent`s crafty lies, and ate of the forbidden tree. We all know what happened then, God banished them to Earth, and all men and women after them.
But God did not give up on Man, und then Jesus came in time, and paid the prize owing to God`s eternal Law: Jesus our Saviour died that we might live,
we had another chance to become God`s Own again. Jesus told us in:Matthew 22;
verses 35-40: " The first Commandment is: Love God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds. The second is: Love our neighbour as ourselves."
God wants our Love, freely given and no conditions made. God made us in His Image, and God knows that we can do it, if we really try. Jesus will give us His Love and Joy, and the Holy Spirit will empower us with His Love, also.
( Matthew 7, verses 7-10) Then we ask God, thank God and share all Love and Joy with our neighbour: all we know and all we meet, friends and not friends. We keep
asking God and thanking God and sharing all Love and Joy with our neighbour.
We are made in God`s Image, and we are the representatives of our Heavenly Father, and our great weapon is LOVE, inherited from God.
Love will overcome all enmity and wrong behaviour, and we can change this imperfect world, into a world God wanted from the beginning. I say this with love, nephilimyir. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[minique]

When I think about God's image, 2 verses come to mind.

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. Jo 4:24

Love is patient, kind, etc. (I Co 13)

So, I believe that the image of God is best represented by the fruit of the spirit.

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

The image of God is inward,(spiritual) not based on outward appearances.

Colossians 1:15
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

The carnally minded man judges things based on outward appearances, but the Lord judges the heart and mind (invisible things) of man.

 

[Fireinfolding]

The image of God is inward,(spiritual) not based on outward appearances.

Colossians 1:15
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

The carnally minded man judges things based on outward appearances, but the Lord judges the heart and mind (invisible things) of man.

Amen bro

1Sam 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

Amen bro

1Sam 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Amen Sis!

John 8:15
Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

Don't let the flesh blind your eyes.

 

[Fireinfolding]

Amen Sis!

John 8:15
Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

Don't let the flesh blind your eyes.

Yeah, and you know this one Jesus is speaking in the context of circumcision, where he says...

John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Then Paul likewise...

Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

Romans 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Backing up, is righteous judgement but not after the flesh here too

Romans 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

Pretty kool actually

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

Yeah, and you know this one Jesus is speaking in the context of circumcision, where he says...

John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Then Paul likewise...

Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

Romans 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Backing up, is righteous judgement but not after the flesh here too

Romans 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

Pretty kool actually

Yes it is Sis, and if people could understand this, then they would also see that Gods chosen people are not reckoned by the flesh.

 

[nephilimiyr]

When ancients built a temple to worship their god(s), usually the final act was to place the image or idol of that god into the temple. That image represented the focus and locus of the divinity.

Scripture, in the first chapter of Genesis, paints the picture of the creation of the heavens and the earth as a kind of temple-building narrative. God is creating the Temple in which He will dwell. His final act is to place His image, which is not made of wood or stone; but rather it is to fashion human beings. Human beings are created in the Divine Image.

That image is about our purpose in creation, to reflect God to the whole of creation. More than just images, we are also priests; as image-priests we are the caretakers of God's temple, those who represent God to the rest of creation and reciprocally represent and stand on behalf of the rest of creation in the worship of God.

It's not that we "look like" God. It's about our purpose as God-bearers in creation.

-CryptoLutheran

One of the reasons why I didn't want to post my thoughts right away was because I was afraid there'd be a debate right away and I wanted to see what others had to say. There were some great answers here, answers I wouldn't disagree with, but your post here is right in-line with what I believe.

You say "purpose" while I say function. The image of God is more of a function than anything else, it's a verb. While God rules heaven as King, when He created man He gave Adam the job of ruling the earth in the capacity of the King. We are to have dominion with the purpose of reflecting God's heavenly kingdom here on earth.

 

[sunsong12]

I am glad that you did post this question. Even when "debates" occur, it helps me to get beyond the place I am at, which, I think is what God wants.

This type of conversation/debate certainly helps me although I do feel like my input is simple compared to others. (apologies!)

I know I am "stuck" with the image I have of God and a lot is based on emotional baggage as well as ignorance.