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 Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 9:56 pm
Hey, so I was considering God's telling us that he made us in his own image and was wondering, what does this mean? i mean, it can't be physical. I am in no way able to hold the whole world in my hand, I'm not capable of the Kind of love God has, I think I'd die if I tried. And so I guess what I was considering is more along the lines of human nature. We know that man's nature is evil, don't we? I think it's prety much proven throughout history. So, I've often wondered: Why DID God give us this 'amazing' free will, to be able to choose in life. Well, I think it's because if we were like that, we're kinda being forced into loving God. And that wasn't what he wanted for us. We were created to be someone God could have a relationship with. But I guess...would it be right to say that if we were created in his own image, this right to choose is also something God has? Meaning that he is as fully able to sin as anyone else? And that, as we know, he doesn't. These temptations, our God goes against. And he prevails, which I guess should give us even more of a model in our lives. I know I'm thinking about that one still. Or am I giving this too much of a morta viewpoint? Any ideas??
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 5:39 am
Aw ... and here I thought this thread would be some thing about that "Shroud of Turin" special. Just as well, I suppose, since I intentionally "missed" the show.
"In His image" ... yeah, that one's a bit abstract, and it throws off a lot of people. I know about a few theories, though.
1. We have three parts: Mind, Body, Spirit -- God has three parts, so we have three parts. Now, Holy Spirit-soul and Jesus-body comparisons make some sense, but Father-mind ... I'm not so sure about that one. A little too close to the "mind science" cults like Christian Science or Unity for my tastes. Still, I concede this one as making the most sense.
2. We have a spirit -- A limited version of the first, saying that since Adam didn't actually come to life until God breathed into him and gave him a living spirit, then only those into whom God has breathed are like Him. I don't buy it, because by this theory, angels would not qualify as "alive". I can concede that animals aren't "alive" in the spiritual sense (according to Judeo-Christian teachings, they have no souls), but ... angels?
3. We have free will, like God -- Hmm, that one makes sense, but it implies that Lucifer, as an angel, didn't have free will -- that he was forced to rebel. Technically, that wouldn't be "rebelling", so that, I don't personally believe.
4. We know the difference between right and wrong, just like God -- Um, no. Humans didn't know the difference between right and wrong until after Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit (fruit of the Tree of Knowledge). You'd think this one wouldn't even be worth mentioning, but I've heard a preacher use it in a sermon.
5. We are the pinnacle of life, much like God -- that one took a while to write, because it made me want to throw up. Still, it's another one I've heard in a sermon. I hasten to point out that this preacher (same as from #4) didn't stay at our church very long.
6. His image is His likeness, His glory-- A co-worker just gave me this one. Long story short, she believes that we exist to reflect Him, to show what He's like to the world (so that they can come to accept Him). Now, I don't deny that Christians are supposed to do that ... but it doesn't really work as an explanation for how the entire human race is supposed to be made in His image.
There's a few other theories, but it's too early in the morning for my mind to be working properly; I can't think of any more right now. My own beliefs are closer to #1, but that's just me.
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Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 5:38 am
It actually doesn't say we are made in his image but actually their image. Gensis 1:26 "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, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." It is even pural in the orginal language. Within the first chapter of the Bible there is evidence of the trinity. So that brings up the many theories. Instead of being in God's physical image we could be of Jesus'. The spiritual part could be from the Holy Spirit's likeness, which some suggest that could help explain how the Holy Spirit can reside in us. I can go on with all the different theories but those are just a few. Now we are created in his image but we sin for we fell through the eating of the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God can't sin since it's against his nature. If God could sin then that would mean Jesus would have sinned. Thus meaning he can't be the messiah and there would go our salvation and Christianity as we know it. Also man's nature did not become corrupt until the fall. Also the free will part is he didn't want a bunch of puppets walking around. He wanted a relationship not a dictatorship.
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Posted: Tue May 04, 2010 4:38 pm
gothic_black_rose . If God could sin then that would mean Jesus would have sinned. I think to say Jesus would have sinned is a bit of a leap Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. If Jesus was without the ability to sin He couldn't have been tempted could He?
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 5:30 am
Jesus sinning and being tempted ... to me, that's always been one of those great spiritual questions that would be best posed to a psychologist, or some sc-fi writer with a speciality in paradox stories.
I mean, if Jesus had sinned, that would mean that Jesus (God) chose to do something that God didn't want ... wait. So God doing something against God ... hang on, my mind rebels at the concept. God is not the author of confusion!
Now, yeah, the Bible says that Jesus was tempted. It also says He didn't sin. So I believe this happened ... I just don't see how without getting into areas that (as an amateur writer of fiction) I'd prefer to avoid. Sure, I could get into Fraudian psychology here, talking about the different levels of the mind being at odds with each other ... but I'm going to do us all a favor and avoid the psychobabble.
The best analogy I can come up with right now (this early in the morning) for Jesus being tempted (yet not sinning) is to think of a high-ranking judge or cop. They may get offered bribes (temptation), but they prefer to stick to the law.
==========
Of course, this has very little to do with the original subject of "in God's image" (whether we refer to "His", NT, or "Their", OT). A tenuous connection at best. Anybody else want to take a shot at that one?
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 6:49 am
And lets not leave out He was able to do so because of His choice to stay on mission and the strength of the Holy Spirit(self-control).
MHO
I think this verse is pointing out that we all have the ability to walk like Jesus (after rebirth in the Spirit) but unlike Jesus we choose to allow the Holy Spirit to only work in some areas of our lives. We all have our "sacred cows"(lusts and desires contrary to the will of God for us )that we protect and justify. It is those areas by which temptation comes and we eventually give in to sin. Unlike Jesus not a one of us has given up 100% of ourselves to be led and guided by the Holy Spirit throughout the course of our daily lives.
In my entire Christian walk I have only met one person that even came close. My husbands Aunt Mary. She stayed on course from the time she was a little girl, working as a missionary and was the mightiest prayer warrior I have ever seen (her prayer journal showed that she prayed for over 600 people and circumstances a day) I never heard her pass judgement on anyone or say a critical word (not even so much as a raised eyebrow) ,even when my children obviouly misbehaved or my husband and I lived in rebellion. She trusted God for everything she had and did and she was content. Cars, clothing, furniture and food were all given to her by others led by the Spirit. She never bought anything and her meager Social Security check was spread amongst 25 religious causes, leaving her nothing. She would pray before fixing coffee in the morning, or turning the key in the ignition of her car. People laughed at her (including my husband and myself) When she passed she died in her prayer chair. It was only after her death that we realized what a Spirit filled life she lived and how far short of her example we were. Let alone Jesus' example.
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