2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ, Who is the Image of God, should shine unto them.
As we continue with our study of the many Names and Titles given to Jesus in the Word of God, we come to a Name/Title that is so beautiful and wonderful, that it is deserving of this entire Morning Message. That Name/Title is the IMAGE OF GOD.
The Man, Jesus, is the exact Image of God. The definition of the word image is a visual representation of something or someone; an exact replica or perfect likeness of the original as in a mirror image. This is one of the most descriptive of all of the Names/Titles given to Jesus. He is, was, and forever shall be the I AM and He is the manifestation of God and the perfect Image of God. He is God in every aspect of the Word.
Let’s go back to the beginning. In Genesis we read Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our Image, according to Our likeness;” (Genesis 1:26) This is the first mention of God’s Image in the Word of God. God said, Let US make man in OUR IMAGE according to OUR LIKENESS. It is obvious from this statement that God was not working alone.
Further study will quickly reveal that Jesus and the Holy Spirit were with God at the time of Creation. However, at that time, Jesus was the Word. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1-3; 14)
The Three of Them (The Father, The Word, [Who would later be Jesus] and the Holy Spirit) make up the Godhead and They are whom God was speaking of when He used the words US and OUR. Let Us make man in Our Image, according to Our likeness; (Genesis 1:26)
In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ, Who is the Image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4) With these Words, Jesus is given the Name/Title The Image of God. He is the visual representation of God the Father. He is an exact replica and perfect likeness of God.
This is why Jesus said He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, “show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The Words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. (John 14:9-11)
And so, we have one of the most beautiful and descriptive Names/Titles of Jesus. He IS, WAS, AND FOREVER SHALL BE, the exact IMAGE OF GOD: In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ, Who is the Image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4)
Jesus, the perfect IMAGE OF GOD, willingly suffered and died on the Cross of Calvary to Redeem us from the penalty and power of sin in our lives. He did this out of His great Love for us; each of us; you and me. He (the Image of God) gave His Life for us.
How can we, knowing this, not willingly give everything back to Him? Are we that ungrateful? What do we have that He has not provided? Nothing. Therefore, I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1)
Jesus, the perfect IMAGE OF GOD, is about to……….turn the tide……...in this world.
A living sacrifice, Doreen
www.bettsministries.org
