- 127. Image of God
1 Corinthians 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
We are all born in the image of Adam, bearing the image of a sinner. We reflect sin, we show outwardly the sin that’s inside, and we are sin. Believing and accepting the truth of original sin and guilt is essential to wellbeing, strange as it sounds; it prevents us from the futile and frustrating attempt to improve our lives by ourselves and make behavior better. We look at the mirror of the Law, repent and believe the Gospel. This act changes us, every day. For then we believe this promise: we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. When we believe in Christ we are reborn in the image of God. We reflect the love and the glory of God, we begin to show outwardly the goodness of God that is within, and we are godly. Believing and accepting the truth of forgiveness of sin and the gift of new life is essential to wellbeing. This does not sound strange.
We were created in the image of God in the first place, and this was God’s purpose. We lost the image of God because of sin, but it is in the process of being restored through faith in Jesus Christ. The first thing that happens is that we are baptized, or we are given faith in Christ, The second thing is that the Holy Spirit begins the work of sanctifying us so that we look more and more like God in actual outward behavior and inward attitude.
We actually have both images in us, and we reflect both images to the world around us. It may appear to our sight that the image of Adam predominates, but we can also believe the promise by faith that the image of the heavenly is showing through. Thankfully, the Lord does not let us see the goodness of God in us too often in order that we do not become proud and puffed up, like a Pharisee. We see the image of the earthly more clearly so that we will turn to God for mercy frequently, like a Publican. Which one goes to his house justified? The promise is true: we do also bear the image of the heavenly.