The Image of God

THE WORD

Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion…'

GENESIS 1:26

THE TWOFOLD CALLING

THE GLOVE AND THE HAND

A glove has the form of a hand.
It is shaped for a hand.
It even looks like a hand.

It can act for a hand — representing it.
It can look like a hand — resembling it.

But without the hand inside it,
it is limp and purposeless.

Adam was the glove —
called to act for the Father
and to live unto the Father,
but the tree of life still stood untouched.

THE 'UNTO' SIDE COLLAPSED FIRST

THE IMAGE MARRED

THEN CAME THE ONE WHO HELD BOTH SIDES

CHRIST — THE TRUE IMAGE

AND NOW — BOTH SIDES RESTORED IN THE BELIEVER

CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE

UNTIL

THE IMAGE COMPLETED

The image of God is not merely a static attribute man possesses.

It is a twofold calling — representing for the Father

and living unto the Father —

held in balance only in Christ,

expressed fully only in many brethren.