Man Making an Image of God
/V1 Servant
δοῦλος doulos; from 1210; a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency): — bond(-man), servant
V2 He has an earthly lineage. He is the Son of David.
V4 …declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead
He is the Son of God for He is God born of God. He is the Son of man for He is God born of man. He is the only way that man can know God.
Declared- to define to mark out the boundaries or limits (of any place or thing) 1b to determine, appoint
We have to understand that it’s not His death on the cross that declares Him to be the Son of God. All men die:
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Instead, it’s His resurrection from the dead that declares Him to be the Son of God. It proves that His Spirit is the Spirit of holiness.
Boundaries have been determined. He alone is the Son of God. He alone is the one proven to be without sin. While two men walked on earth w out sin, only one man died without sin and robbed the grave of its victory:
1 Corinthians 15:54-55
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
V 12 …comforted together
Robertson suggests, "Instead of saying that he had a spiritual gift for them, he wishes to add that they also have one for him." He translates, "That I with you may be comforted," and adds, "My being comforted in you with you, a mutual blessing to each party (you and me)." The word "comfort" usually carries with it the idea of consolation which is not Paul's thought here. The word is sumparakaleo, "to strengthen with others." It is a mutual strengthening, brought about by Paul's ministry among them and their association with him, that the apostle is speaking of. The fellowship of the saints.
V 14 debtor
1 Corinthians 9:16
For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
V 15 preach the gospel εὐαγγελίζω euaggelizō; from 2095 and 32; to announce good news
V 16 …for it is the power of God unto salvation
1 Corinthians 1:18. 2 Corinthians 4:3 lost
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
V 17 in it the righteousness of God ESV
Ch 3 Jesus is God’s righteousness manifested on earth
Ch 4:3 faith allows man to receive God’s righteousness
Imputed
It is like the proffered hand of a drowning man that makes it possible for the life guard to save him. There is nothing meritorious in the act of a drowning man in stretching out his hand in order to be saved. It is the efficient medium through which he is saved. Thus, the act of faith on the sinner's part is not meritorious but only the efficient medium through which God is able save him. The "it" therefore refers to the outstretched hand of faith of a sinner reaching out for salvation that God grasps in His own to lift him out of the mire of sin and place him upon the Rock, Christ Jesus
Ch 5 righteousness give access to grace and is a free gift given by God to man based on faith and made available through the cross
Ch 6 you’re no longer a slave to unrighteousness but a slave of righteousness
Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Isaiah 64:6
6 But we are all as an unclean thing,
and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;
and we all do fade as a leaf;
and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
V18 … For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against…
Suppress
to hold back, detain, retain
The idea is there are men who suppress the truth of God’s word. There is an attempt by the powers that be to stop the progress of God’s word and kingdom message.
V 21 …neither were thankful
Obscure: to cover with darkness, to darken
Vain- empty
Imaginations- thinking, reasoning, discussions
God is removed from their thoughts the word thankful is eucharisteo specifically used often to describe a prayer of thanks before a meal. Thankfulness and acknowledgment towards God is a really big deal. Illustration of a farmer and his meat and piece of bread.
They let their minds be empty of Him. He darkened their hearts towards Him
The text is focused on the wicked heart of man, but it would be foolish to forget who is the source of the wickedness that is in the heart of man and that the whole purpose of evil is to steal God’s glory.
V 23 two words in verse 23
Glory
Image
Glory
This verse is focused on pointing out that the deceitful heart of man is determined to refuse God of His glory, His worship, His honor, His acknowledgement that is due towards Him as the sovereign creator of the universe, the sovereign creator of humanity.
While Satan isn’t mentioned in the passage, we would not be acknowledging the full story if we did not acknowledge the created being that started this thought and placed it into the heart of man.
Isaiah 14:12-14
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!
how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:
I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Ezekiel 28:2
Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
Ezekiel 28:15-17
15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
Image
Ezekiel 8:10
So I went in and saw. And there, engraved on the wall all around, was every form of creeping things and loathsome beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel.
Exodus 32 golden calf both Egypt Apis and Canaan Baal rain-- crops
What did the god Apis do?
Apis brought fertility to crops, virility to Egyptian kings, and protection to the dead. As the Apis bull incarnate in Memphis Egypt, he lived in the temple of Ptah and participated in ceremonies, festivals, and acted as an oracle.
God gave humanity an image to worship
Colossians 1:15
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Colossians 1:19-20
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Colossians 2:9-10
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
V 24 Wherefore God gave them up
to give into the hands (of another)
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
V 25
…changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator
They worship the creation, the earth, their humanity, Their identity, their sexuality, they form and fashion a God to their liking that meets the pleasures of their desires and their definition of love.