Until You and I are One
/Genesis 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.
Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Image- Hebrew- ṣelem >> from an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, i.e. (figuratively) illusion, resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol: — image, vain shew
Words used to describe image in Hebrew:
Shade
Phantom— shadow
Idol
Think about this… God formed man out of the dirt/clay of the earth. He formed and fashioned him with His hands like a craftsman forms and fashions a piece of clay into an image of his liking. No wonder it’s so offensive to God for man to fashion an image with his hands that he worships as God, and no wonder, the antichrist will demand that all mankind will worship an image as though it were God.
God’s purpose of fashioning man with His hand was that man was to be a reflection of His glory, a shadow of His likeness, a representative of His purpose. When we see man walking upright as a bipedal being, we should not imagine that this was God’s intent and purpose regarding image. Rather, the reflection was His character and His glory. Like the late Michael Heiser said, “Man was intended to be an ‘imager’ of God’s glory.” Wherever man went, God’s image, character and glory was reflected on the earth. He would have God’s mind on the matter. He would rule dominion on earth the way that God would rule dominion on earth.
God gave him power to have authority and dominion over the whole earth. It was his duty to rule, reign and subdue. The creation was to be under His dominion and control.
Image- Greek—eikon>> icon- a person or thing regarded as a representative symbol
Ephesians 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Before we move too quickly, I would like to talk about the “new man”, but I would also like to talk about the word “created”. Adam was created and formed by the hand of God. The new man that has experienced the new birth has been recreated in Christ— if true conversion has taken place place (Titus 3:5). Regeneration—“re-gened” if you’re not being convicted and changed, don’t be fooled, you’re either not converted or you’re living in rebellion against God, His will and His word!
1 Corinthians 6:17
But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
2 Peter 1:4 partakers koinonos common-union “a sharer” I’m sharing His nature because, in my spirit, I’ve been made one with Him.
2 big problems in the lives of people who call themselves Christians:
Rebellion/stubbornness—sins of witchcraft and idolatry (1Samuel 15:23)
Doubt and unbelief will cause a person to be uncertain to what the truth is or what the answer for the problem is (James:5-8)
Colossians 1:13-16
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
If you’ve been converted, you have been delivered and translated. You either believe it, doubt it or are rebelling against it. If you’re rebelling or doubting, don’t be confused why you’re being tossed.
He (creator) lives through you: you are His vessel
Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
I don’t know who or what you or other people may think they have living in them, but the word of God says that I have Jesus living in me. I’m possessed by the creator of the universe. He created dominions, principalities and powers, and He lives in me, so those entities surely don’t have power over me. That is His word.
Colossians 3:10
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Whatever was lost in Adam was regained in Christ, but more so because Jesus is greater than Adam and Jesus lives in us. The potential of what God can and will do through us is limitless:
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Whatever He wants to get done, we are His answer, we are His vessel as we believe the truth and yield, I said yield and allow the Holy Spirit to have His way. If He needs a dead man raised, I am His man, if He needs a devil cast out, I am His man, a healing, a message preached, I don’t care what it is. If He wants it done, we are the ones!
The problem we have is that our soul man (mind) limits us from believing what God’s word says.
Ephesians 4:23-24
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Romans 8:29
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
To be jointly formed
Having the same form as another
Identical or Siamese twins
I am re-gened
Romans 12:2-3
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye **transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
conform to the same pattern (figuratively): — conform to, fashion self according to
Colossians 2:15
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Colossians 2:16
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Colossians 2:18
Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Colossians 2:19
And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.