What does it mean to be created in the image of God? We learn in Genesis 1:26 that God made the decision to create man “in our image, after our likeness.” So, it is important to discuss what it means, really, for us to be in the image and likeness of God. Theologians and scholars have spent years trying to discern precisely what it means to be in the image of God, and use many words and complex explanations to explain it. This explanation will hopefully be far from complex, and will be a description we can all follow and understand.
First of all, to be created in the image and likeness of God does not mean that we are formed in His physical image. God Himself does not have a physical body, as John 4:24 teaches us. There, we learn that “God is a spirit…..“, not a physical body. We also see in Luke 24:39 that “…… a spirit hath not flesh and bones….” Of course, God did become incarnate as a man in the form of Jesus Christ, but God the Father is not flesh and bones.
The idea of mankind being created in the image and likeness of God begins with the very way God created man. God, when He created all other living creatures, simply created them from nothingness. They were not there; God spoke, and they existed. Genesis 2:7 tells us something very important about the creation of man.
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
When God created man, He formed us with His hands, so to speak, from the dust of the ground. God then personally breathed life into the nostrils of the first man, Adam. Adam then became a living soul, eternal in existence. When God created animals, they were just spoken into existence; when God created man, He breathed life directly into His first human creation. David recognized this difference between humanity and the animal world when he wrote Psalm 8: 4-6.
“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:”
Being created in the image and likeness of God does not mean that we possess God-like attributes. We are not omniscient, omnipresent or omnipotent. We do not possess other attributes normally associated with a Divine nature. We already covered that we are not in God’s image physically, because God is spirit and not flesh. We understand that we are not gods, and do not possess Divine natures. How, then are we in the likeness of God?
Our creation in the image and likeness of God, then, refers to the immaterial, not physical, parts of our nature. In many of these immaterial attributes we have things in common with God’s nature. In a nutshell, we are in the likeness of God mentally, morally and socially. We also share God’s image in the sense that we are eternal beings. Below, we will break those ideas down some.
We bear the image of God mentally. This is critical in understanding the one of the key differences between mankind and the animal world. Although many animals appear quite intelligent, they are not in the image of God mentally. Man possesses the ability to engage in reason and highly complex thought. Man possesses the ability to come up with ideas independent of instinctive compulsions, and then the ability to put those ideas into action through creation of things, inventions and so on. Art, language and literature are all manifestations of some of the ways we were created in the image of God mentally.
Mentally, we are in the image of God in the sense that we make volitional decisions. The animal world certainly makes decisions, but they are primarily driven by biological imperatives, not true volition.
Mentally, God clearly made man to be superior to and rule over the world and all other life in it. Genesis 1:28 teaches us God created us in His image, to then have dominion over all the earth.
“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
We see both this dominion and man’s superior mental nature when Adam named all the animals in Genesis 2:19.20.
“And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.”
God created man in His image mentally in the sense that we have free will and the ability to go in whatever direction we choose, just like Him. We are not simply bound to go in whatever direction our biology and instincts drive us; we can choose to do whatever we choose to do, even if it is contrary to our biological natures. The best example of this is the fact that we were created without sin and in innocency. Adam then made the choice to disobey and rebel against God. Even though God created us sinless and perfect, the free will He had given us enabled us to make that choice.
We bear the image of God morally. Despite what many would claim, animals do not possess a moral compass of any sort. While they certainly appear to love us and even desire to please us, this not due to a moral nature of any sort. Animals will always simply act in accordance with what supplies their biologically driven need to live and propagate themselves. Man, on the other hand was created as a moral being; we all have within ourselves the moral nature that God both possesses and that He instilled in us when He created us.
God is Holy and perfect. God has certain standards which we call the Law of God. Not the law, in the sense of the Old Testament Law, but the Law of God. These are things that God clearly sees as wrong and sinful. God Himself always lives by His own standards, as He is perfect and holy. Additionally, God created us in the beginning in a state of holiness and perfection.
Adam chose to exercise the free will God had given him and disobey and rebel against God. As a result, all of us are sinners and no longer measure up to God’s standard. Romans 3:23 teaches us this; “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. “However, our free choice to rebel and reject God does not mean that our basic God instilled morality has gone away. It may be deadened by sin almost to the point that it seems as if it is gone, but it still remains. In every society and culture that has ever existed, there are seemingly universal moral standards people adhere to. Murder, stealing, and other things are considered wrong no matter where one wanders in the world. People may not adhere to these standards, but they know they are there.
We all are born with a conscience and knowledge of morality. Romans 2:14-16 shows us the concept that we all know morality, even if we do not have the specifics.
“For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”
Here Paul was making the point that while the Gentiles did not have the law, they still knew the law, because it is written on their consciences and hearts from birth. That passage clearly shows that we all understand moral standards. Our understanding of universal moral standards also leads to the conclusion that we each also know that there is a moral law giver, which is God. Romans 1:18-20 shows us clearly that we all know God exists, because He created us that way, to have an understanding of His existence.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”
We bear the image of God socially. God Himself in His triune form, has existed since eternity past as a social being. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit have always existed in fellowship with one another. The decision to create humanity was made as a community effort by the persons of the Trinity. We can see this in Genesis 1:26 when the Triune God said He would create man in “our image, according to our likeness.”
God created us for His joy and His glory. He also created us to love and fellowship with Him. One thing to clearly understand is that God did not create us because He was somehow lonely just sitting around in eternity past with nothing to do. God is self contained and self sufficient and has no needs whatsoever. He does, however, enjoy being loved, worshipped and fellowshipped with.
A reading of Genesis 3:8 shows that in all likelihood God had a habit of walking in the Garden and fellowshipping with Adam and Eve.
“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.”
Genesis 2:18 shows us that God understood that He had created man to be a social creature as well; He created Eve for Adam because He could see it was “not good” for Adam to be alone.
We bear the image of God socially in terms of the emotions we feel towards each other. God loves, God hates, and God gets angry. The most obvious reference to how God loves is, of course, found in John 3:16 where we learn just how God loved us. God hates sin; the Biblical references to God being angry, jealous or hurt are too numerous to even mention.
We are in God’s image spiritually. God is Spirit, and in an eternal sense, so are we. Obviously we are not eternal from eternity past, only God has existed forever. On the other hand, God created us to exist eternally after our creation. This was true from the very beginning when God formed us from the dust of the earth. We became a “living soul.” Some might debate the difference between soul and spirit, but for the intent of that particular verse, the implication is that we are a soul which lives forever. Scripture clearly teaches that we will all exist somewhere for eternity.
Many words have been written about how man is in the image and likeness of God, and they are well worth more study. The above few words, however, capture the essence of how we were created in the image of God.
Truth in Palmyra 
January 11, 2015 at 13:01
Thoughtful, cogent, and true Wally.Nice work.
I especially liked the ‘social’ aspect and also the distinction between animals and man and how we ‘decide’ things.
Then of course, if anybody has trouble ‘deciding’ whether there be a God at all, there’s always the idea that as you said, man alone ‘creates,’ or invents; something distinctively man, that bears the imprints (image) of One greater.
Very well done; You shouldn’t get too much opposition….the conscience is a fine image eh.
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January 11, 2015 at 13:16
Thank you ColorStorm. The first time I read where God breathed life into man….I just thought….wowwww. I literally brought the creation account to life. Seems to cement the idea of the inherent worth of humanity. I’m all for teaching sin and the fallen state of man..but maybe need to remind myself of man’s value and worth sometimes….truth…AND grace. Funny how sometimes what you write seems to point at the writer huh?
Have a wonderful Lord’s Day my friend.
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January 11, 2015 at 13:10
Really good, Wally. Well written.
I love the language of scripture, about hovering over the waters and being spoken into existence and having life breathed into us, and walking in the garden with our Creator in the cool of the day.
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January 11, 2015 at 13:18
IB, Thank you.
I love the Creation account. ..so much more to it than just a dry day by day account isn’t there?
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November 28, 2015 at 11:38
Were do you get it from that “God did become incarnate as a man in the form of Jesus Christ.”? You seem to know that the Bible clearly tells us that God the Father is not flesh and bones and has no blood. But do you know it also says God can not be seen by man and that man nor death can do anything to Him. Plus that God can not be tempted? Jesus, who was tempted more than once, was seen by many and had real reason to be afraid of man who was able to kill him and who did so.
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November 28, 2015 at 11:45
Hi Marcus, thanks for coming by. I have actually covered this territory before with Christalephians and find it mostly to be a waste of time as the clear teaching that Jesus was in fact God in the flesh are soundly ignored. But, I have asked a question of Christadephians, and it is the same question I have asked of Jehovah’s Witnesses, who believe in the same heresy concerning the Deity of Jesus.
Why is that Doctrine so important to Christadelphians? That questions seems to be soundly ignored.
Thanks!
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November 28, 2015 at 12:08
It is so important because we should know that a man gave up his life for all of us. He gave the proof that man is capable to live righteously and is able not to sin. He proofs what so many trinitarians refuse to believe, that God created man in his likeness or in His image and that He (God) did not requested anything impossible to man to do or to follow, but that the Laws God gave were there to help man to live righteously and to have a good life.
Out of love for mankind we should follow the teachings of that son of man, who is also the son of God, and go out into the world to proclaim the Good News and to show them that Jeshua (Jesus) is the Way to God.
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November 28, 2015 at 12:19
Marcus, thanks. But that really didn’t answer. A man DID die for the sins of man. Jesus. We agree on that point.
Here is my issue with your heresy. If Jesus was a man, and only a man, then He could only pay for his own sins. Meaning..He died only to pay for Himself. That leaves the rest of us flapping in the breeze to find a way to pay for our selves. Further reading of your doctrine seems to be that the way we accomplish that is through obedience and works.
I know my interpretation of your doctrine id correct because of the following statement you made.
“He gave the proof that man is capable to live righteously and is able not to sin”
No, you are incorrect we are no. Remember all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God? Or, there in none righteous, no not one?
Your statement implies that Jesus was only an example for us to follow. In other words, if we just do right, we can do enough good to secure our salvation and entrance into heaven.
Problem there as follows “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Grace, only grace. Jesus was man, fully man. Man sinned and man had to pay. Jesus was God, fully God. Had to be to pay for any sin other than his own.
Repentance toward God and believing in the atoning, finished work of Jesus on that cross are the requisites for salvation. I have geat fear and pray that you will stop trying to work your way to heaven by your good deeds and obedience and accept Him today.
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November 28, 2015 at 12:27
Why as a man would he only have been able to pay for his own sins? He gave himself as a lamb to his Father, who was willing to take his offering as a ransom for all.
According to the Bible Jesus did not sin, though he also lost his temper and he also worried his worthly parents, not always doing what they wanted, like he also did not do his own will but the Will of his heavenly Father; In case he is God he would always have done his own will, would he not?
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November 28, 2015 at 12:31
So..how were you saved Marcus? Just curious as to your thoughts. Did you do something to become saved? Do you now have to do something to remain saved? Perhaps I have misunderstood your doctrinal beliefs. Here is your chance to lay them out my friend.
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November 28, 2015 at 12:33
Yes I am saved but if I do the wrong things, or things against the Will of God, even when I am baptised this will not let me give a free haven to enter the Kingdom of God.
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November 28, 2015 at 12:36
For sure, knowing myself, I do know I am with many faults and I can be tempted to do the worng things. Therefore I shall have to work continuously to stay on the right track. That are works, arn’t they.
In you way of thinking it makes it naturally very easy for pastors and priest and elders who shall not have to warn their flock any more, because they are all saved and can enter the Kingdom according to you and them. But according to our way of thinking they shall have to be carefull not to loose the right to enter the Kingdom of god. The grace of salvation was and is given them freely, but that does not mean it is their key and ‘free ticket’ to do whatever they want to do.
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November 28, 2015 at 12:30
By grace we are saved. All of us got liberated from death. But we were not liberated from sin. We still all can sin and probably would do this regularly. The Bible let us know when we do not repent of our sins and when we do not come to God we shall not receive salvation. Do you sincerely think rapists, murderers, who do not repent at the end of their life shall be able to enter the Kingdom of God? If they do not do works of faith they shall not be able to enter the small gate. Please do remember the parables of Christ Jesus.
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November 28, 2015 at 12:44
Ah..ok now we nail it down some. We do have works to do to get and stay saved.
“Do you sincerely think rapists, murderers, who do not repent at the end of their life shall be able to enter the Kingdom of God?” Yep, sure do. God’s Word teaches us that “all who call upon the name of the Lord Shall be saved” It never says at what point in our live that has to occur. Are you saying that if we die without out sufficient time to do enough good works to make our sin right we are doomed? Perhaps you should correct Jesus Himself, as He told the thief on the cross beside Him that he would be in heaven with Jesus that very day. Or, since you like parables, perhaps a look at the parable of the workers in the vineyard would help. The ones who came late received the same payment as the ones who worked all day. You sound rather like the early ones complaining about the late ones getting paid.
Final question. Precisely what works save us. Please be exact as to the requirement for entering Heaven. Please include the work, how often it must be done, and at what point in life one must do it. Also support your list with scripture. Next, provide the same list for those sins which would later taker our salvation away. Same requirements.
Friend, you cannot make those lists, as they exist only in the mind of a man. There is only on item, on this list, and it covers both lists. Grace. Period.
Now, if you have another list, feel freed to post it here with complete Scriptural support. If you don’t have a list, I just gave you one. Here it is again. Grace. Grace. Grace.
Peace to you. I have things to write now. And I don’t argue all day anymore. I do thank you very much for coming by and please feel welcome to do so at any time.
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November 28, 2015 at 12:47
You say your self what is clearly written in the Bible, but do not seem to see it “all who call upon the name of the Lord Shall be saved”. There is demanded a work, namely to call upon the name of the Lord. That is a work that has to be done. When somebody keeps neglecting God and does not want to know about Him, he or she shall not be accepted in the Kingdom of God.
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November 28, 2015 at 12:51
My challenge to you stands Marcus.
Give me the list. Be specific. Give me my road map and requirements for entry to Heaven. You cannot produce one unless you make it up. I can produce one straight from the Word of God.
God’s list
Grace
Case closed, peace and have a good day. I’m done, as I don’t wish to spend my day arguing. Of course, anybody else with time to spare and probably waste can certainly pick up where I depart
Peace to you.
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November 30, 2015 at 07:10
Dear Wally I shall also leave you in peace but before I go I would like you to think about the comparisonhaving some one won or given a car youfor free, like the grace of salvation is given for fre. If that person is ont going to step in the car (= doing a work) not starting the car (=work) not putting his foot on the gas (work) he is going to arrive nowhere. Also when he does not keep to the road regulations or traffic laws it shall well be that the person shall not arive in time at the place he wanted to be. The same for us in case we do not keep to God His Laws (which shall demand some work) we shall not be able to arive in time for entering the small gate of the Kingdom of God. Did you also ever wondered why Jesus presented all those parables? we can not ignore the warnings given in them. Those Chrisitan leaders (priest, pastors) who are saying everybody shall be saved and be able to enter the Kingdom of gate are misleading the people. And when they frighten people with hell and damnation than it is even worse, because than the contradict themselves and use the hell as a means to get more power of their flock.
You may be sure that those who kill unborn living elements like foetuses, just kill living beings (man or women but also animals), have sex with whoever and whatever they want [several people of the same sex, other sex or even other sorts of living beings (animals)], and those who take things from others which does not belong to them (= steal) according to me, when they do not repent (=work) and do not control themselves (= a very very big work) shall not be able to enter the Kingdom, which is told in many verses in the Scriptures. I have the impression you do not seem to know those verses which talk about fornication and the rest, but I do hope you shall come to know them and shall see that people who want to be followers of Christ have to abstain of such mis-behaviour or wrong conduct (= work) and shall have to live according the Laws of God (= work).
Though I totally agree with whatever work we do we shall not receive any greater reward than any other person doing less or having done more crimes than we. there shall only be one gate into the Kingdom and there shall only be one sort of life where everybody shall be equal and all living in the same peace under the same conditions.
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November 30, 2015 at 07:52
Hi Marcus. Perhaps some day we can revisit this conversation. Off topic here. You are Belgian? From where if I may ask?
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November 30, 2015 at 09:58
Shalom,
I live between Brussels and Leuven, in Leefdaal, Bertem, Flemish Brabant.
As you say it always can be nice to meet each other in real life which is always much better than an artificial conversation by internet.
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November 30, 2015 at 10:18
I vacationed once in Ostend. In the fall….was quite cool but very nice. I was stationed in Germany in the late 80s
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November 30, 2015 at 10:35
When you would come back to our regions seeing Germany again you may be very disappointed. I worked twelve years in Köln and visited it again in this century, like last Summer and got very disappointed how awful the city had become.
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November 30, 2015 at 10:37
I was very far South almost in the Saar. Very nice there then.
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November 30, 2015 at 10:42
the Eastern and Southern parts of Germany are not so much contaminate with the lust of capitalism and economic growth, not taking in account the beauty of nature. Luckily Bayern and Saarland may offer us still all their beauty.
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November 30, 2015 at 12:21
Maybe some day I will see it again. Peace to you for now Marcus
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November 28, 2015 at 12:56
You seem to overlook that the thief on the cross beside Jesus recognised the position of Jesus; By his act of recognition he came under the act of salvation by Christ Jesus.
All the workers in the vineyard like the ones who came late received the same payment as the ones who worked all day. they all did their works. Those who did not work did not receive any payment.
I do not at all complain about the ones who came earlier to the faith or about the ones who shall come later to the faith and totally accept that for all of them who do work there shall be the same reward. why do you say I sound rather like the early ones complaining about the late ones getting paid. I do not complain at all but recognise that if I do not do any work I shall not get any payment like the ones who did not come to work did not get any reward. I recognise and accept humbly to be agreeing with the same payment as all those who want to come to recognise God and to fulfil God’s wishes.
It is not because I do think that those who refuse to accept God will not receive the entrance that I am jealous about them or that I would not like them to enter the Kingdom. For sure I would love to see them also in the Kingdom of God, but I listen to the words of Jesus which tell us about the signs of the Last days and about what we have to do and what the dangers are when we do nothing or not the right thing.
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November 28, 2015 at 12:32
You yourself say “Repentance toward God and believing in the atoning, finished work of Jesus on that cross are the requisites for salvation.”
Showing repentance is an act, it is an action to be taken or a work to be done. Having faith in Jesus is an act to be taken and as such is the working of the spirit which should bring you to take the right action. Are this not works?
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November 28, 2015 at 12:37
Why are all those preachers in those triniarian denominations then so shouting about damnation, purgatory and hell, when they believe no works have to be done any more?
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November 28, 2015 at 12:47
Hey Marcus, perhaps you could read additionally to understand the relationship between faith and works. I suggest two places
Romans Chapter 6
The entire Book of James
Your statement that following the Biblical path of salvation is a license to sin is simply hyperbole and not a valid argument.
Peace to you
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November 28, 2015 at 12:12
I am always amazed at how it’s so hard for people to accept the doctrine of the Trinity and the humanity of Christ. Frankly, I can’t see how any other doctrine BUT the Trinity could have the gospel make sense. Nothing else brings the Old and New Testaments together with such grace. Nothing else gives us a Savior who is both God and Man (100% each), fulfilling all the requirements of the One who was before time, yet subjected to time and space. The Trinity makes Christianity make perfect sense. Any other view of Jesus Christ ushers in fatal flaws to His character, personal work, and our redemption.
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December 1, 2015 at 14:56
The doctrine of the Trinity is just that … a doctrine, constructed by the church because of vehement dissent and disagreement within the ranks. It is there for all to tread in history, Anthony.
This may be if interest to you …
“The formulation ‘one God in three persons’ was not solidly established, certainly not fully assimilated into Christian life and its profession of faith, prior to the end of the 4th century. But it is precisely this formula that has first claim to the title the Trinitarian dogma. Among the Apostolic Fathers, there had been nothing even remotely approaching such a mentality or perspective.” –(1967), Vol. XIV, p. 299.
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April 7, 2016 at 09:33
For those who follow the Bible it is not difficult to see how human teachings concocted biblical teaching. It is much harder to keep to the truth than to accept human doctrines and to keep holding human traditions. We should belief God Who does not tell lies and calls the man in the River Jordan His only begotten son.
The trinity not at all makes sense, because it makes a fool of Jesus and God and ridicules Jesus his fake death, because God can not die. Worse the trinity teaching takes away the hope for man that he can be taken out of the dead, because when Jesus is God he did always his own will and would have known form start that man could do him nothing. The teaching of the trinity also makers liars of Jesus as well as of God because God being an eternal all-knowing Spirit, having no flesh and bones, Who said man cannot see God and live, though many saw Jesus and kept living. Also Jesus did not tell the truth when he said he could do nothing without his heavenly Father, because God can do everything. Jesus in the trinitarian teaching also did not tell the truth when he said he did not know who would be seated next to him and when he would return, because being God he surely would have known that and would have known when the end-times are.
Those who believe that Jesus is son of man and son of God, the sent one from God, like the bible tells us, do him more justice than those who say he is God.
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April 7, 2016 at 09:52
Wow. You obviously have no understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity or the divinity claims of Jesus.
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April 7, 2016 at 10:03
When you say so.
We know what is written in the Bible and what trinitarians make of it.
We also know the difference between divine, divinity and being the Most High Divine Creator.
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April 7, 2016 at 10:45
Yet, you cannot see that Emanuel (God with us) was foretold to be born in Bethlehem, die on a cross, live again, etc. Also, you cannot see that it is written in John 1 that the Word of God, the pre-existent Word of God, Jesus, became flesh and dwelt among us so that we might know the Father. You cannot seem to fathom the depth and profundity of how God provided Himself a Lamb. From the Messiah to the Spirit to the Elohim at creation, each and every bit you pick apart and say, “No! It can’t be true!” And it’s all because your understanding of God is not only elementary, but unbiblical. Had Jesus not been God in flesh, His death would be no more of an eternally efficacious atonement than Bugs Bunny dying at the hands of a Roman Elmer Fudd.
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April 7, 2016 at 11:04
In John his opening he talks about the Word = the speaking of God. Already in the Garden of Eden God promised to take care of a solution for the fall of man. With the birth of Christ this Saying of God became a reality, out of the tribe of king David a son was born.
The Bible tells us that god Himself declared this man born in Bethlehem to be His son (and not Himself):
“30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. 31 And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:30-35 ASV)
“but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,” (Galatians 4:4 ASV)
“21 Now it came to pass, when all the people were baptized, that, Jesus also having been baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form, as a dove, upon him, and a voice came out of heaven, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. 23 And Jesus himself, when he began [to teach], was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the [son] of Heli,” (Luke 3:21-23 ASV)
Jesus also very well knew who he was and what his position was, him not able to do anything without his heavenly Father Who is grater than Jesus.
“27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. 28 Ye heard how I said to you, I go away, and I come unto you. If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father: for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe. 30 I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world cometh: and he hath nothing in me; 31 but that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.” (John 14:27-31 ASV)
“17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh even until now, and I work. 18 For this cause therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only brake the sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing: for what things soever he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner. 20 For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and greater works than these will he show him, that ye may marvel. 21 For as the Father raiseth the dead and giveth them life, even so the Son also giveth life to whom he will. 22 For neither doth the Father judge any man, but he hath given all judgment unto the Son; 23 that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father that sent him. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself: 27 and he gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, 29 and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment. 30 I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. 32 It is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. 33 Ye have sent unto John, and he hath borne witness unto the truth. 34 But the witness which I receive is not from man: howbeit I say these things, that ye may be saved. 35 He was the lamp that burneth and shineth; and ye were willing to rejoice for a season in his light.” (John 5:17-35 ASV)
“5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient [even] unto death, yea, the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8 ASV)
“But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.” (1 Corinthians 11:3 ASV)
“And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:28 ASV)
Those who take Jesus to be God forget that the Bible also tells us that Jesus was made higher than angels, though was lower before – but God was, is and always shall be the Most High. This God took Jesus out of the dead and let him (Jesus) to be seated not on His (God’s) throne but next to Him to be a high-priest for God and a mediator between God and man.
“For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, [himself] man, Christ Jesus,” (1 Timothy 2:5 ASV)
“and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than [that of] Abel.” (Hebrews 12:24 ASV)
“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, [even] Jesus;” (Hebrews 3:1 ASV)
“whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 6:20 ASV)
If Jesus would be God there is no mediator at all because than the conversations would go from God to man directly and there will have no person taking up the advocacy for man.
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April 7, 2016 at 11:35
Yep, you just don’t get it.
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April 7, 2016 at 10:05
Two quick thoughts here, and I wont’ have a protracted debate on this here with you.
One. You referenced knowing the Bible? You don’t.
Two. Amazing that you and a militant atheist made almost the same comment on this thread.
Having said that, friend, I hold no ill will towards you, but only the hope you will come to know the truth of the nature of Jesus Christ before it is eternally too late. Please feel free to read here anytime, as truth is taught here.
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