Are You Grateful God's Image Is Being Restored?
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Are you struggling to find things to be grateful for this Thanksgiving season? You may be going through a rough patch, yet there is plenty you can still be thankful for. We've already discussed how we can be grateful for being made in God's image and for how we see value in others. I'd like to give you another reason why you can be grateful today.
Are You Grateful God In Christ Is Restoring The Divine Image In Us?
You and I can demonstrate gratitude because God already had a plan to restore the Imago Dei. In Christ, the perfect image-bearer provides a way to restore the Imago Dei in fallen humanity. He doesn't only provide a way, He is the way!
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6 ESV
Today, we are going to dive into the divine Imago Dei once again. We are going to revel in the glory of Christ, the perfect image of God! Are you ready?
Let's get our zealous on!
Jesus Is The Perfect Image Of God!
Jesus is the very image of God, what Christians proclaim is not ourselves but Jesus Christ! It is the light of His life that cuts through the darkness blinding this world like a hot knife through butter!
4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:4–6 ESV
In Restoration, Christ Makes A Way For Us To Become Like Him.
We Are Being Restored Through Adoption
Jesus calls out to us and rescues us from sin and self. By His blood, He made a way for us to be adopted into the family of God. We're called to walk a walk worthy of our calling.
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Romans 8:14–17 ESV
When we receive Christ, He begins renewing us to be like Him. The Spirit begins restoring God's original image in us so that we will resemble our Lord in many ways. In this way, we can be glorified with Him. This work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is called Sanctification.
But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV
We Are Being Restored Through Sanctification
Sanctification is where God restores us by daily rescuing us from the ravages of sin. Sanctification is how God rescues us by conforming us to the image of His Son. The more we become like Christ, the more zealous we will become for doing the good works that God has prepared for us.
We Are Being Restored Through Christ
Paul understood that as the Holy Spirit was sanctifying and conforming him into the image of Christ, the imago Christo, he could in turn be an example for others to emulate.
1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV
The only way this is possible is because Jesus has gone before us. In His Holy Spirit, Jesus continues to go before us, stand beside us, and protect us from behind. Saint Patrick's poem says it all.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.”
Jesus Christ Is Our Ultimate Example
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 2:21-25 ESV
Jesus gave us the model by which we are adopted and sanctified. He points us in the way we should go. He alone is our ultimate example. Then He also promised us that He will never leave us nor forsake us! He will be with us to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). Jesus is the healer of our soul. Christ is the restorer of the Imago Dei within us. He is our everything. Without Him, we would be nothing.
Grateful In Humility
As great as this all is, and it is certainly wonderful. I am grateful that we even have the opportunity to become like Christ. Yet, with great humility, we must remember that the created will never exceed the Creator in glory! We should be grateful to be mere partakers of His glory for eternity. All these blessings are by way of the perfect image-bearer, Jesus Christ.
Our Imago Dei Is Being Restored Because Christ Is the Blueprint
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV
9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
Colossians 3:9–10 ESV
Being Restored and Transformed By Glory
We can be transformed into the same image of the Lord only because He bore that image better than we ever could. It is the same image that was bestowed on mankind in the Garden of Eden. The wonderful Imago Dei.
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
Hebrews 1:3–4 ESV
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1:15–20 ESV
Jesus, the God-Man, is the perfect image-bearer because the image He bears is His own. He is the radiance of God's glory, the exact imprint of His nature, the image of the invisible God, and in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. The incarnate Christ is the perfection of the Imago Dei in human flesh!
God’s Image given by created design is our eternal destiny.
In Christ, We Will Rejoice Forevermore!
In closing, be assured friends that the way we are now is not the way we will always be, for the way we once were, in the beginning, will be restored and made supreme over the way we are now in our glorification! God has always had a rescue plan that He was working for our good.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Romans 8:28–29 ESV
On the great day of the "Marriage Supper of the Lamb", we will see Jesus, the perfect image-bearer. The image that has been restored in us will reflect all His perfection. Then, with grateful hearts, we will rejoice forevermore!
2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
1 John 3:2 ESV
Are You In Christ?
You are all bearers of God’s beautiful image, but may I ask, “Are you His children?” Have you been rescued from the evil one's plan to deceive you through your flesh, blinding you to your sin as you place your image in front of the greatest image known to mankind?
Are you being transformed from one degree of glory to another? Are you God’s child this morning? Is Christ in you? Are you in Christ?
You Can Be Restored In Christ
If not, I pray the Holy Spirit will convict you of your need for His love and forgiveness right now! If He does. All you need is to go to the Lord and ask Him to forgive you and save your soul. Ask Him to lead you as Lord of your life. Then be open to the surgical precision with which He will operate on your life in the days ahead. Find a Bible-believing church and start attending.
Please contact us if you have decided to follow Jesus Christ so we can rejoice with you and the angels in glory. We will continue to put out God-honoring, Biblical content that will help you grow alongside your local church. Honor us by allowing us to come alongside you as you seek to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Be Grateful Christ is Restoring God's Image In You
Believer, are you grateful God's image is being restored in you? Are you thankful for the image of God in your life? If you are, then seek to be an encourager. Find ways to affirm and edify others to allow the Holy Spirit to conform them to the image of Christ. Seek to serve with others as you all hope to ignite a stunning zeal for your sensational journey!
Don't forget to check out our article, "21 THANKSGIVING SCRIPTURES TO SHARE AROUND THE TABLE! We hope you can use a few of these verses to create thankful conversations around the table as you gather with family and friends this Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving from ZealousHomes!
Until next time!
#bezealous, #stayzealous, #livezealouslyforchrist
P.S. Don't forget to check out the ZealousHomes Podcast wherever you get'em!