MAN IS MADE IN IMAGE OF GOD, PART 3.

In Genesis 3: 22 it talks about the reason for the fall of man in that because of his disobedience “man has become like one of Us knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever…”. Therefore it follows, that man can be a representative or reflector of God but never God Himself! God imposed limitations in his nature! Otherwise, he/she would have access to evil and he might choose the evil way, as he can be easily deceived , which most of the unbelievers choose the evil way but so far because of the believers he/she has not found the way to live forever and be God, the ultimate evil! As they have the choice to have a personal relationship with God, they can choose to be led by good, God’s way! As a representative of God, with a born-again experience, they , along with other believers in community, can shine the light of Jesus in this fallen world as the Holy Spirit dwells in the church(the body of believers) with power so that the world might see God revealed and they would choose Jesus, the truth! And so good wins over evil and the kingdom of God advances!

From the Word, God is shown as a just judge, while at the same time being love where His mercies endure forever. When the people repent sincerely, He forgives them. He delivers His people from bondage as is seen Him delivering the Israelites from the Egyptian bondage , using Moses as their leader/prophet. These qualities are part of His wholly nature. Now, when it comes to man, who is “to be holy for He is holy” (1 Peter 1: 16), he is usually shown to be an unjust judge; he is not faithful at love; he usually is shrewd instead of merciful; he usually does not want to forgive; he likes to keep others in bondage. That is the nature of man, the fallen nature. Still, God uses him as His representative on earth; but he can never stand up to God: man is a sinner in need of the Savior, Jesus Christ, who brings redemption at a personal level as well as at a community level!

Now turning to Jesus our Savior, He made His appearance on earth approximately 2000 years ago: He was God in human flesh: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” John 1: 1,14. Israel, at that time, was able to see Him visibly. He dwelt amongst men. He showed the real nature of God; He showed what it was to be “man created by God in His own image” (Genesis 1:27), how man was to behave as a representative of God! He was the ultimate reflection of God!