In the image of God

[AKJVReader]

In an age where some people want to be a god eg in transhumanism, mormonism and some eastern religions. Even some false teachers of the Gospel say that man is a god. I heard Creflo Dollar put forth this "If dogs came from dogs and cats came from cats then God made gods" It is important to know what the Scriptures say what man is and what God is.

Like God by creation:

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Genesis 1:27)

"This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;" (Genesis 5:1)

This likeness acquired:

"For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:5)

"And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:" (Genesis 3:22)

The first texts refer to man's spiritual constitution, the second to his acquired knowledge, or his power to discriminate between good and evil. Man's spirit is made "in the image" of God, who is a Spirit. "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24). Man's knowledge of good and evil, in virtue of which he is, in a sense, "like God" was acquired.

"for in the image of God made he man." (Genesis 9:6b) The text contemplates the soul, the immaterial part and understanding.

Compare these two verses:

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" (Genesis 1:26a)

"To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One." (Isaiah 40:25)

The first text conveys the idea of resemblance, the second of equality. We may resemble God in certain respects without being equal to Him.


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[Nathan]

Adam acquired a single bit of knowledge. Not the ability to continually discern between good and evil forever and in all things. To say that Adam acquired knowledge just like God would to make Satan a 'truth' teller. Satan has NEVER told the truth, he is a lier from the beginning.

The first texts refer to man's spiritual constitution, the second to his acquired knowledge, or his power to discriminate between good and evil. Man's spirit is made "in the image" of God, who is a Spirit. "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24). Man's knowledge of good and evil, in virtue of which he is, in a sense, "like God" was acquired.

I am sorry, but this is not right. We are not like God in this manner. Adam died the moment he ate from the tree. He did, for a moment, have the knowledge of good and evil, but ONLY of that which he saw that was good and evil. Beyond this, the knowledge does not exist.

Man has only been able to choose between good and evil when God gives him the ability. Man does NOT have the ability in and of himself. This is proven by God time and time again. All the while, man still believing the lie and thinking he has the ability. Adam was created in the image of God, and then Adam died. We should never believe the lie that states we resemble God in any of our nature. We will, and we are being transformed as we speak, but we do not as of yet have acquired that resemblance back yet.

This is the hope that is set before us. The hope of the resurrection. Then, we will resemble God as Adam did before the fall. But mankind has not resembled God since.

 

[Nathan]

This is the whole of the matter when we deal with the leading of the Spirit of Christ in us. It is only then can we live righteous and holy lives before God. The moment we step away from the leading of the Spirit we loose the ability to discern between good and evil.

 

[jasoncran]

well said. we arent gods ourselves. that would present a logical problem for akjv as he would have explain multiple omnipotent beings and omisicience. one god cant be all powerful when the god next to him makes a rock that he cant lift.

 

[AKJVReader]

Man has only been able to choose between good and evil when God gives him the ability. Man does NOT have the ability in and of himself. This is proven by God time and time again. All the while, man still believing the lie and thinking he has the ability.

Show me in the KJV Scriptures if this is right. Man chooses to do evil, it is not God who makes an individual do evil.

Adam was created in the image of God, and then Adam died.

What do you mean by "died" ,Adam left Eden and went on to live to 930 or so.

well said. we arent gods ourselves.

i'm declaring that i'm not a god.

 

[Nathan]

well said. we arent gods ourselves. that would present a logical problem for akjv as he would have explain multiple omnipotent beings and omisicience. one god cant be all powerful when the god next to him makes a rock that he cant lift.

That would be a problem. I do not think that is what he is shooting for though. But none the less, the thoughts that mankind can discern between good and evil apart from the Spirit of God directly guiding us, is just a plain lie that was from the beginning.

I do not wish to talk down to akjvreader, just try to correct the line of thinking that would point to the idea that Satan could have somehow told the truth. God was right in saying that Adam had become like one of them, and that he did have the knowledge, but it was not a continuing knowledge which is precisely why they kept him from eating of the tree.

 

[jasoncran]

Show me in the KJV Scriptures if this is right. Man chooses to do evil, it is not God who makes an individual do evil.



What do you mean by "died" ,Adam left Eden and went on to live to 930 or so.



i'm declaring that i'm not a god.

we did have at one time god's nature when adam didnt sin , and do now as we are being glorified slowly, death is the final touch when we are purified and returned to the original state of Gods plan,

i missread your post. creflo dollar bah.

 

[Nathan]

Show me in the KJV Scriptures if this is right. Man chooses to do evil, it is not God who makes an individual do evil.



What do you mean by "died" ,Adam left Eden and went on to live to 930 or so.



i'm declaring that i'm not a god.

Right. Man can ONLY do evil. He cannot do good. The good he does is only because God uses him to do good.

Deu 30:15 "See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.

God sets it before us to see what we will choose. But until God sets it before us we have no ability to choose it. We have a will only within the confines of His will.

Adam died. Thats what I mean. God said it and God never lies. Adam died.

Gen 2:17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."

There is no hesitation in Gods voice. "surely" means "truly" and unless you are going to say that God lied, then Adam died. We need to move WAY beyond the flesh to understand these principles.

I know you are not a god. I never said you were and never meant to put forth the idea that you thought that. That is not what I was trying to correct. The correction is solely based in the fact that man, in and of himself, cannot "understand" good from evil. Only when God shows it to him can he. This is why the law was given. It was to have the "word" of God before them so they could see good as opposed to the evil they could only do in themselves. But through obedience, they could do good. But it was only through obedience to God, NOT because they had it in themselves.

 

[AKJVReader]

Genesis 3:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. [FONT=arial,helvatica]
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. [/FONT][FONT=arial,helvatica]
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
8 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.
9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

The word:
[/FONT]BEGUILED, pp. Deluded; imposed on; misled by craft; eluded by stratagem; passed pleasingly.

 

[AKJVReader]

The correction is solely based in the fact that man, in and of himself, cannot "understand" good from evil. Only when God shows it to him can he. This is why the law was given. It was to have the "word" of God before them so they could see good as opposed to the evil they could only do in themselves. But through obedience, they could do good. But it was only through obedience to God, NOT because they had it in themselves.

"And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:" (Genesis 3:22)

I do not wish to talk down to akjvreader, just try to correct the line of thinking that would point to the idea that Satan could have somehow told the truth.

Jesus said there is no truth in satan:
"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." (John 8:44)
[FONT=arial,helvatica][/FONT]

 

[Elijah674]

"And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:" (Genesis 3:22)

Jesus said there is no truth in satan:
"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." (John 8:44)

?????Is this post saying one thing & then calling itself a liar, or is it calling God a liar???

Come on, out with it! God does not play games! Isa. 58:1 + Isa, 59:1-2 We can't waste His time with satan's junk! Which ever way is it????????

--Elijah

 

[Nathan]

"And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:" (Genesis 3:22)



Jesus said there is no truth in satan:
"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." (John 8:44)
[FONT=arial,helvatica][/FONT]

Lets state it this way;

"I read your posts AKJVReader". Now is that statement correct? Yes, it is truthful. However, have I read ALL your posts? No. That is not what I said, I said "I read your posts".

God stated the truth. Man did become like one of them. But it was for a brief moment. Which is precisely why he kept man from eating from the tree of life. Adam had acquired a 'bit' of knowledge between good(obedience) and evil(disobedience).

And because of this he immediately died, that day, just as God said. But what happened was his flesh did not die immediately. And this is why the flesh is so deceitful, it declares man "alive" when we look at it, but in all truth the spirit of man is dead and the flesh is dieing.

John 8:44 says it best. Satan never speaks the truth, there is no truth in him. Simply look at the difference between the two statements.

Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Gen 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Satan declared that man would continually know good and evil, like God, in a continual manner. God stated that man came to know good and evil, in a singular sense. God spoke the truth, Satan told a lie. Man understood what good and evil was for a moment in time. That moment brought in death, and the death stopped all ability to discern good from evil in and of mans self.

Every human reaches this point at sometime in their life. Its called the 'age of accountability'.

Let me pose this too you. If man did not die, but continued on in his "ability to know good from evil", where else in Scripture do we see this spoken of?

 

[AKJVReader]

Let me pose this too you. If man did not die, but continued on in his "ability to know good from evil", where else in Scripture do we see this spoken of?

[FONT=arial,helvatica] [/FONT][FONT=arial,helvatica][SIZE=-1]"Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like." (2 Chronicles 1:12).

[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=arial,helvatica][SIZE=-1]"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7:11).[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvatica]
"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ." (Philippians 1:9).

[/FONT][FONT=arial,helvatica][SIZE=-1]"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." (John 7:24)[/SIZE][/FONT]

 

[Nathan]

[FONT=arial,helvatica] [/FONT][FONT=arial,helvatica][SIZE=-1]"Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like." (2 Chronicles 1:12).

[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=arial,helvatica][SIZE=-1]"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7:11).[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvatica]
"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ." (Philippians 1:9).

[/FONT][FONT=arial,helvatica][SIZE=-1]"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." (John 7:24)[/SIZE][/FONT]

The reference to Chronicles clearly states that God "granted" him this wisdom and knowledge. It was not something that Solomon stated he previously had. In fact, it was from his humble request for wisdom and knowledge that God granted it to him. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied".

In Matthew Jesus is talking about 'earthly'(fleshly) knowledge of "good", not Godly knowledge of good. He states that they are evil right there in the same sentence. This is clearly not the same kind of "knowledge between good and evil" that God possesses. It is an evil knowledge of good and evil.

Philippians, yes indeed our love should abound yet more and more, in knowledge and all judgment, but it can only come through the regeneration of our minds by the Spirit of Christ. It does not reside within man to be able to do this. Phl 1:6 And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

God began the good work in us when we believed the Gospel. It is God who began, which automatically states that it was not there before, and it is God who bring it to completion, not our 'ability' within ourselves. It is 'fruit' of the Spirit of Christ in us. Phl 1:11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

In John Jesus was rebuking them for their "lack" of right judgement. He did this throughout the Gospels to show people their inability to judge rightly. In fact, His own disciples were unable to judge rightly between good and evil. The ability is just not there unless the Spirit comes and abides in a person. Where the Spirit is there is life.

Jhn 16:12-13 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

Jhn 16:25 "I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.

Jhn 16:29-32 His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God." Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.

Jesus understood the disciples, and for that matter all others, inability to know 'good from evil'. Why? Because we are 'dead' in our spirit. And even when the Spirit of God gives life to our spirit, we still do not contain the ability to understand in and of ourselves. It comes through the Spirit, and we follow in His leading.

This is the first and foremost "obstacle" that one has to come to grasps with in receiving the Gospel. It is why Jesus stated we must "pick up our cross and follow Him". We must die to ourselves, we must admit all depravity of self ability. This is exactly why the "blessings" of Jesus start with;

Mat 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Because until one comes to this point he will not accept anything else that accords with righteousness.

Rom 3:10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;

Rom 3:11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.

Rom 3:12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."

Rom 3:13 "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips."

Rom 3:14 "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."

Rom 3:15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood;

Rom 3:16 in their paths are ruin and misery,

Rom 3:17 and the way of peace they have not known."

Rom 3:18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."


It does not get much clearer than this. We must rightfully divide the word of truth. The truth is that man is born with the propensity to sin, he is born into a world of sin. There is a time in his life when he has not come to the point of "knowledge between good and evil". But once he reaches that point, he will choose evil. Once choosing evil, he becomes enslaved to evil. And once becoming enslaved to evil, he no longer understands good from evil. Why is this? He is dead. God is not dead, never has been, never will be.

We were made in the "image" not possessing the same attributes as Him. That was a lie of Satan, and it continues to deceive many today.

Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 

[savedbygrace57]

In the image of God

Unfortunately, men lost the image of God through the fall, except for the physical form. But all that which constituted fellowship and spirituality with God was gone and can not be retained except by a New Birth or New Creation..

Thats why Paul writes col 3:10

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

That image [Of God] must be renewed. The greek word for renewed is:

anakainoō:
to cause to grow up, new, to make new
a) new strength and vigour is given to one

b) to be changed into a new kind of life as opposed to the former corrupt state

See, now by nature, men are born into a corrup state, alienated from the Life [because now dead] of God..

eph 4:18

Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

A True Spiritual Knowledge of God is a key component in being made in the Image of God. Man lost that component in the fall, and mere natural birth does not restore it..Jesus says ye must be born again or born anew.

 

[Elijah674]

Unfortunately, men lost the image of God through the fall, except for the physical form. But all that which constituted fellowship and spirituality with God was gone and can not be retained except by a New Birth or New Creation..

Thats why Paul writes col 3:10

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

That image [Of God] must be renewed. The greek word for renewed is:

anakainoō:
to cause to grow up, new, to make new
a) new strength and vigour is given to one

b) to be changed into a new kind of life as opposed to the former corrupt state

See, now by nature, men are born into a corrup state, alienated from the Life [because now dead] of God..

eph 4:18

Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

A True Spiritual Knowledge of God is a key component in being made in the Image of God. Man lost that component in the fall, and mere natural birth does not restore it..Jesus says ye must be born again or born anew.

Good post! Let me just say this, 'i' think that you will agree to the extra thought? Man had NO way back is agreed! Except by Acts 4:12

What was lost from day one, was lost, & mankind were going downward. Yet, all was not lost at once. AND NO, I DO AGREE THAT MANKIND NEEDED TO BE REBORN! His Eternal life was LOST

In other words by using the non/Christians claim that THEY quit smoking, or that they have 'will' power, or that their IQ is out of sight!;) (and some might not come right out & say this, but just look around, huh?) They surely do not give God the credit that He had created them with or that some still possess? but the truth of the matter is, is that it still was all done by the power of God & they still have some of that power left over! Some even still posess LOVE right?? (not Agape Love)

And true also, is that some are presumptously killing themselves while even calling theirself Christians.

--Elijah

 

[AKJVReader]

Rom 3:10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;

Rom 3:11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.

Rom 3:12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."

Rom 3:13 "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips."

Rom 3:14 "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."

Rom 3:15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood;

Rom 3:16 in their paths are ruin and misery,

Rom 3:17 and the way of peace they have not known."

Rom 3:18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

This talks about men in there unregenerate state, those that haven't been saved and without the Holy Spirit helping them. It sounds a bit like some passages in the Old Testament.

[FONT=arial,helvatica][SIZE=-1]"I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness." (Romans 6:19)[/SIZE][/FONT]

 

[Christ Child]

Unfortunately, men lost the image of God through the fall, except for the physical form. But all that which constituted fellowship and spirituality with God was gone and can not be retained except by a New Birth or New Creation..

Thats why Paul writes col 3:10

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

That image [Of God] must be renewed. The greek word for renewed is:

anakainoō:
to cause to grow up, new, to make new
a) new strength and vigour is given to one

b) to be changed into a new kind of life as opposed to the former corrupt state

See, now by nature, men are born into a corrup state, alienated from the Life [because now dead] of God..

eph 4:18

Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

A True Spiritual Knowledge of God is a key component in being made in the Image of God. Man lost that component in the fall, and mere natural birth does not restore it..Jesus says ye must be born again or born anew.

God fixed this problem through our Lord Jesus Christ at the cross on calvary. When Jesus blood came forth Our sin of the past were forgiven and When he Arose from the tomb and ascended to heaven he purchased the holy spirit to give freely to all who will seek for him and when we through faith in Gods Word do receive this holy spirit of promise it will give us the power and strength to crusify the sinful nature of our flesh so that the righteous nature of Jesus can live inside of us and give us eternal spiritual life.

 

[savedbygrace57]

child:

God fixed this problem through our Lord Jesus Christ at the cross on calvary

Yes, but not for everyone.. Christ death does not benefit any but the elect of God. All for whom Christ died, that is , His obedience unto death, shall be made righteous rom 5:


19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

This being made righteous restores all those He died for with the Image of God and True Holiness.

Now, are all made righteous without exception ? Nope. For paul rights 1 cor 6:

9Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?

So, evidently Christ obedience unto death was not for these..

 

[savedbygrace57]

akj:

This talks about men in there unregenerate state,

Of course, and all men are born in a unregenerate state ! And without the image of God.