THE DIVINE IMAGE RESTORED
Pastor J. C. O’Hair
In these Scriptures we have the story of the Divine image lost in Adam, and ultimately, and more than completely, restored in Christ.
If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation. The new creature has put off the old man and has put on the new man who is created in the image of Him Who created him. The believer has died and has been buried and has been raised with Christ (spiritually) to walk in newness of life. The believer is a member of that Church, Which is to be one flesh with Christ and Which Christ will present unto Himself as a glorious, spotless Church holy and without blemish. All of these wonderful truths we read in II Corinthians 5:17 - Colossians 3:10 - Romans 6:3 to 6 - Ephesians 5:31 and 32 and Ephesians 5:26 and 27.
In Genesis 1:26 and 27 and Genesis 5:1 and 2 we have a two-fold story of the creation of Adam. Adam was first created without Eve, in the image and likeness of God. Then Adam and Eve; “And God called THEIR name “Adam.” “In the image and likeness of God. Adam and Eve were one flesh.” (Genesis 2:23). Christ and the Church, one flesh, are called “Christ,” in Ephesians 5:31 and 32 and I Corinthians 12:12. Christ was the one Perfect Man. Christ and the Church will be the Perfect Man of Ephesians 4:13. So we have in Ephesians the Church, as Christ, the Perfect Man, composed of the Head and the members.
Adam, the first man, was a figure of Christ, the Second Man, the last Adam. (Romans 5:14 - I Corinthians 15:45 to 48). Adam’s children were born in his sinful likeness and so were we. (Genesis 5:3 and Psalms 51:5). Note the great difference between Adam in Genesis 1:27 and Adam’s children in Genesis 5:3. Jesus Christ was the express image of God’s person and the effulgence of God’s glory. In Christ dwelleth all the fulness of the God-head bodily. (Hebrews 1:1 and 2 - Colossians 1:15 to 19). Christ was in the form of God; in the bosom of God. Christ was with God. Christ was God. Christ had glory with the Father before the world was. (John 17:5).
So Christ was God in human form, in the form of flesh and blood; in the likeness of sinful flesh. (John 1:14 - Hebrews 2:14 - Romans 8:3).
Before Adam sinned God foreknew and predestinated that, for the glory of His Son, He would have a race of sons conformed to the image of Christ. They are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:28 to 32 - Ephesians 2:10). Only such a new creation availeth anything. (Galatians 6:15).
So the believer can say, “Christ liveth in me, the hope of glory.” (Galatians 2:20 - Colossians 1:27). The gospel is called the gospel of glory. (I Timothy 1:11). We are to behold and partake of Christ’s glory. (John 17:24 and 25 - Colossians 3:3 and 4).
The believer’s experience is told in II Corinthians 3:18 - II Corinthians 4:16 and in Romans 8:23: “But we all, with open face beholding, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” “For which cause we faint not: but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” “We ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”
But the Holy Spirit is the earnest, of something better. (Ephesians 1:13 and 14). We read of our glorious redemption in Philippians 3:20 and 21. Our bodies shall be like unto the glorious body of the glorified Christ. Then the Church will be the spotless glorious Church of Ephesians 5:27, because Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for the Church.
Christ, in addition to His Divine nature, took upon Himself human nature, that believing children of Adam, in addition to their human natures, might receive Divine natures. (Hebrews 2:14 - II Peter 1:3 and 4 - John 1:11 to 13). Whom God foreknew, He did predestinate to be conformed to the image of Christ and them He called, justified and glorified (Romans 8:28 to 32). We are like Christ now in a limited sense; but we are going to be like Him when we see Him. (I John 3:1 to 4).
What is the Gospel?
Believing Christ died, that’s
HISTORY.
Believing Christ died for YOUR sins
and rose again, that’s SALVATION.
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel
which the preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you,
unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all
that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the
scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day
according to the scriptures. 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
THE REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY Pastor J. C. O'Hair
Recovery Of Truth - O'Hair - YouTube
FREE ON LINE CONCORDANCE
IT’S SO SIMPLE TO USE
Bible: King James Version
Posted By – Cecil Spivey
Cspivey1953@gmail.com
Share this BIBLE MESSAGE with a friend
No comments:
Post a Comment