Beholding the True Image

          Discovering the power that generates transformation:  MAIN HEALING LESSON 8

This teaching on the power of beholding the True Image of God is just one of the 24 lessons in our workbook for personal transformation, "Matters of the Heart."  All 24 lessons will be helpful to the person seeking restoration and freedom and have been posted on this web site. They are available as a complete set in our workbook which can be purchased as a download or ordered through the mail. The lessons are also available on CD and DVD as 24, 1/2 hour teachings. All scriptures are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.
 

Introduction

The hidden power of beholding
In the previous lesson (Steps to Freedom (Main Healing Lesson 7)) we saw that the first step out of sin depends upon recognition of sin and the second involves our being willing to take full responsibility for the sin we recognize. Both of these steps depend upon the images that we carry in our heart of hearts. If we “see” that our true self looks like Jesus (His nature now in us as our new nature), then we will be able to recognize that anything in us that doesn’t look like Jesus must be coming from sin—not our true self. Our self image depends upon beholding the True Image of Jesus.

But we won’t be able to see what God may want to show us or be willing to take much responsibility for sin that is in us, if we are carrying a distorted image of the Father, making us want to run and hide from God in shame as Adam did (Genesis 3:10). Only by beholding a True Image of the Father through seeing Jesus rightly will this inner source of fear and shame be mended. In this lesson we will look into the all important place that image-bearing holds for us. Then in the two lessons that follow, we will study first our own image and then the image of God the Father, as they are both now being restored to us through Jesus Christ—the God-Man.
 

Teaching summary

Since we become like what we behold, we have been warned to be careful what we behold. Israel was forbidden to create images to depict God—the second commandment (Deuteronomy 4:15-18). This was because no created image can do justice to the true Image of the Creator and because we inevitably end up serving what we worship for worship means to ascribe worth to.

You shall not make for yourself a carved image — any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.   Exodus 20:4-5

  Worship and service are intimately connected for we will serve throughout the day what our hearts are focused upon (Matthew 6:24). As we bear (or carry deep within) what we behold, we then begin “birthing” that image into life—by our thoughts, words and deeds. We actually become like what we are worshipping—what we are focusing upon! We are made over into the image we bear in our heart of hearts. And this applies both to the image of God and to the image of man. Just as beholding the True Image of God works powerfully for us, behold false images works powerfully against us. Any distortion of either image will hinder our walk and deplete our joy. See more scriptures and a free download on   Image and Likeness.

This awesome power of beholding is what the Father is using to save and transform the world! Consider this fourfold ascending scale of revelations designed to completely transform us. What changes us all along the way is not our work, our righteousness—but the grace of looking to Jesus and seeing in Him the answer to everything that is dark in us. Beholding the True Image of our Lord restores us immediately to peace, joy and confidence whenever we connect with Who He really is by a living faith. To raise your vision higher seek to behold Him through the lens of these scripture collections The Divinity of Jesus Christ, The Name of Jesus and The Blood of Christ: Atonement and Communion.
 

The four-fold scale of beholding Jesus

1) The revelation of Jesus Christ brings us into the Christian life
By the Fall we lost the capacity to behold our God. We became spiritually blind as our hearts were veiled.

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.   2 Corinthians 4:3-5

With salvation we now behold Him with eyes of faith—as Jesus our Savior is revealed to us.

He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"  Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  Matthew 16:15-18

But when it pleased God… to reveal His Son in me. Galatians 1:15-16

…but it [his conversion] came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:12

2) The revelation of Jesus Christ saves us and sustains us
We cannot live the Christian life in our own strength—by looking to ourselves for the righteousness, wisdom or abilities and saving power we need. We look to Jesus every step of the way; seeking to see in Him something that we need to see in each moment of need. Do you need forgiveness? Look to Jesus. Do you need wisdom? Look to Jesus. Do you need someone to carry your burdens? Look to Jesus. And keep looking until the concern is lifted. Faith looks through the veil and sees Him as He really is.

Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.   Isaiah 45:22

Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, you who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug.   Isaiah 51:1

Therefore I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.   Micah 7:7

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.   Colossians 3:9-10  

…and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith...   Hebrews 12:1-2

3) The revelation of Jesus Christ transforms us in this life
When we behold Him (even dimly) by faith, we bear His Image and begin to become like Him. The new nature which is Christ in us, or the life of the Spirit in us, comes to life whenever we look to Jesus and see something in Him that lets us surrender everything to Him. Until this happens and our trust and obedience are flowing freely again, we are still caught up in trying to live our lives our way. Let go, let God and watch new Life begin to flow. Whenever this happens, we are no longer “hanging in there” trying in our own strength to live the Christian life, we have surrendered, become transformed, and the life of Christ is lifting us and carrying us. We have passed from “crucifixion” with Christ into resurrection. Jesus begins living through us!

His life comes into us when we are born again (as inward sight is given); His life flows out through us at any moment when we surrender everything to Him (as inward sight is restored). When we look to Him, we walk in the light whenever we see in Him something that enables us to trust and surrender. The old nature is laid to rest like a shadow behind us and we are released to walk by His Spirit (Romans 8:1-4). This is the graceful transformation of our lives from the inside out which no work of the flesh can accomplish (John 6:63). Religious practices and moral striving don’t accomplish this—or we would have something to boast about (Ephesians 2:9). The Spirit does it all—as we behold Him!

Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.   2 Corinthians 3:16-18
   
…and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.   Colossians 3:10

4) The revelation of Jesus Christ will complete our transformation in heaven
In heaven sight will replace faith. We will clearly behold the True Image of Him and become just like Him. God will not use a magic wand to bring forth your new life. You will see Jesus as He really is and that will bring the new life in you fully into being.

As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.   Psalm 17:15 

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.   1 John 3:2-3

Praise God for the power of beholding Jesus
--looking to Him we are saved to the uttermost!
 

Interested in going deeper?

Don't just give these truths a "head bob"!
For further study and for help working these truths into your heart and life, see Beholding the True Image part 2 (Head to Heart Guide 8) and "work out" with exercises, discussion questions, review of main points, digging deeper, more scriptures, model prayers, renunciations/affirmations and practical steps of life application.

Or better yet, let us minister to you in person
     --at one of our Savannah Seminars...