Image Bearing

Illustrating Truths of Beholding the True Image,
Our New Identity and The Father's Heart of Love

All scripture citations are from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.

Who we are is entirely defined in relation to God who created us. As a people created to be bearers of the divine Image, we are destined to become like what we behold.  One terrible effect of the Fall was that in dying spiritually, Adam could no longer behold his God. Both the Image of God and the image of man fell from his sight. In becoming “spiritually blind” Adam could neither see God as He truly was nor could he rightly see and know himself: Adam hid in fear and shame from the very One who wanted to save him. 

Jesus has come to restore both our lost vision and our true identity. By beholding Jesus with eyes of faith, we bear God's image afresh—and that begins "birthing" His way of life in us (2 Corinthians 3:16-18). We become beings of grace as we behold the grace-filled One. This awesome power of beholding is what the Father is using to save and transform the world! 

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation… and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Colossians 1:15, 3:10

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. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. 1 John 3:2-3

Prayer

Father, thank You for revealing Jesus Christ to me as my Savior and as my new inner life. Deep down I am just like Jesus! As I behold Him I see what I’m really like, so help me recognize and bring to repentance anything I see in me that doesn’t match up with Him. Enable me to resist carrying any image of You that is different from the love, grace and mercy that I see in Him. Help me cast down all false images so that my heart can thrive as I behold and bear these divinely-restored right images of myself and of You.

Next Illustrated Truth

Two Hearts in One Believer
Illustrating the truth about the heart of the "old man" and that of the "new creation."