The Image of God

Acts 17:29 “Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.”

This verse is Paul’s explanation to those in Athens about how to seek and understand God. When we seek God, we do that with an expectation or imagination. This imagination is often the best of our own skills. For example, an engineer will seek a God who is very much more skillful and intelligent and a farmer will look for a God who provides good harvest. This is all our imagination and they are based on our own needs. Paul explains that we can do this if we do not have any relationship with God. We are His children and so, it is important that we see Him as God and not with man’s imagination. We should not align ourselves with men’s knowledge and craftsmanship.

The start of knowing God can be done from Psalms 100:3 that He owns us completely and had given us life for a reason. The verse emphasizes that we did not make us, which means we have to acknowledge His authority in our lives. In the verse we read that we are sheep of His pasture which means that God has created us so that he would feed us. He wants to decide on what we would consume and grow into. The Lord always has enjoyed calling Himself as the shepherd instead of owner or feeder because this job has both the responsibilities but with lots of love.

The primary quality of the Father should be seen as in Lev 11:44, Isaiah 6:3, 57:15 and 1 Peter 1:15, 16. The Father is Holy, Holy and Holy. Peter further explains that this is the only expectation of the Father from us. This is what He expects us to know of Him.

The Son came to us as a savior. He always addressed Himself as the redeemer, shepherd who gives his life. Peter explains how the redemption is complete through the Father and the Son together in 1 Peter 1:19-21. Because Jesus carried all the sins on mankind and died, God was powerful enough to raise Him up and glorify Him. So, if we believe that the redemption is complete, by the blood of Jesus and the power of God who raised Him up, we are saved. This was greatest gift to mankind by the son (Himself) and God (His only Son) and the mightiest act of God by raising Him up.

The Holy Spirit is our teacher and companion.  Any other purpose seen will misuse Him. If we do not seek the Holy Spirit for God’s purpose that is Holiness, His presence will be ineffective in our lives. In John 14:15 and 16 we read how the Holy Spirit is a helper for us to keep His commandments. The Lord Jesus always had mentioned that the Holy Spirit will bring to remembrance all that Jesus has taught. We also read in John 16:9-11 more effectively how the works of the Holy Spirit is done.

If we seek the Lord for this divine purpose, we would be pursuing His likeness with all our strength so that we can fulfill His purpose. But if we seek Him for anything else, we will be lost.

In Galatians 4:8, we read that we were slaves to those who are not gods by nature. This means there is no trace of any God’s character in these entities which enslaved us. A true picture of God only will liberate us from them. The following verse equates both knowing God and God knowing us as equals. But this knowledge should make us turn away from weak and worthless elements which take us to slavery again. If our worship and ministry does not liberate us and help us progress towards what God wants us to do, it takes us into slavery.

John 16:2-3 explains how extreme serving God without knowing Him will take us. This will push us towards breaking homes and churches to prove our service to God.

So, that is why Jesus mentions that knowing Him is eternal life and does not lead there, this knowledge itself is life to us.

Amen.