IMAGE MATTER (IN WHOSE IMAGE ARE YOU GROWING?)

Sunday 2nd SEPTEMBER 2012

Sermon by Pastor SETH ASARE OFEIBADU

Reading Genesis 1:26-27 and Romans 1: 23 together, we realize that the whole problem of man is an image problem. In the Garden of Eden man was deceived and confused about his level in creation, as the only creature in the image of God. He rather aspired to the forbidden level of being all in all (equal with God), and therefore came under God’s condemnation, and lost the right to God’s fellowship.

Fallen man was corrupted and the image before him, what he aspired to be, came to include even animals that he was supposed to have rule over and be above. Man went downhill because the image before him was actually lower than his potential.

God spoke through the prophets to present the right image for man to rise up to: A life of righteousness that is made up of rising above all creation (in discipline and holiness) and submitting to God. But when man’s ability to do this is gauged by the law God gave, he fails totally. This is because man lacked the Growth-set with which God was bringing man to a standard where he could fulfill and keep His image, namely,

1. Be fruitful
2. Be a steward
3. Be obedient
4. Be in Divine Fellowship

Man could continue practicing the first three of the above to various degrees and reap some related benefits, but sin blocked man from practicing the fourth: He could not have a right to divine fellowship.

In Christ Jesus, God forgives our sin and removes the barrier to divine fellowship. He also lives out for us to see the perfect life of man made in the image of God. He therefore shows us the standard every human should aspire to (while, of course, remaining perfectly submitted to God, who alone is worthy of worship)

Having been restored in Christ, the fourfold divine growth principles apply to us (He makes it clear that our restoration does not immediately give us maturity in the image of God):

1. Go ye, bear fruit and let your fruit abide
2. Be a steward: Do all your work and hold all your property as in trust for God
3. Be obedient: Express your love to God – turn  away from sin and follow all divine instructions
4. Be in Divine Fellowship of the Holy Spirit, who counsels and empowers you every moment

Having been born again, the image of God is bound to mature in us as we make disciples, take good account of what God gives us, love Him obediently and cherish the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Every kind of transformation in our lives – Spiritual gifts, health and prosperity are embedded in this. God has not intended us to inherit the benefits of His image through one-off acts like eating fruits or applying some so-called “miraculous directives”. Let us keep His image before us and give up everything in order to attain unto it; for in God’s image we are complete, having everything.


[ 

Genesis 3:4;

Isaiah 14:13-15; 42:8

Genesis 3:22-24

Psalm 8: 3-8

Romans 1:23; 

Isaiah 53:6

Hebrews 1:1

Romans 3:10; 

James 2:10

Genesis 1:28

Genesis 2:15

Genesis 2:17

Genesis 3:8

2Cor. 5:19

Hebrews 1:3; 

1 Peter 2:21

 Ephesians 3:19; 4:13-14

John 15:16

Ephesians 6: 6-8;  

1 Corinthians 4:7

John 14:15; 15:5

John 14:16-18

Matthew 6: 33; 

Colossians 2:9, 10]