Image And Likeness Question ?
 

The Bible tells us that man was made according to the image and likeness of God.
What exactly does this mean ?
Does this mean that God's image is certain moral,ethical and intellectual abilities ?
Does the likeness of God mean that we are to reflect God's glory and exercise Spiritual authority on earth ? Or does this mean that God has a physical form and our physical bodies reflect this ?

Re: Image And Likeness Question ?
 

#1 No
#2 No
#3 Yes he does Jesus. Adam was made in the likeness of Jesus.

Rom 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

Re: Image And Likeness Question ?
 

At the time of creation what kind of form did God have my friend ?

Re: Image And Likeness Question ?
 

Re: Image And Likeness Question ?
 

My friend could you kindly explain your view as I am interested in why you feel this way ?

Re: Image And Likeness Question ?
 

Sorry friend but you could not be more wrong. We are made in his image. That means he actually HAD AN IMAGE! If he had no image neither would we.

Gods image:

1: In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2: Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3: And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
4: And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
5: Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Isaiah 6:1-5

Isaiah saw YHWH'S image.

26: And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
27: And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.
28: As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake. Ezekiel 1:26-28

Ezekiel saw it.

18: Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.
19: And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
20: Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?
21: And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.

Micaiah saw it.

This is just a sample of Gods form being seen. This is a weakness in the modern Oneness teaching. A crying shame they disregard the word in this aspect of the teaching.

Re: Image And Likeness Question ?
 

I think you're onto it with these questions. Image (Heb tselem) has been used interchangeably as "idol", which give you the idea of a representative image of something. Hence the attributes of God that are not physical (the arm of the Lord, His hand, His eyes, etc) are physically represented in His making man in his image.

On the other hand, his likeness (Heb dĕmuwth) is used with a view towards a similitude, fashion, etc. For instance, Psa 58:4 reads "Their poison is like (dĕmuwth) the poison of a serpent." This takes on the nature of the item compared. It would lend towards us being "like" God in spiritual nature, I would think.

Which is not unlike your questions.

And that purports quite an interesting thing: While certainly we are made in God's image, we are not yet "like" Him in that sense. In fact, it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2).

In other words, God has not completed that objective yet that He started in Gen 1:26, if indeed those differences are as you and I both think.

Re: Image And Likeness Question ?
 

Tulsa David I ask questions when I read my bible,and I do value what others have to share,I appreciate what Micheal The Disciple has shared as well.
Tulsa David I appreciate your views.

Re: Image And Likeness Question ?
 

When God decides to create the first man,the Creator tells the malakhim/angels(or messengers)that he will be created "b'tzelem Elohim/in the image of God,"a decision that has weighty consequences for us human beings.
After all,God does not create any other creatures in this manner
1)by themselves 2)one at a time
There is a presumption throughout the rest of the Torah and all texts that follow that being created in the image of God carries with it a powerful charge of of responsibilities.The entire Holiness Code is predicated on this presumption.Indeed,much of what we understand as human morality proceeds from the notion that we, created in God's image,must live by imitatio dei/imitation of God ,imiatating God in our behavior.
Martin Buber writes:"The fact that it has been revealed to us that we are made in Gods image gives us the incentive to unfold the image and in so doing to imitate God."
This is where the ethical part of "ethical monotheism" comes in. The notion is introduced,with the story of the expulsion from the Garden of Eden,that behavior is judged and either rewarded or punished.

Re: Image And Likeness Question ?
 

When Jesus came to earth, he was "God with us". He was WITH the
disciples. He told them he was WITH them but would be IN them. This happened
at Pentecost. Jesus said it was expedient or necessary that he go away or
the Comforter/Holy Ghost/Spirit of Truth could not come. He went away in
body that HE might come back in Spirt to be IN them. Jesus said to Thomas
that blessed are they which have NOT seen, yet have believed. No, we have
not seen Him, yet we believe and rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
We need to see less of us and have more of HIM! HE MUST INCREASE IN US.

If he had to go away for the Holy Ghost to come to them/us, why would we
insist He come back in flesh. Would the Holy Ghost depart just so we could see
Him. God is a Spirit and they that worship Him MUST worship HIM in Spirit and
in Truth!
The Father seeketh such to worship HIM!!!

Not to offend. Just some thoughts!

Falla39

Re: Image And Likeness Question ?
 

No man has seen GOD at any time.

God IS a Spirit and they that worship Him MUST worship Him in
Spirit and in Truth.

Jesus came to his own and his own received him not. They still
did not believe. (without faith it is impossible to please God. For
he that cometh to God MUST believe that HE IS, and that He is
a Rewarder of them that DILIGENTLY seek Him.

Abraham BELIEVED God and it was accounted unto him for right-
eousness. By faith///Read Hebrews 11. What we see, we do not
have to have faith for.

Faith is not WHAT we SEE, but what we take hold of BY FAITH,
until that we do NOT see, we DO see. We shall see Him as He IS.
And every man that hath this hope in Him, purifieth himself, even
as He is pure.

Falla39

Re: Image And Likeness Question ?
 

Its true no one has seen God at any time. Yet are not the verses I have posted here men seeing God?

On one hand he is unseen. On another he has been seen many times in scripture. What is the reconciliation of the two truths?

In what way has God never been seen?

In his omnipresence!

27: But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? 1 Kings 8:27

In his bare essence God is bigger than the Galaxies he made. All of them in total are not large enough to contain him!

In this realm of being he is everywhere there is to be at all times, fully invisible to creation.

In what way HAS GOD BEEN SEEN?

By forming a visible image of that omnipresent spirit at the beginning of creation so he would have a way to interact with angels and men.

15: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Col. 1:15-17

This visible FORM of himself was not another co eternal person of God but God himself in visible form.

Theologians have called this form a "theophany". This is an unbiblical term. The Bible Writers were inspired to use the term "Angel of YHWH".

9: In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. Isaiah 63:9


So in the Tanakh God was shown to be invisible as omnipresent spirit but visible as the form or angel of his presence.

Re: Image And Likeness Question ?
 

The OT mentions on more than one occasion, "the angel of His Presence". The "ark
of the covenant" represented His Presence. But in and through the New Covenant,
His Presence could/should be in every one who who received Him. He would be IN
them, instead of just WITH them. It just depends on how much of His Presence we
desire and will allow. How much do we desire or stay in His Presence. HE is able to
do exceeding abundantly above what we can ask or think, ACCORDING TO THE
POWER/PRESENCE that dwelleth IN us!!!

I believe it is God's Will and desire to have a representative, someone in every home
to represent HIS POWER and HIS PRESENcE!!! It can be male or female. Someone who
will consecrate and dedicate to stand in the "gap/or make up the hedge, so that when
the enemy comes into a home or sanctuary, that "angel of HIS PRESENCE, can with
power and authority stand and say with authority, "NO, devil! Not this home! Not this
sanctuary!! and stand ....!

That God may be all in all. That's His desire. Read 1 Cor.15:28.
God (Spirit) shined the light of His glory in the face of Jesus Christ. Christ
in us, the hope of glory. If the Spirit of him who was in Christ dwell in us,
God should be shining through our faces also. That's where the world will
"see" God. God was "with" them in the first century! God is "IN" us in this
(could it be) the last century! Shining in the light of HIS GLORY!!!

Blessings, Brother!

Falla39

Re: Image And Likeness Question ?
 

I think I cold safely saw we have never seen ALL of God...
Would that be right?

Re: Image And Likeness Question ?
 

It would be dead on.

Re: Image And Likeness Question ?
 

I am not good at posting on some subjects sometimes I say something and do not make myself clear...
I do long to be more like Him...

Re: Image And Likeness Question ?
 

You were clear my friend maybe I was not. I meant you are exactly right.