5- Images of the Invisible God

Note: This post summarizes what is written in this entire section. A.    A Theology of Sin : Sin is what keeps humanity from being fully conformed to the image of Christ. For Christians, being conformed to Christ’s image is a promise and guarantee. Many Christians believe the Bible teaches we have a sinful nature and are born with sin, but the Bible does not say that. The Bible says we are created in God’s image (Psalm 139:13-15) and become corrupt  by choosing to sin – we ar

Orthodox Christianity maintains that Christians will truly be like Jesus. But what does this mean based on the Bible? How is being like Christ possible if he is God? 1 John 3:2-3 says, “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 The word “like” is “homoioi” in the Greek. S

Introduction  What stops humans from being conformed fully to the image of Christ? One thing: our sin.  To fully understand the biblical reality that all people will be images of the invisible God one day, it is first vital to have a biblical understanding of sin. What does the Bible say about sin? Many Christians believe that all people are corrupted by Adam’s sin simply by virtue of being born human, and therefore inherit a sinful, corrupt nature ultimately from Adam. This

Only Jesus 1.   Only Jesus is firstborn. 2.     Only Jesus is preeminent.  “ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by   him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the fi

The diagram below shows that Jesus and believers will be alike in every way except for their role. Jesus is Savior, Lord, and King, but even Jesus needed grace from God as Adam to have a second chance as Jesus. Scripture also states that God saved Jesus from death (Hebrews 5:7): Jesus needed a Savior too, namely, God Himself. Jesus and Christians will share 40 characteristics in common for all eternity. Therefore, Christians will be truly like Christ, and Jesus is undoubtedly

1.         Believers will be like Christ and equal to him as fellow children of God, specifically as we will all share with him “the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). However, each believer has a different ROLE (in the body of Christ), and no one will share Christ’s which is: o   the Head/Lord/King of Kings/Leader and Savior of the Church o   Judge: only Christ will judge believers. Christ and the Church together will judge generally. 2. Psalm 139: 13-15 says, “For you formed my

The movie “Remember the Titans” is arguably one of the best sports movies ever made. It tells the true story of an Alexandria, Virginia football team in 1971 that came together as one to win the championship with a perfect record despite great obstacles. Their greatest obstacle was internal: they struggled to unite as a team over racial differences given the recently integrated T.C. Williams high school to include both black and white students. In the movie, Coach Boone, the

Ellis, P. (2022). New Testament scriptures used to support original sin . Escape to Reality. https://escapetoreality.org/2022/08/18/new-testament-scriptures-used-to-support-original-sin/   Ellis, P. (2023, March 4). Old testament scriptures used to support original sin . Escape to Reality. https://escapetoreality.org/2022/08/16/old-testament-scriptures-used-to-support-original-sin/ Ellis, P. (2024, March 12). Six reasons why original sin cannot be true . Escape to Reality....