THE WORD KEEPS GOD'S CHILDREN HUMBLE

In yesterday's blog, I was wrong about something.  I pointed out that God spoke of creating man in His image (being of the same in appearance, as with a mirror-image), and likeness (having the same character qualities), but that He didn't do so immediately; He created man in His image, but not in His likeness (Gen. 1:26-27)!  And although I did not mention it, when Satan tempted Adam and Eve, he convinced them that they would only be "like God" if they ate of the forbidden fruit (Gen. 3:4-5)!

*   Genesis 1:26-27 - "And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness....So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them."
*   Genesis 3:4-5 - "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:  for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as (bear the likeness of) gods, knowing good and evil."

With further study, I discovered my theory was incorrect, for in Genesis 5:1, we are told that God, had indeed, created man in His likeness!  However, after Adam sinned, he obviously ceased being like God.  This is supported by the fact that when Seth was born, he bore the image and likeness, not of God, but of Adam (Gen. 5:3)!

*   Genesis 5:1-3 - "This is the book of the generations of Adam.  In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him; male and female created He them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.  And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth."

Yes, before Adam sinned, he was just as God intended:  he was made in the image and likeness of God!  But, from the instant Adam sinned, he ceased to by like God, and as a result, God has been in the process of restoring all who willingly receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, to man's original state.  God sent His only begotten Son, the One who is the "express image" of the Father (Heb. 1:3); the One of Whom it is written that He was equal with His Father (Jn. 5:18; Phil. 2:6); the One Who transforms all who lovingly look upon His face!  It is written:

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the (children) of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  Beloved, now are we the (children) of God, and it doth 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 Jn. 3:1-2)! 

 

The Bible enlightens the humble, and humbles the so-called, enlightened!