Imprinted Image

When I was growing up, friends or acquaintances of my parents would often tell my parents, "I can tell he is yours. He looks like his dad." In a not so subtle way, that likeness provided a sense of belonging.

I was reading a doctoral dissertation by our Sr. Pastor, Dr. Don Brock. He states:

God made man in the image and likeness of Himself (Genesis 1:26-27; James 3:9). Even in a fallen state from God, man still retains the image and likeness of God (1 Corinthians 11:7; James 3:9). ... The two phrases are stating the same idea and serve as reinforcements to one another. Being made in the image and likeness of God implies that man has the capacity for a personal relationship with God."

We are relational people by nature. God created us for a relationship with him. That image, that spirit, was what he imprinted upon us at creation. Pastor Don continues in his thesis by quoting Millard J. Erickson's (Christian Theology) story of the image on the coin in Jesus' day. Jesus was confronted by the Pharisees and the Herodians as recorded in the gospels (Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:20-26) in an attempt to trick him:

"The issue was whether to pay taxes to Caesar. Having been brought a coin, Jesus asked whose image appeared on it. When the Pharisees and Herodians correctly answered, 'Caesar's,' Jesus responded, 'Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.' What are 'the things that are God's?' resumably, whatever bears the image of God. Jesus then was saying, 'Give your money to Caesar; it has his image on it, and thus it belongs to him. But give yourselves to God. You bear His image, and you belong to Him.' Commitment, devotion, love, loyalty, service to God -- all of these are proper responses for those who bear the image of God."

We have been imprinted with the image of God. As a child, I was proud when people said that I looked like my father. I wanted to be like him. Because we have the image of God, he has called us to be "conformed to the likeness of his Son." (Romans 8:29) Jesus and the Father are one. He models his Father's will. In Philippians, we're told to have the attitude (mind) of Christ.

In Dr. Brock's dissertation, he writes, "the Greek word used for man's spirit, pneuma, is the same word used for the Holy Spirit." With his presence in our lives, we can become more like Christ. Romans 8:16, "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." We were created in the image of God. The Spirit confirms that we belong to God. From this imprinting, we are called to be like his Son. We are imprinted with his image; let's live in his likeness.