Our Image is Everything

There was perfect love.  There was true fellowship.  I say "was" because there was a great rebellion that led to a great battle.  Lucifer, Satan, the enemy, decided he could do God's job better.  As a result of the battle Satan and a third of heaven's angels were thrown out of heaven.  Not able to defeat God, he turned his attention to the image bearers of God; humans.  He has been working to destroy that image by raising doubts about our identity and God's love for us.  As a result of some early successes in his mission it takes much less work to distort that image.

To restore that image, Jesus came to earth as the perfect human.  If I want to learn what it means to be human then I need to look at Jesus.  If I want to understand my fears and struggles then I need to look at Jesus.  If I want to know myself then I need to look at Jesus.

At the start of his earthly ministry, God the Father confirms Jesus identity.

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”  (Matthew 3:16-17)

This is a proud father moment here.  God screaming to the world THIS IS MY SON.  I LOVE HIM.  I AM HAPPY WITH HIM.  Notice this is not based on performance.  Jesus had not rescued one soul, performed one miracle, or preached one sermon.  The Father loves him for who he is.  He is the beloved son.  

God views us the same way.  

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:4-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

He chose us before we did anything right or wrong. He loves us for who we are. We do not need to earn God's favor or love. We bear his image. We are his and that is enough for him.

Be watching for the next post where I will talk about fear and suffering. As always, if you like what you are reading please share it. Subscribe to the blog and follow me on Twitter, @brandonalverson.