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| Transformed into His Image |
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Many come to periods in their lives where they lose focus of their purpose and ask themselves what they are really here for. The world teaches that life is about gathering stuff and he who has the most stuff at the end wins. But, Solomon, probably the richest man that ever lived came to the place of seeing this way of thinking as all vanilty. That a person would spend their whole lives accumulating wealth and then wither and die and leave it to another vexed his spirit. We have all heard of music and movie and sports stars who finally acheive the pinacle of what this world has to offer in the way of wealth and fame and end up committing suicide when they realize that it is all vanity and vexation of spirit.
The Bible has another idea of what we are here for in this life. We have all been predestined to be conformed to God's image. Jesus came as the expressed image of the Father and we are in turn to be conformed to the image of the Son. How is this done?
The Word of God is described as some kind of "magic mirror" that has the power to transform the lookers into the image that they see. Notice this verse below:
3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty. 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.
The problem is that the Bible contains both the Letter of the Law and the Spirit of the Law. When we read the Bible through our carnal minds, the mirror or the glass that we look into remains darkened and distorted so the image that we see of God is not reality and we become transformed into this distorted image. However, the good news is that the Holy Spirit of God has been sent so that the eyes of our understanding could be enlightened. Through the mind of the Spirit, we can see Him as He is and be changed into a correct image of the invisible God. 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons 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.
Have you ever wondered why so many of the terrorists that we see today are Muslims? I believe that it is because the way that these people (not all Muslims) view the invisible God is as a severe judge ready to kill and cast away all infidels in Hell so they are transformed into that image that they see.
Do not be caught up in the support of natural Israel at any cost trap either. Natural Jews who do not know Christ will have a similar image of God as a God of judgment and quick vengence against those outside of His covenant promises. They often are as quick to kill Palestinians as the Palestinians are to kill them. Both behold the "mirror of God" through the Letter that kills and are transformed into this very image.
Many Christians, also, see God as the one who created and maintains an eternal torture chamber (Hell) for those who have rejected His free gift through Jesus Christ. These people can be some of the meanest and most judgmenttal people that you have ever met. They spend every waking moment figuring ways to "get" the homosexuals and the abortionists and the Universalists and other "heretics" because this is the image of God that they see so they are conformed to that image as they gaze into God's Word in Letter only.
I praise God that light is shining out of darkness and God is raising up a generation of Sons who see Him as He is and are being transformed into that image. These will be the ones who are trusted with the judgment of the nations because they will judge as He would judge with mercy that endures forever. This does not mean that in the age to come that sin or rebellion will be tolerated by God or His Manchild Company. We all love too much to let people continue to be victims of those who would offend the little ones. But, the judgment of the Sons of God will be like unto the image of their Heavenly Father and will be directed towards the restoration of all and the destruction of none.
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| To add a comment to "Transformed into His Image" |
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| October 02, 2007 |
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Hi John. I'm just curious, could you perhaps expound a little on this "generation of Sons", "Manchild Company" or "Sons of God" that you mention? Thanks!
God bless,
~mike |
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| October 02, 2007 |
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Mike,
My understanding comes from Romans 8 and Rev. 12 predominantely. I, also, believe that the Bible teaches a first and a second resurrection. The first resurrection will be the Overcoming Sons of God and they are the ones that will rule and reign with Christ throughout the Milenium Age. During this time, they will bring the nations under the authority of Christ and bring in the harvest of the earth.
20:5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they shall reign with him a thousand years.
After this 1000 year age, the rest of the dead will be raised and judged by the Book of Life. The Bible says that both the righteous and the wicked will be raised at this time and judged. Some of those raised in the second resurrection have their names in the Book of Life and some do not. There are books written on this subject so I cannot do much here except point you to a few verses.
8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together. 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected [the same] in hope, 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 8:23 And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body.
Notice the requirement of being considered a Son of God. It is those who are led by the Spirit of God. John's gospel says that as many as receive Him are given the power to become the Sons of God. We are born again as infants of God and must follow the Spirit to become full grown Sons of God.
Notice, also, that the whole creation is groaning under the weight of corruption and waiting for the manifestation of the Sons of God who will set at liberty the Creation. As I understand the ages, The Passover Age lasted over 2000 years with one purpose and that was to bring to resurrection the single stalk of grain, Jesus Christ. On the morning that the stone was rolled away, the priest was waving the sheaf offering to God as the single firstfruit of God.
This Passover Age was finished and the Pentecostal Age begun. This is the Feist of First Fruits (plural). For 2000 years the church age has continued with the purpose of brnging forth the Sons of God. Some of these Sons have gone the way of death and will be raised from the dead first. Then, those Sons who are alive and remain will be changed with them. At this time, the Pentecostal Age will be complete and the Tabernacles Age will begin. Tabernacles speaks of the full harvest of the earth. It is the fall festival that ends the agricultural year. Here is a piece of Revelation 12: 12:5 she brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, I do not believe with some that these events revealed in Rev. 12 have taken place yet. The woman is the church and the manchild is a many membered company of Overcomers. John said that from chapter 4 on, these were things that were going to take place in the future. Jesus saw Satan cast out of the third Heaven where God dwells and this records him being cast out of the second Heaven and to the earth with great wrath. Satan is now the prince of the power of the air and is part of the spiritual darkness in Heavenly places. This is not the third Heaven because there is no spiritual wickedness there.
I will end with a promise to the Overcoming Christians. Please notice that all of chapters 3 and 4 of Revelation was written to the church so this is not about believers and unbelievers. It is correction to the church and promises to those who heed the correction and Overcome after they are saved. 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Many Christians wrongly assume that all will rule and reign with Christ, but who will they rule and reign over? Jesus taught many parables about faithful and unfaithful servants. In each case, the reward for faithful servants was ruling over more cities than those who were unfaithful. You have to be saved to be His servant, but once saved, what we do will determine if we Overcome and are granted the right to sit with Him in His throne. Jesus said that the wicked servants who beat one another like He will not return will receive their portion with the unbelievers. This does not mean that their reward will be the same since they are servants so their names are in the Book of Life, but they get their reward when the unbelievers do at the second resurrection after the Millenium Age.
This is just a skeleton of why I believe these things, but would be glad to answer more if it helps.
Peace,
John |
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