The Goal of Faith part 10
Being the Image of God
As we conclude our series on the Goal of Faith, I’d like to review a bit on how far we’ve come. We first began looking at the Image of God and how that Image has been tainted by sin. God began with a good Creation, but through the schemes of the devil and the rebelliousness of humanity, that Creation has become what we see today. Then, we saw how God displays His image through mothers and fathers, and how the family is a primary way in which we display God’s image. Then, in part 4, we discussed Wisdom in the Old Testament and how God’s wisdom is available to all who would seek it—pointing us back to righteousness and our original design. And in part 6, we look at the restored image in the New Kingdom—the ultimate goal for the Christian, namely Heaven. In parts 7 & 8 we looked at Christ and the Holy Spirit and how they bring us freedom from dark forces and empower us to live in that freedom.
Now, we have come to the last two parts where the rubber really hits the road. Last week we looked at the spiritual disciplines and how they help us walk in God’s freedom drawing us closer to Him. They are the answer to the first question I proposed: How do we grow in God’s Image? This week, we are going to answer the second two questions:
How do we act in God’s image? And, How do we live in God’s image?
How we answer these questions is how we join in God’s saving work in this world. Remember the ultimate point of our series:
The Goal of Faith is to be fully transformed by the love of God, able to stand firmly and boldly on the Day of Jesus’ Return, knowing you have been faithful.
We have seen that we are transformed from death to life, captive to free, by the work of Christ.
We have seen that we are able to stand firmly and boldly on the Day of Jesus’ Return, because we are being remade into the eternal, God imaging creatures He designed us to be.
And now, with last week and this week, we are looking at how we can know we have been faithful. There is no reason for Christians to wonder if they have been faithful to God. God calls us to live where we are, and when we are, for His purpose and His glory. Our faithfulness is in doing the things He has called us to do—specifically, growing, acting, and living in His Image.
So, how do we grow in His image, how do we learn what God has designed for us? The Spiritual Disciplines help us—prayer, Scripture intake, fasting, evangelism, ministering, teaching, and resting (appropriately).
Let’s continue with our next question: How do we act in God’s Image?
Now, this question is answered throughout Scripture. After all, all of Scripture is about what God is doing for us, to us, and through us. But, for the sake of time, I am going to lean on my friend John. In John’s first letter to the churches, he writes about the link between faith and works. For those of you taking notes, James was my other choice, because he too is a very practical book that touches on Christian ethics.
But let’s begin reading in 1 John.
How do we act in God’s Image?
We act in the light, because He is the light.
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
1 John 1:5-7
We speak truth because He is truth
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
1 John 1:8-10
We are faithful because He is faithful
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them.This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
1 John 2:1-6
We love because He loves
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.
1 John 2:9-11
We are holy because He is holy
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 2:15-17
We are skipping the bits about antichrists for the sake of time, but feel free to read that carefully at home.
And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.
1 John 2:28-29
Here is the crux of our series. If you want to have confidence on the day of Jesus’ Return, or the day of your death (whichever comes first), “abide in Christ”! When we abide in Christ, we are not caught off guard when our faith is made sight. We go to Heaven like someone who is finally returning home after decades being away. We know we are His when we act like Him!
We give because He gives
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:16-18
We forgive because He forgives
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
1 John 4:7-12
Compare with Matthew 18:21-35:
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
We are compassionate because He is compassionate
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command:Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
1 John 4:18-21
We have now come to the last question:
How do we live in God’s Image?
I believe a single word answers this question: Purpose.
As we grow in God’s Image, and as we act in God’s Image, this lifestyle will inevitably lead to living our life with purpose. Unbelievers are perennially plagued by questions of existence, purpose, and meaning of life. Why are we here? Is it some cosmic accident, or is there a meaning to the madness?
Christians, we have the greatest news for this dying world. There is PURPOSE for our existence! God exists. God created us. He loves us. He saves us for our self-destructive ways. He has a PURPOSE for us!
What is your purpose? What is your meaning? Each of us has a special answer to that, but all of us fall under the same general purpose.
Humanity was created to display God’s glory in their building, loving, administering, and caretaking.
We each have a part to play in God’s Design. And that part is linked to God’s design for humanity. There are a few more verses I would like to share with you, because these are verses that state succinctly what God has in store for us. I would recommend you highlight these in your Bible.
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8
But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesu Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
Jude 20-23
As we close this series, I want to offer two more things.
First, I offer an invitation. If you have never surrendered to Jesus for cleansing and forgiveness of sin, do that today. This world, with all its sin, is passing away. Nothing that has been tainted by sin’s corruption will remain. It will all burn up at the Day of Christ’s Return. Don’t hold on to those things that are destroying you. Get rid of your sin while you can.
Second, for those who have surrendered to Christ and are walking with Him. I’d like to read the last part of Jude as a prayer for you. And with this, we will close:
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Jude 24-25