Made In His Image

Gen. 1:26-27: In His Image

In the beginning, after the heavens and the earth were created God spoke these words, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:”

Jesus in John 4:24 states that “God is a spirit.”

If we as humans, with flesh and bone are made in the likeness, and image of God, in what way is this true? 1 John states that the three witnesses in heaven are the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. It then states that these three are one.
If we look at what man consists of, we see that there are three parts: the body, soul and the spirit.
So what is the role that each part plays?

The Body
The body is the visible part of man; it is what plays out the actions of the soul.
The Soul
The soul is the thoughts, the words, the intentions of man. The soul cannot make itself known without the working of the body.
The Spirit
The spirit is the life of man. It is the only of the three that is eternal; hence its welfare should be of great importance to man.

When Adam was created, he was created in this same fashion, three parts reflecting the trinity of God. When Adam fell, he in turn handed over his will to Satan. When originally created, man was upright both in body, soul and spirit.

Rom. 8:29: Image of His Son

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29

So we see the initial creation of man, it was made upright and pure; but due to the fall it is no longer the creation it once was. So when we fall back into the arms of God are we brought back to the image of God?

Look at Genesis 1:26 again.

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:” 26a

Notice, the Lord does not say, “I shall make man in My image,” but rather, Let us make man in our image. This implies that there was more than one involved in our making. John shines some light on this.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:1-3

Later he shows us that the “Word became flesh,” which we all know is Jesus Christ.
So as the children of God, are we brought back to the image of God? Well, Christ is our example of what the image of God looks like. He lived how Adam was created to live. It is in the conforming to the Son’s image that we are then brought into the image and likeness of God. Christ was not the second Adam, nor was He the last man. Christ came as the last Adam, and left as the second man. In this Christ brought forth a new creation, the old was done away with.

A Question For The Evolutionist

How can intentional doings come from an unintentional being?

Didn't want to forget this question.

A Tale Of Two Fishermen

The county had decided to close down fishing on the Chinook Lake with no plans of re-opening. But before doing so they decied to have one last fishing contest, one that would include all that the fisherman would need. It would last for a full week and in the end trophies would be handed out to those who landed a fish. So two friends, Tom and Pete, signed up to take a cast at it.
Now the Chinook Lake was known for one thing and that was the great fish that no one had been able to catch for years. For Tom that was the only fish he was going to keep, if he could only get it. Pete had decided that what ever he could land he would gut, clean and keep.
So four days into the contest Pete was hauling in fish like there was no tomorrow, which it is good to make known that the county was giving no limit restriction, so Pete could catch as many as his heart desired. At this time you would find Tom at the south end of the lake, for this is where the great fish was said to be. And just as he had said, Tom didn't waste any time on the fish jumping around him, nor did he venture out into other parts of the lake, but rather he waited for that moment when the great fish would reveal himself at the end of Tom's line.
Well the contest ended, and just as promised trophies were handed out. Pete was called up to the plat form and handed ten trophies for the wonderful catch he had made during the week. As for Tom, his name was never heard over the microphone when the trophies were being passed out. The county came to him later and asked why he never went for the fish that were jumping all around him, they had good reason to know, they gave him the gear to do so! Tom couldn't find an answer. So Tom went to Pete and asked how it was that Pete had recieved so many trophies and Tom had none. "Well, said Pete, "my goal, when out on the lake, was not to seek out one fish, but what ever fish I could get. If I caught the great fish, then so be it, but he isn't the only fish out there. The lake is full, and I was taking what ever I could get!"

What are we taking? Are we waiting for some body to just fall into our life begging to know the gospel? Or are we taking every opportunity we get to feed a little bait in every one around us in hopes of catching one?
How many of us are hanging out at the south end of the lake hoping that we'll get a bite, when there are fish jumping all over the rest of the lake? The Lord has given us the tools to become fishers of men, and some times I wonder how many of us have the mindset Pete had, to seek out what ever fish we can get.

Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Luke 10:2

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matt. 4:19

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. ¶And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Isaiah 6:8-9

Our Actions

How do we deal with those around us? I like to ask questions a lot to hear the responses of those who usually don’t open up. So again I ask, how do we as believers in Christ treat those around us? Do we act as Christ did when He was on the earth? It amazes me how easy it is to do and say things to those around us that we ourselves would be crushed by if it were said or done to us. I have a weakness of my own it has to do with goofiness. Being in the younger generation group that I am, the battle of being the focus or center of attention can at times be quite brutal, whether people realize it or not. Many times I catch myself cracking out the whip of jokes and don’t realize that in the process I have in turn hurt some one for the sake of being funny.

2 Timothy 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

Scripture calls the tongue an unruly thing, who can tame it.

James 3:8-9
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poisons. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

James goes as far as to say that the tongue is full of deadly poisons. There are two ways of looking at this terminalogy.
1) If you give a man a little bit of poison in his food, depending on what kind of poison your using it won't do anything to his body. Continue to add more and more and the build up of poison will, at some point, do harm to his body.
2) Give a man poison and although at first he may not feel anything, the outcome is terrible.

View number one. If we continue to throw little comments and remarks at or about some one, though he may act fine at the first, sooner or later they will build up into a wall of pain.
View number two. Many people when hearing some one openly mock or belittle them will usually hide there emotions and laugh with the group. But as scripture states that only God knows the heart of man, we need to in turn look out for our brothers and sisters in Christ that we don't say such things that would make a brother or sister crumble in spirit.


It is interesting how even in those times when what we say may be right, if not said at the right time, it is found foolish.

Proverbs 25:11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

It is far better for us to think about what we say and how we say it before we say it at all. This is yet another thing that I tend to disregard easily. As a young man, I like to jump in and give my two cents worth before people start making decisions. In most cases I didn’t even stop to think if it was the opportune time for me to say such things. In 1 Timothy 4 the youth are told to be an example OF the believers in word, as well as other things. But look at how that is written we are to be examples OF the believers. When some one looks at us they should see what a believer looks, sounds and acts like. That is a big calling! But remember what Christ promised,

Matt. 11:28-30
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

If Christ is living in us, if it is He who gave us salvation through His death and resurrection, wouldn’t He have the strength as well to keep us from hurting those we love? Wouldn’t He have the power to stop our tongue when our flesh races to spring open the hatch of babblings? We need to reach out with all that we have, laying aside our own agendas and grab that mindset that crucifies ourselves and lifts up others and more importantly runs after the purposes God has for us..

"Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods." Augustine

The Name Above All Names

Names can be a very important thing in life. Some people have names that stand out, some have humorous name, some have short ones and some have long ones. But have you ever met someone with a name that has power in it? There is only one name that I know of and ever will know that does. It is a name that is both worshipped and hated. Some use it in praise to the one who is known by it, and some use it as a curse word without any regard to who it is they speak of. Some are encouraged by the name and some are persecuted for loving the name. Some taught in this name and others were commanded not to teach in this name.

Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. Then went the captain with the officers, and brought then without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the counsil: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that you should not teach in this name? And behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. Acts 5:25-28

What is this name that was so loved and yet so hated? It was first told to a young woman by an angel.

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David: and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. Luke 1:26, 30-31

Jesus, the name above all names, by whom we have been given the power to become the sons of God. For without His name we were the very enemies of God. This is the name by which all things past, present, and to come were made and are being made. For Jesus Christ of the seed of David, the Son of God, the last Adam, the second man, the firstborn among many, came that we might have life and life abundantly! His name is heard throughout all the world and His power is shown for all to see!

If we as the children of God so easily let babblings and cursing fall from our lips while the world takes the very name of the one who gave them breathe and uses it as a curse word: who then will the unbelievers hear the name of Jesus spoken from in a glorifying way? We as the people of God, and the peculiar people, ought to speak of our Lord to all who hear. We need to speak of Him whether we’re down or up, and I don’t mean just calling Him Lord or God, but let us speak of JESUS evermore so as the days grow dark and sin grows exceedingly. For it is in this name that the dead are raised, the sick are healed, and the sinner is made a saint!

Faith Life

Satan attacks when we feel our strongest and 99.99% of the time we fall if we are not grounded in Christ. But as a brother once said, "The joy of rising over-shadows the failure of the fall." So praise God for that!

I would like to share a little testimony of what happened after I left Bend on Saturday. I had just pulled into Madras and coming upon two different highways, I couldn't remember which of the two was mine. So I took the one that seemed right. Had I not taken this route, which I soon found out was the wrong one, I would not have picked up the 50 year old hitchhiker that I did. To make a long stary short she had found out about the faith trip. It was at this point that she made a comment that left me thinking all the way home. She said, "It is one thing to test your faith for five days, it is another to live it for life."

Heb. 11:5 tells us that by faith Enoch was translated. Why? Because he pleased God. Then verse 6 of the same chapter says that without faith it is impossible to please God. How much of what we do each day pleases God? If we had been given a house, car, job, and a nice savings in the bank in those five days of faith, we would have said the Lord provided. But after it is all over, we return to our troublesome car, our unpleasant customers, our low income and high bills, and our ever so busy schedule, with all the worries and cares that come with them. We stop looking at how we might please God but rather how we might, by our own strength accomplish the tasks before us, hence pleasing not God, but ourselves.
The faith trip shouldn't just last five days of our lives, it isn't something we need to do a few times a year to see if we still have faith; It is something we should be living! In this I am not saying we need to leave everything behind physicaly, unless God calls us to do so, but rather we need to give and receive according to the measure God would entrust to us with. We need to seek out those things that please God. For as it says in 2 Peter, "Wherefor the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall." 2 Peter 1:10
So let us seek out that which pleases our Father, following the example of His Son, who humbling Himself, took up the cross, despising the shame, and died on the cross; yet now sits He at the right hand of the Father making intersession for us!

By His Faith,
Nathaniel

Let no Man Despise Thy Youth

Lately I have been convicted by the Lord. When it comes right down to it, I have to wonder how much of my youthful days have been spent to do nothing else but please the Lord? I recently came across a verse as I was preparing a teaching, it is found in 1 Timothy 4:12-13

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity, till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Am I an example of the believers? I am not commanded to be an example to the believers, but rather of the believers. I think as a christian youth in an american world, it is sometimes easy to get side tracked. The cares of this world and the entanglements thereof tend to reach for the younger generation, and many times grab hold. But as I read this verse, I can't help but realize that this verse is dealing with all that I am.

I am to be an example of the believers in,

Word. My speach
Conversation. My lifestyle
Charity. My love
Spirit. That which only God sees.
Faith. For by it, we overcome the world.
Purity. To be available for the Lord at all times.

I am to give attendance to,

Reading. The word, which is as a toe-edged sword peircing the the hardened hearts of men.
Exhortation. So that I may know that which I must turn from.
Doctrine. So that I may know what I must turn to.


Truly, I must deny myself, take up my cross DAILY and follow Him. For if I do not take heed to this verse, I give everyman, who looks on this wretched man that I am, every right to despise my youth.

Disciple or Convert?

What allows you to say that your saved from the wrath of God? What is it that makes you a son of God?

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 7:21

The same Jesus who said that the poor in Spirit would inherit the kingdom of heaven also said that if one does not the will of the Father, he will not enter the kingdom. So what does Christ mean by this? Is He saying we're saved by our works? God forbid. Rather what He is saying is that a tree without fruit is dead. We are saved by Him and Him alone, but if we have no evidence for it, we are as the dead tree.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Matthew 7:19-20

Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.Ephesians 5:10

Keith Green once put it this way, "If your friend doesn't know your a Christian, you probably aren't. If your neighbor doesn't know your a christian, your probably not. If your mother doesn't know your a christian, and she'd know better then anyone, then your probably not." Where is the proof, where is the evidence? Paul Washer put it this way, "If a man came late to a meeting, saying he was hit by a dump truck going 100 mph, yet this man has no scratches or cuts, this man is either a liar or a mad man. If He was hit at a 100 mph. he wouldn't be standing there like that. Isn't it just the same for us. How much more should we be changed, seeing we have been touched by God." There should be fruit, if not it is as the tree that is hewn down and cast into the fire.
Today the Church is filled with far to many converts. As you read this you are pondering if I meant that in a bad way. I did. We have to many converts and hardly any disciples. When Christ commanded for His disciples to "Go", He never said, "Convert men", but rather, "Make disciples of men." The Lord doesn't want moraly good people who confess His name. He wants people who have died from their ways, who don't live by morals but by His rules, and who are disciples not just converts.
What is preached today? Is sin and repentence preached? Is hell fire and God's wrath preached? In todays liberal American Church (whose works are filled with homosexuality, abortion, coveteousness etc.) sin and repentence is seen as a sin in itself to be preached. Rather they preach God's love and grace and peace, never the cross. They preach fun and games, but never denying of ones self. The church of America is a non-cross, non-bible, non-christian organization. What it is, is a social meeting. It has lost it's savor as salt, and now is "good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men." Thus the scipture should be harkened to. It should be obeyed when it says,

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.Ephesians 5:14

It is no wonder such beliefs as the pre-trib rapture is so prominent today in the church, no one wants to suffer in America. I had one girl tell me that the reason the church doesn't go through the tribulation is due to the fact that God doesn't let His bride suffer. Well either this girl hasn't looked in other countries and seen the daily pain and persecution that goes on in those churches, or her church isn't preaching the right gospel. Paul says in 2 Timothy,

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;2 Timothy 1:8

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.2 Timothy 3:12

If you were promised a happy life when you were saved, then you heard the wrong gospel. Sure we all shall have joy forever more, but joy and happiness are two different things. Happiness is based on curcumstances, joy will not change according to whats happening around you. Don't expect a happy life, without persecution or pain, but expect persecution and pain with great joy in Christ. Just as the disciples rejoiced when they were persecuted for the gospels sake.
So what makes a disciple different then a convert? In the Webster 1828 dictionary it gives this meaning for a disciple.

Disciple n.
1. A learner or scholar; one who recieves or professes to recieve instruction from another.
2. A follower; an adherent to the droctrines of another. Hence the constant attendants of Christ were called His disciples and hence all Christians are called His disciples, as they profess to learn and recieve His doctrines and precepts.

What does it mean when it says precepts? In short it means any command intended as an authoritative rule of action. A disciple does what Christ tells Him to do. He not only learns Christ's teachings, which means reading His word, but He also obeys His word. Christ said "Go ye into all the world", a true disciple will go, whether it's right outside or 5,000 miles away.If one doesn't obey Christ, then He really hasn't made Christ Lord of His life. Christ is always Lord, don't get me wrong, but if you don't obey His commands then your outlook on Him isn't that of a servant to His Lord. A convert is only one who has changed that which is seen. The dictionary says a convert is one who changes from one religion to another, or one who turns from a bad life to a good one. God is looking for people to convert, but converting is not to make your life better, but to become a disciple which glorifies God and obeys His commands in all ways.