1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: Notice that as God started to make man he spoke of himself in the plural form. Was someone else with him? Who was it? I believe it was Jesus, yes. and more than that I believe it was the complete body of Jesus Christ. You will see why I say this as you continue reading. What was this likeness that God was speaking about? The webster's dictionary says that an image is a representation, likeness, or an imitation of any person or thing. But God is a spirit completely unknown and incomprehensible by the mind of man. It's hard to imagine what it is about man that is in God's image.
People have many ideas of man as the image of God. Some think that it is man's intellect that is made in his image, others say that it is his ability to create. Indeed man's intellect has created many wonderful things, but along with them he has created enough pollution and terrible weapons to destroy the earth and himself as well. He can't seem to control himself or the wonders he has created. In the above scripture God said that he would make man in his own image yet he spoke in the plural form. God used the word US and OUR when he spoke of creating man, therefore he was speaking to more than just himself. (read the 8th Proverb) I believe he was speaking to Jesus. Whatever this image is, it would have to be perfect. Anything that represents God would have to be perfect. Jesus, in speaking to his disciples said to them: I and the Father are one, and you shall be one, even as I and the Father are one.(John 17:21,22) The Body of Christ will be members of the Godhood. What is it about man that could possibly be a representation of God and his family of sons? History has proven man to be a selfish, wanton, warlike, murderous creature, very unlike the picture of God that Jesus showed him to be. The question of what this image is, was answered many centuries after the book of Genesis was written. The Holy Ghost revealed exactly what God was saying there in Genesis to a man named Paul. This account is revealed in the book of 1stCorinthians 12: 12-27. 12 For as the (human) body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. Verse13; For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14; For the body is not one member, but many. 15; If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16; And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17; If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18; But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19; And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20; But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21; And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22; Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23; And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more comliness 24; For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honer to that part which lacked:
26; And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. 25; That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 27; Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28; And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29; Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers?
Note in the above scripture it says, for as the body is one yet it has many members, so also is Christ. Think about this. What body is Paul talking about here? He is speaking of this creature body of ours, but he is comparing it to another body which is Christ. That's it brothers in Christ. The perfect representation that God was speaking about, in the plural form, in the book Genesis, is our physical body. This body that we walk around in is in the image of the body of Jesus Christ. Remember, in Genesis, God spoke in the plural, let US make man in OUR image. God the Father, in his infinite love has shared all that he has, and is, with God the Son and they are one. This was in the beginning of creation. God intended to have a family of sons with Jesus his only begotten as its head. Jesus, by his death and resurrection would send the Holy Ghost to minister to the seed that he has begotten. Jesus said to the disciples: Just as I and the Father are one , so, you shall be one with me. (John 17:21,22) This Son body is the sole reason for the creation. This creature body was created to be a representation, or, an image of the finished creation of God. This finished creation will be and is the Body of Jesus Christ. John 3:2 says: 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. These in this great body are God's precious Jewels, (Malachi 3:17) and the precious fruit of the earth that he patiently awaits (James 5:7)
Verse 13 in Corinthians above says: FOR BY ONE SPIRIT WE ARE BAPTIZED INTO ONE BODY. For the body is not one member but many. (He is speaking of this flesh creature body and how it represents the body of Christ) Paul goes on to say: If the foot shall say, because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; Is it therefore not of the body? If the ear should say, because I am not the eye, I an not of the body; Is it, therefore, not of the body? (Let me give you an illustration how the worldly teaching of individuality and self esteem opposes this concept of the coming body of Jesus Christ) Suppose you were driving down the road one morning to work and your eyes said," I'm tired of this same old grind day after day. Why, I am one of the greatest members of the body and I get no appreciation for it. I'm going to set out to find my identity in order to regain my self esteem and individuality. Suddenly you couldn't see! A terrible wreck would probably be the end result. The world teaches individuality and self esteem but note the word divide inherent in individuality. The body becomes divided and perishes. It's too bad that the human race can't understand this. Do you see why Jesus said to his desciples, "He who would be greatest let him be least, and he who would be chief let him be the servant of all?
The 17th verse above; IF THE WHOLE BODY WERE AN EYE, WHERE WOULD BE THE HEARING? IF THE WHOLE WERE HEARING WHERE WOULD BE THE SMELLING? (without all it's members acting in unselfishness and love the body couldn't function.) BUT NOW HATH GOD SET THE MEMBERS EVERY ONE OF THEM IN THE BODY AS IT HAS PLEASED HIM. AND IF THEY WERE ALL ONE MEMBER, WHERE WOULD BE THE BODY? BUT NOW THEY ARE MANY MEMBERS, YET ONE BODY. AND THE EYE CANNOT SAY UNTO HE HAND, I HAVE NO NEED OF YOU, OR THE HEAD TO THE FEET, I HAVE NO NEED OF YOU. Each member of this body of ours has it's own function which it preforms in complete unselfishness. The above scripture goes on to say that the less comely (beautiful) parts have the greater beauty. Before this generation of medical science people had no idea of how the immune system worked. We found out from the disease AIDS that a body without an immune system dies a slow agonizing death. Not much was heard about the wound healing mechanisms until modern times. When the body is wounded the head activates the production of histamine. Histamine travels through the blood to the wound site where it acts to open the arterioles to allow white cells to the wound, where they can destroy invading bacteria. Histamine also activates the nerves at the wound site so that they become hypersensitive. The wound becomes very sore. This is a protective mechanism to keep from re-injuring the wound, If the wound is very severe and painful a heroin-like substance is secreted into the blood stream to deaden the pain. You see, even these less known (uncomly) body parts have a very beautiful function. They are not as evident as the more comely parts such as the eye or ear but they are no less needed. Even the little toe gives us lateral stability to keep us from falling sideways.
Why are these less comely parts given the greater comliness? The 25th verse explains why; THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO SCHISM (division) IN THE BODY, but that the members should have the same care one for the other. and if one member suffers they all suffer with it and it one member is honored all members rejoice with it. Then Paul says verse 28: Now you are the body of Christ yet separate members. Members of the Body of Jesus Christ are to be joined together in complete love and unselfishness.
Do you see how the Holy Ghost revealed to Paul how our bodies are made in the image of the body of Christ. Remember that the gospel of John opens this way: In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. If Jesus was word and we know that he was, then he IS God. God has said the heavens and the earth shall pass away but my word will never pass away. All those in Jesus Christ are eternal word. This great supernatural body will live by every word out of the mouth of God. The commandments of God will be kept by this body. The sermon on the mount will be their very way. The commandments of love given by Jesus will be kept forever because this body of Christ will be eternal. God IS love. Love has held nothing back from his beloved Son, Jesus, they are one. Jesus is also God. The body of Christ is ONE body. There is no division in the body of Christ. It is one with Jesus, therefore, it will also be God. This is why almighty God said in Genesis: Let US make man in OUR image.
Please note that the body of Christ is not known by its individual members. When God looks upon it, it is known by it's head. By the very will of God and by his awesome power, this is how we look upon this body of ours to tell what it's name is. This body of ours was created to be a perfect type and shadow of the body of Christ. I will illustrate to you what I mean by this. Suppose I put you and a group of others into some small inclosed booths. There are holes cut into the booths in various places. Then I tell each one in the group to stick his hand out one of the holes. Then I ask your best friend to tell me which one is you. Of course, most likely he could not pick you out. It would be the same with your arms, ears, feet, or just about any other body part. However, if I told every one to stick their heads out the hole your friend would be able to tell you from the rest of the group right away. Why? Because we are known by our heads. People Don't look at our arms, feet, belly or back to tell who we are, they recognize us by our heads. Isn't this awesome? God knows the body of Jesus Christ by it's HEAD. Paul said That our bodies were made to be a temple for the Holy Ghost to dwell in. Romans1:20 says: For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Our Great eternal God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has not left us ignorant of his purposes in Christ. There are no dark secrets in Jesus Christ.
There will be no selfishness or individuality in the Body of Jesus Christ. The word individual will never be uttered in this kingdom. Indeed, why should it be? We will be one with Christ who is one with the Father. All will be one. God is all powerful. He has all knowledge. There is nothing higher to attain. There is no need for individuality. This Jesus body will have something no other creature ever created by God has. It will have unreserved, unremitting love for Him because it has known evil and it's terrible consequences. It will know evil for what it is. Evil is the very by-product of selfishness, individuality and greed. This body will love God because it knows he is good and his mercy endures forever. There is no darkness, deceit, or evil in Him. All he does he does in the LIGHT. This Body will know how fortunate they are that he is GOOD. PRAISE HIS GREAT BLESSED, GOOD NAME.
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