Twin Peaks

Happy New Year Everyone,

The scripture for today is Genesis 1:26-27

Genesis 1:26-27  And God said, Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.

God created man for relationship with Himself.  In order for God to enjoy intimate relationship with another being, that being had to be in the God class of being; A being like Himself. (Not a cow or goat, fish, etc.) Psalms 8:5-6 says "For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and have crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet."  The Hebrew word translated angels in this text is "Elohiym" which is God. In most other translations of the Bible, the word is correctly translated God. The point is not to say that man is greater than angels but that God was and is the point of reference for man's creation, not angels.

When mankind fell, we lost the qualities that God had given to us because of sin. God's purpose in our redemption is to restore man back to the state that God created us in originally. Jesus came to earth and became a man in order to redeem us and accomplish that. God had the ability to become a man. Why? Because He created man in His image. Man could receive God. That is who Jesus Christ is; God-Man! And today, there is a man in the Godhead; A real human being with flesh and bones.  God has raised humanity up to the place where He intended for man to be in the first place, with Him and in Him!  But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, has made us alive together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;) And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.   Ephesians 2:4-6 That is the place where our identity is; in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. From this position, by faith, we learn to think with the mind of Christ and to speak the words of Christ.   We have been transformed through His atoning sacrifice and through Jesus Christ we can have His righteousness, His love, His Humility, His peace, His joy, His overcoming power, His faith, and His character. May we fully embrace all that His glorious sacrifice has done for us.

God bless you as you continue in His service.

Tim