tcox4freedom
03-23-2012, 09:02 AM
I know we have a could range of "christian" based belief represented on this forum. I have really enjoyed reading all the posts in this section! So, I thought a thread about what these statements mean to us as individual believers would be interesting to share.
My goal is for each of us to learn more about one another. So, hopefully we can grow stronger in the "tie" that binds us together in LOVE.
I really want everyone's opinion & thoughts on these three questions. Please, if you would give us some insight of the "basis" of your opinions. For example;
Share & reference scripture.
Share & reference any books.
Share & reference any people that have helped & encouraged your belief system.
Thanks for your time. Let us exalt the Lord!-
What does it mean (to you) to know you have been "created in the image of God?"
What is "your" primary image of God? (Judgmental? Righteous? Holy? Angry? Loving? Kind? Generous? etc?)
What does the phrase, "To be like Christ" mean to you? How has it changed your life?
Finally, What does "Living in/by the SPIRIT" mean to you personally? How do you "represent" & "model" a "Life in the Spirit" to the world.
First I do believe we were "created" in the image of God. I believe God is primarily "SPIRIT" in his nature.
John 4:23-24 (Darby)
23 But [the] hour is coming and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for also the Father seeks such as his worshippers.
24 God [is] a spirit; and they who worship him must worship [him] in spirit and truth.
Therefore I believe we are also "primarily" spiritual creatures. We are just "temporarily" stuck in this sinful & mortal body.
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 (ASV)
54 But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law:
57 but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I believe to be like Christ is to live in humility & submission to God. It is also reaching out in Love to ALL you come in contact with.
Philippians 2:5-18 (HCSB)
5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.
7 Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form,
8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.
9 For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth—
11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God who is working in you, ⌊enabling you⌋ both to desire and to work out His good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing,
15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world.
16 Hold firmly to the message of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing.
17 But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
18 In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.
Lest not forget the Spirit. Jesus went away to send us a "Comforter". One that would endue us with "POWER" & lead us into all TRUTH!!
John 14:26 (ASV)
26 But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.
Luke 24:49 (KJV)
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
John 16:13-15 (ASV)
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you.
15 All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare it unto you.
I don't know about you. But, I just want to jump up & praise the Lord when I read scripture like this!
To know that Almighty GOD, the ONE true God of the Universe loved me enough to "create" me in his very own image is the most AWESOME thing I can think of.
To know that this same God desires me to be conformed more & more into the image of his SON and has made provision so this can happen just BLOWS me away!
Then to understand, that not only did God create me & provide THE WAY back to HIM despite my sinfulness, but "KNOW" that he has given us the knowledge of how to live a life worthy of HIS high calling AND provide us with the POWER to succeed in our calling & guide us into living our life in HIS will is just ASTOUNDING to me!
Now,
What say you?
What does the knowledge that you have been created in the image of God to be "like" Christ and live a life in the "SPIRIT" mean to you?
-
My goal is for each of us to learn more about one another. So, hopefully we can grow stronger in the "tie" that binds us together in LOVE.
I really want everyone's opinion & thoughts on these three questions. Please, if you would give us some insight of the "basis" of your opinions. For example;
Share & reference scripture.
Share & reference any books.
Share & reference any people that have helped & encouraged your belief system.
Thanks for your time. Let us exalt the Lord!-
What does it mean (to you) to know you have been "created in the image of God?"
What is "your" primary image of God? (Judgmental? Righteous? Holy? Angry? Loving? Kind? Generous? etc?)
What does the phrase, "To be like Christ" mean to you? How has it changed your life?
Finally, What does "Living in/by the SPIRIT" mean to you personally? How do you "represent" & "model" a "Life in the Spirit" to the world.
First I do believe we were "created" in the image of God. I believe God is primarily "SPIRIT" in his nature.
John 4:23-24 (Darby)
23 But [the] hour is coming and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for also the Father seeks such as his worshippers.
24 God [is] a spirit; and they who worship him must worship [him] in spirit and truth.
Therefore I believe we are also "primarily" spiritual creatures. We are just "temporarily" stuck in this sinful & mortal body.
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 (ASV)
54 But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law:
57 but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I believe to be like Christ is to live in humility & submission to God. It is also reaching out in Love to ALL you come in contact with.
Philippians 2:5-18 (HCSB)
5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.
7 Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form,
8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.
9 For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth—
11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God who is working in you, ⌊enabling you⌋ both to desire and to work out His good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing,
15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world.
16 Hold firmly to the message of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing.
17 But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
18 In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.
Lest not forget the Spirit. Jesus went away to send us a "Comforter". One that would endue us with "POWER" & lead us into all TRUTH!!
John 14:26 (ASV)
26 But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.
Luke 24:49 (KJV)
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
John 16:13-15 (ASV)
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you.
15 All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare it unto you.
I don't know about you. But, I just want to jump up & praise the Lord when I read scripture like this!
To know that Almighty GOD, the ONE true God of the Universe loved me enough to "create" me in his very own image is the most AWESOME thing I can think of.
To know that this same God desires me to be conformed more & more into the image of his SON and has made provision so this can happen just BLOWS me away!
Then to understand, that not only did God create me & provide THE WAY back to HIM despite my sinfulness, but "KNOW" that he has given us the knowledge of how to live a life worthy of HIS high calling AND provide us with the POWER to succeed in our calling & guide us into living our life in HIS will is just ASTOUNDING to me!
Now,
What say you?
What does the knowledge that you have been created in the image of God to be "like" Christ and live a life in the "SPIRIT" mean to you?
-