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Restoring the Image of God in Humanity

Restoring the Image of God in Humanity

Human beings were created in the image of God:

God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:26, 27 NIV84).

We were created in the likeness of the infinite Creator God of love, who is a living, intelligent being with individuality and the ability to reason, discern, decide, and act; and God created us with a power modeled after one of His: the power to think and act, to reason, comprehend, and choose. It is this power that gives us the foundation to love, for love operates only in at atmosphere of freedom. Robots cannot love, computers cannot love, puppets cannot love; without our own individuality, without our own ability to think independently and choose freely, we cannot love. God created us in His image as free-thinking beings with the ability to choose for or against Him, to choose for or against love.

And God will not use His power to actively destroy His image in us—even if people sincerely pray to Him and ask Him to do so. While you may have never heard someone pray, “Lord, please destroy your image in me,” you have likely heard other prayers that, if God were to grant what was asked of Him, would result in the image of God being destroyed in that person. Can you think of any?

Have you ever heard anyone pray something like this: “Father, You take control. I surrender my mind to You. I don’t want to decide any more, Father; I just keep messing up. So, I give over the driver’s seat of my life to You for You to be in control of what I do. You tell me the answer, You decide for me, and I will do it, no questions asked. I don’t want to do it wrong, so You take control”?

If God were to grant this request, what would happen to the person? What would happen to the image of God in them? They would become robots, puppets, programmed beings in which God chooses for them; thus, their individuality would be erased and their capacity to love destroyed. God will never do this!

 

What It Means to Surrender

When we surrender ourselves to God, it is never for Him to control our power of choice; that power is a gift from God that we are to exercise.

No, when we surrender to God, we surrender our hearts, motives, desires, and plans to Him for purifying, cleansing, and renewal in righteousness. We are to surrender our sin-sickness for healing, our guilt for removing, and our shame for cleansing; we are to open ourselves up for the rejuvenating power of the Holy Spirit. And when the Spirit enters our hearts and minds, He enlightens with truth, inspires with love, convicts of what is wrong, and impresses with better motives—but He never chooses for us. The Spirit always leaves us free to say yes or no. And when the Spirit has His way, when we say yes to all that God will do in us, we develop certain traits of character that the Bible calls fruits. The last fruit listed, as the Holy Spirit restores God’s image in us, is “self-control”—not God control but “self-control” (Galatians 5:22 NIV84). God restores within us the ability to think clearly, discern wisely, and act righteously.

The Bible tells us that the mature are those who have developed by practice the ability to discern the right from the wrong (Hebrews 5:14). God wants us to be mature—to grow, to understand, to comprehend, to do what is right because it is right, because we understand and agree with Him and choose it not merely because He has said to do it but because we actually prefer it and freely want it.

However, God is not the only supernatural being who is working to have his image reproduced in humanity.

 

In the Image of Sin

Satan is also working to reproduce his image within us, and this is the real focus and ultimate outcome of the war between Christ and Satan—who we become like. The war between Christ and Satan is a war for hearts and minds. These two beings—Christ and Satan—stand at the head of two divergent systems, two antagonistic kingdoms, two opposing governments that operate in diametrically opposite ways. Every intelligent being in the universe decides on whose side they will be by the methods, principles, and laws they prefer and choose to practice in their life.

It is by our choices in whom we trust and whose methods we choose to employ in how we live and treat others that determines whose kingdom we become members of.

Do we prefer:

  • Truth or deception?
  • Love or fear and selfishness?
  • Freedom or coercion, force, and control?
  • Design law or imposed law?

It is a law—the law of worship—that by beholding we are changed. If we worship a god that is like Satan in character, one who makes up rules and uses threats, intimidation, and inflicted punishments to coerce and control and calls it justice, then we become like that god and will use those methods upon others.

But if we worship Jesus, who would not use power to punish His crucifiers but left His creatures free to reject and kill Him, then we, like Jesus, present the truth in love and leave others free; we live out the principles of God, cooperating with the Holy Spirit to have His law written into our hearts.

We are either being washed, purified, and prepared by Jesus Christ to be a temple for the indwelling of God via His Spirit, or we are being corrupted and turned into what the Bible calls a synagogue of Satan (Revelation 2:9).

Every intelligent being, angels and humans, are created to be living temples in which God dwells by His Spirit. It is Satan’s goal to displace God from the throne of our hearts and minds and to establish himself as the ruler of our being. He does this by getting us to choose his methods, principles, and laws over God’s, even while we claim to be worshiping God or Jesus. Satan does this by getting us to have faith in the wrong god, the wrong methods, and the wrong law (imposed vs. design) and to prefer the god who is like a dictator.

Remember, the Jews in Christ’s day claimed both Abraham and God as fathers but were told directly by Jesus that they belonged to their father the devil (John 8:44). Yet they were certain that they were obeying Scripture and that it was Jesus who was teaching heresy. They were not hostile toward Jesus because they didn’t believe in God and Jesus did; they were hostile toward Jesus because He presented a different God to the one they believed in.

Calling oneself a Christian, a follower of the Creator God, even a follower of Jesus, does not establish one as a temple of God—a person who is restored to the image of God. What does? Worshiping God in truth, as Jesus revealed Him to be in character, principle, and method, and thereby surrendering in trust to the true God of love and having His living law of love, the operating system upon which we live, breathe, and function, restored into the heart. Meaning, we love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and our neighbors as ourselves. We live out God’s law—we live the truth in love while leaving others free to decide for themselves.

 

How to Become His Temple

We don’t live victoriously in our own strength. The strength is God’s; the choice is ours! It is our choice to trust God, to receive His strength, and to act in harmony with His will. God never chooses for us, but we can never accomplish any victory over sin by our own ingenuity, wisdom, or power.

All the saving power comes from God! The truth that displaces the lies and wins us to trust comes from God. The love that drives out fear comes from God. But the choice to respond to the truth and love of God is ours.

When we make the choice to trust God and open our hearts to Him, He enters the sanctuary of our souls with His healing and cleansing presence and removes the guilt, takes away the shame, and purges the corruption. He imbues us with new motives and new desires—new longings for purity, goodness, love, kindness, and honesty. As we identify with these new motives and choose to apply them to our daily activities, decisions, and practices, we receive power to carry out those choices. But we don’t receive the power to overcome until we make the choice to overcome. The power is God’s; the choice is ours.

When we have moments of human weakness and don’t do what our renewed heart desires but, instead, allow an old habit to control, or allow a situation to irritate us into an impulsive act that we regret—like Moses striking the rock—we are not cast off by God. We grieve in our hearts and go humbly to God, regretting our weakness and longing for His strength to never let Him down again. And we receive God’s forgiveness, grace, acceptance, love, and reassurance that He is not done with us yet, and we arise stronger in our connection with God, equipped and empowered to succeed.

We are created in the image of the infinite God of love, and it is God’s plan, God’s wish, God’s desire, God’s intention to restore His image within you and me. All that is necessary for that to happen is for us to choose to trust Him and follow where He directs.

 

 

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I borrowed “Healing The Mind” DVDs from a friend and showed them at my home for a small gathering of women friends. Neither of my friends are Adventist, but they both enjoyed and embraced the messages you taught. In fact, one of the ladies prayed out loud in our group and that was the first time she had ever had public prayer.

J.B. ,Dalles, OR, USA

 

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K.C., OH, USA

 

Testimony 50

After coming into contact with Come And Reason Ministries, I can finally say that many of my unanswered questions have fallen into place. I discovered that my view of God’s Law was “imposed laws and rules” with “imposed punishments” and that this was the major culprit of my many unanswered questions. Thanks be to God for using you and those around you to help us who have struggled with this “infection” of thought. I have now rejected the “imposed law” concept to fully embrace “Design Law”… to look thru “Design Law,” instead of “imposed law,” is a relief.

Viliami L., Australia

 

Testimony 38

Since November 2015, when I started studying Gods word from this God Is Love point of view, my life has been transformed. My troubled marriage of 15 years has been healed and my husband and I are truly happy for the first time in 15 years. Now When I read the word of God I understand it so much better and I can’t help but see Gods love radiating through the pages to humanity. Gods word is living and active and I am blessed beyond measure to be having this amazing experience. God has given me a beautiful understanding of Jn 3:16 that amazes me more and more each day. Thank you again for your ministry.

Helen D., London, England

 

Testimony 19

I truly believe that to know who God really is the first step to understand ourselves in a balanced and kind way, so the healing can take place. Your approach really makes sense – Thank you for your ministry!

A.M., Pittsburg, PA, USA

Testimony 53

I was so blessed by a friend who gave me your book, “The God Shaped Brain,” while I was sitting in church asking God to please help me learn more about Him and help me not to be so confused and scared. That was about 2 years ago. Your books have helped me to love God even more. I’m not confused or scared anymore! I have listened to all of your bible study classes and feel like I know the wonderful people that attend every week. Thank you for all that you’re doing in spreading the true message about God and His law of love. God bless you and your whole class.

Elssy P., Modesto, CA, USA

 

Testimony 23

I would just like to add my voice to the many people who, I believe, must have contacted you to express their appreciation for the “Healing the Mind” DVDs. I’ve been listening to your Bible study class discussions for many years and I’ve been personally blessed by your research and teaching about the character of God.

L. G., Oakland, MI, USA

 

Testimony 67

I was introduced to Come And Reason by a friend of my mother-in-law, who gave me several CD’s of Dr. Jennings. The clarity of the message and recognition that God’s is a God of love was so clear, advancing beyond Dr. Maxwell’s message. However, grappled with Maxwell saying God used emergency measures for the fallen world. Now after several years of being a regular listener of the Come And Reasoning bible study class and attending Jennings’ meetings in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, things are becoming clearer for me. Design law versus imposed law has added so much to my personal understanding of theology. This message has really impacted my work in counseling so many people miserable because they are searching for and trusting human governments to create order and peace or believing in a God who says love Me or I will kill you. I am grateful that I have an alternative view to offer my clients that makes sense. I teach a bible study class on a semi-regular basis and I value the materials that Come And Reason so freely offers to aid me in presenting this vital message. Thank you for continuing to provide advancement in our very limited understanding of a Infinite God that is rational and believable.

Dr. Roger D, Arlington, TX, USA

 

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I really enjoy with you the view of a gracious God. Thank you for sharing the work you are allowing the Lord to do in you.

L., Queensland, Australia

 

Testimony 28

I have been following your Bible study class for about a year now. I must say I am impressed with how your ministry has grown. I took it upon myself to listen to all your lesson podcasts from the past and they have both enriched me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I have learnt a lot from this class. I have also noticed how the class has grown in spiritual strength. One of the things that benefited me is that now I am not afraid of God. I use to be, but now it has melted away. The second thing is that you helped me to have a real life relationship with God. Now He is my friend that was always there and I love having him with me all the time. Thirdly, because of this class, it inspired me to take over and lead a class. I have called it “Let Us Reason Together,” adapting your inquisitive style and creating a class of free thinkers.

T. Banda, Malawi, Africa

 

Testimony 69

After reading your book, ‘Could It Be This Simple,’ someone was explaining Christianity in a way that made sense to me for the first time in my life. One morning, I simply prayed “I’m sorry and I love you.” As soon as I silently said that, I could literally feel God’s presence and light flood down on me from above and fill me up with love and joy. I sat there crying my eyes out, because I was so overpowered with this feeling of love and joy. It was just so incredible. I hope that more people can read this book and get a blessing from it. It’s really amazing.

Rachael H.

Testimony 63

I’ve been very blessed by “The God Shaped Brain” and this ministry, through video and podcast, over the last few years. It’s truly opened up my eyes more to the truth about God and the importance of that truth in the present world. The message is so inviting, freeing and enlightening and MORE people need to know about it. I believe it is the last message that can truly, not only prepare a people for salvation and translation, but vindicate the character of God.

Michael V., Yonkers, NY, USA

 

Testimony 65

I have been tuning into your weekly study classes for a while now and wanted express my appreciation for the teachings that ha been a huge blessing in opening up the true message of the word. Viewing scripture under an imposed law theory always, without fail, raised more questions, concerns, and conflicting scripture interpretations that were discouraging at the very least. Looking at scripture through the design law lens has brought more truth to light for me personally and an understanding of our Heavenly Father that places Him “above all others,” where I am now more than thrilled to witness and serve Him.  I “stumbled” across this ministry a year or so ago and would only watch a few minutes at a time. But the more I listened and the longer I paid attention, the more my spiritual eyes were opened to the ever present truths of scripture. The comprehension of the great controversy and it’s origin by the lies perpetrated and perpetuated throughout the Bible on the attack of God’s character and government is truly priceless. Keep up the Good Work! Your servanthood is desperately needed in such a time as this!

Jeff D., Reading, MA, USA

 

Testimony 54

I had a lot of pressure, as a pastor’s kid, to conform and be “good.” I was good at being “good.” I thought my life was going along well until it all started falling apart and I could not figure out why! In my search for “why is this happening to me, God?” I came across your book, “Could it be this Simple,” and God started revealing to me the many distortions I held about His character, His principles, and how He has designed His universe to operate. I remember thinking, “Wow, I have had this all backwards.” I was happy and angry all at the same time. Happy to have the light of truth break through the darkness, revealing a wonderful, beautiful way of understanding God and His plan for His children, and angry, because I felt deceived and cheated by the church, my family, and myself!

My heart thrills when I listen to your bible study lessons. Literally I have gone from death to life. It is a journey I look forward to every day, as God reveals areas this distortion affects. Praise GOD! I will ever be grateful to God for this ministry and your cooperation with the Spirit!

Karen S., Portal, AZ, USA

 

Testimony 32

The message [of Come And Reason Ministries is] for all Christians (and those who may become Christians) and not just Adventists or any other group. It is difficult to imagine why any [anyone] with intellectual and spiritual honesty could find fault with the way you explained the healing substitution concepts and the truth about God’s character, though I know some will reject and criticize. On behalf of those in our group near Tacoma, WA, thank you and your staff for all of the hard work and for sharing the Gospel in this manner. God’s message of healing love will be carried to the whole world and then Jesus will come – He promised it.

Terry U., Tacoma, WA, USA