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He (Christ) is the image of the invisible God.(Colossians
1:15)
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so
that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of
Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4)
The Word (Jesus) became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We
have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came
from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him
(Jesus), and through Jesus to reconcile to himself all things,
whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace
through his blood, shed on the cross. (Colossians 1:19-20)
“I am the way, the truth, and the life." (Jesus, in John
14:6)
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Let's REVIEW
what we've learned so far:
Creation:
Humanity is created in the IMAGE of God—to reflect God in our essence in
three aspects:
-Union with God in loving relationship
-Communion with others in interpersonal relationships
-Loving care for and creative working of creation and culture
Fall:
Humanity has “fallen short of the glory of God”
-We love ourselves more than we love God
-We love ourselves more than we cherish others
-We love ourselves rather than caring for creation and culture
"The gospel is the work of the triune, interpersonal God to
restore cracked Eikons to union with God and communion with others.”
--Scot
McKnight, Embracing Grace
Today’s study explores what God did to restore the cracked image of
Himself in us.
Look at Colossians 1:15, 2 Corinthians 4:4, and John 1:14
1. What do these passages say about who Jesus is?
2. If humanity was supposed to be the glorious image of the invisible
God, but has failed miserably, what does this say was the purpose of
Jesus Christ, God Himself, becoming a human being?
3. We often think of Jesus as either God (so totally other, so beyond
us) or as just another human (maybe a little bit better, maybe a great
example of goodness). What does the Bible actually teach us about Jesus?
Read Colossians 1:19-20
1. What does “reconcile” mean? Have you ever seen or been
in a relationship that needed reconciliation?
2. What did God reconcile to himself through Jesus?
What does that include? What does that exclude?
3. Have you ever felt that you were far too off from God that he could
never what to forgive you and re-establish relationship with you? What
does the Bible say about that?
4. What does verse 20 say was the means by which God did the
reconciling? Read
Romans 3:22-24
1. What does it mean to have “faith” or to “believe?”
2. In what or in whom are we to have faith? (is it a “what” or is it a
“who”?)
3. What is the promise found in this passage?
If you have not placed your faith in Jesus Christ, perhaps this is the
time to do so.
I’d like to help anybody who would like to take the next steps toward a
life that is filled with the purpose and meaning that accompanies being
re-created into the image of God through Christ.
E-Mail me here!
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