Theology Thursday
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
2 Corinthians 5:17
We are doing a series on Biblical Theology. Tracing Biblical themes as they are revealed throughout the Bible and reach their ultimate expression in the person, work and effects of Jesus.
In the beginning God created humanity in His own image. We were made to reflect His goodness and greatness and bring Him glory. But the image of God became broken, flawed and fractured by the rebellion of sin. We no longer imaged God as we should.
But God’s story is one of restoration as He re-creates inline with His original purpose. He calls people out of their old ways and makes them new.
We see this clearly in Israel. God redeemed His people out of slavery and gave them His law so they might again live in a way that glorified Him. But of course, Israel went the way of Adam. They rejected God’s good purpose and so the image of God remained ruined by sin.
But God’s promise was to do something new. Something ultimate. Through His prophets (Ezekiel 36), God proclaimed that He would send His Spirit to restore people once and for all. And He fulfilled His promise in Jesus.
Jesus is the perfect image of God. Hebrews 1 says He is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being. He is everything humanity should have been and should be. He reflects God’s glory perfectly.
Through His death, resurrection and the sending of the Spirit, Jesus makes a way for others to be restored also. The Spirit works in the hearts of those who God has called to begin a process of making them more like Christ. This begins with them turning to Christ in faith and repentance.
But this process won’t be complete until God’s final act of restoration. On a day that only the Father knows, Jesus will return and He will make all things news. The creation that groans under the burden of sin will be redeemed into a new heavens and new earth. And God’s people will be what they were always made to be. God’s imperishable and immaculate people who reflect His glory perfectly.
For Today:
Pray: Praise the Father that He is glorious and made us glorious. Give thanks for Jesus Christ who made a way for our restoration. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others be more like Christ and for Christ to come back soon.
2 Corinthians 5:17
We are doing a series on Biblical Theology. Tracing Biblical themes as they are revealed throughout the Bible and reach their ultimate expression in the person, work and effects of Jesus.
In the beginning God created humanity in His own image. We were made to reflect His goodness and greatness and bring Him glory. But the image of God became broken, flawed and fractured by the rebellion of sin. We no longer imaged God as we should.
But God’s story is one of restoration as He re-creates inline with His original purpose. He calls people out of their old ways and makes them new.
We see this clearly in Israel. God redeemed His people out of slavery and gave them His law so they might again live in a way that glorified Him. But of course, Israel went the way of Adam. They rejected God’s good purpose and so the image of God remained ruined by sin.
But God’s promise was to do something new. Something ultimate. Through His prophets (Ezekiel 36), God proclaimed that He would send His Spirit to restore people once and for all. And He fulfilled His promise in Jesus.
Jesus is the perfect image of God. Hebrews 1 says He is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being. He is everything humanity should have been and should be. He reflects God’s glory perfectly.
Through His death, resurrection and the sending of the Spirit, Jesus makes a way for others to be restored also. The Spirit works in the hearts of those who God has called to begin a process of making them more like Christ. This begins with them turning to Christ in faith and repentance.
But this process won’t be complete until God’s final act of restoration. On a day that only the Father knows, Jesus will return and He will make all things news. The creation that groans under the burden of sin will be redeemed into a new heavens and new earth. And God’s people will be what they were always made to be. God’s imperishable and immaculate people who reflect His glory perfectly.
For Today:
- How have you felt the flawed nature of humanity?
- Do you see that you are a new creation in Christ?
- Are you looking forward to the restoration of all things?
Pray: Praise the Father that He is glorious and made us glorious. Give thanks for Jesus Christ who made a way for our restoration. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others be more like Christ and for Christ to come back soon.
Posted in Theology Thursday
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