Commentary on "Social Support: The Tie That Binds"

STEVE PITCHER

 

Day 2: Sunday, June 20, 2010 - The Original Image

 

Today’s lesson is titled "The Original Image" and addresses the issue of the creation of man in the image of God and the implications for community.

Mankind was created in the image of God. On this Scripture is clear. In what way was man created in God’s image? The lesson author points out, among other things the original intent for Adam and Eve, including the need for loving relationships in community with others. All these points are good.

There is nothing in today’s lesson that addresses the issues of health and healing. There are two points made in the lesson. The first is that Adam and Eve were created in an unfallen state and that their characters were like that of Jesus. Their characters could not have been like that of Christ. Jesus’ primary identity is that of Savior, as stated in Matthew 1:21. In their original state Adam and Eve were not in need of a Savior. The compassion of a loving God who enters into the human race offering grace and salvation to desperate sinners would be a strange and foreign idea to Adam and Eve. Jesus did demonstrate unconditional love to sinners, but that is not a type of love that Adam and Eve would have been able to understand, let alone emulate.

Although we can all agree that Adam and Eve were loving creatures before the fall, the fall did not erase our God-given conscience that helps even unbelievers. Romans 2:14 explains that even the Gentiles knew about right and wrong. It reads:

For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.

In this sense, an element of the original image of God given to man still exists. It is this innate sense hardwired into every human being that causes us to cry out in need of a Savior. The lesson author suggests that dwelling on the fact that Jesus is God will help us understand how fallen we are and how much we need a savior. On page 150 of the Teacher’s Quarterly we read:

Dwell more on this idea about what it means to have been made in the image of God and that Jesus is God. How does this fact help us understand just how fallen we are and how much we need a Savior?

After we understand our sinfulness Jesus can be seen as the perfect answer to our need. If we don’t understand our sinfulness and need of a Savior, dwelling on the deity of Jesus will not help us come closer to a need for him.

Dwelling on the fact that Jesus is God does help us understand some of the mystery of the incarnation. It is also helpful in demonstrating that Jesus could not have sinned. God does not sin. If Jesus could have sinned, God could have sinned. Jesus was God before, during and after the incarnation. We cannot say that God could not sin but Jesus could have sinned. If we say this we are involved in a serious contradiction, or our understanding of the deity of Christ is not scriptural.

When all is said and done, it is a good thing for the Christian to dwell on the person of Jesus. This we can do during prayer, meditation and Bible reading. If you are a Christian you have already come to the conclusion that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Now we can run the race with confidence looking to the author/founder (captain) and finisher/perfecter (consummator/completer) of our faith. Note that we do not finish our faith; Jesus does that for us, while we run the race. Hebrews 12:1-2 reads:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

It is in the running of the Christian race where we experience the fellowship, love and acceptance within the body of Christ. The “original image” in which Adam and Eve were created will always be different from what we experience. Before their fall Adam and Eve did not need a Savior. In that sense we will never be like they were before the fall. We will always be in need of our Savior who ever lives and intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:25.)

 

Summary

1. The “original image” of God in Adam and Eve is pointed out as the goal of what Christians will be restored to. Because Adam and Eve had not experienced sin and its consequences before the Fall, there is no comparison between that and the state to which Christians will be restored.
2. The remaining element within all humanity is the inherent knowledge of right and wrong. Even Gentiles, not having the law, were a law unto themselves (Rom. 2:14.)
3. This innate ethic is what drives us to the need of a Savior. Dwelling on Jesus as God will not draw an un-convicted person to the need of a Savior, whereas a revelation of one’s sinfulness will do that.
4. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2) and ever lives to intercede for us (Heb. 7:25.)
5. Dwelling on the deity of Jesus does help us understand how he could not have sinned. If God cannot sin, we cannot say that Jesus, who is God, could have sinned. We either commit a serious contradiction or we do not understand the fullness of the deity of Jesus.

 

GO TO DAY 3

 

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