CHRIST, THE IMAGE OF GOD (PART 1)
"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:" - Col 1:15 (KJV)
"Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person," - Heb 1:3 (KJV)
"he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also." - 1 Jn 2:23 (KJV)
Some years ago, I was in Kano, Nigeria to see a learned friend who eventually became very prominent in the politics of Nigeria. While I waited for him in the office of one of his associate lawyers, a moslem, I endeavored to evangelize him. I took him through the life, ministry and the purpose of Jesus' coming into the world. Eventually, I asked him to surrender his life to Jesus as it's only through Him and by His name that he could be saved (Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12)
In response, this lawyer told me something that caught my fancy. He said he had a problem with the claims of Jesus. I asked him what the problem was. He said anytime he took up the Bible to read about Jesus, he discovered that His claims were as though He were God! I responded by telling him that his was a perfect and true discovery: that Jesus is indeed God in human flesh. He couldn't take it!
There's a plethora of Scriptures that affirm that Jesus is indeed God (2Cor 4:4; Col 1:15; Heb 1:3; Jn 14:9,12:45). Even God the Father called Jesus His Son God (Heb 1:8; Ps 45:6).
While Jesus was here on earth, He didn't vacillate, dither or teeter about His being God! As "the Image of the Invisible God" (Col 1:15); as "the express Image of his person" (Heb 1:3), when He stood before men in the flesh He could say to them:
"he that hath seen me hath seen the Father;" (Jn 14:9).
"And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me." (Jn 12:45).
"I and my Father are one." (Jn 10:30).
As the Father revealed Himself through the Son, so the Son by the Holy Spirit now reveals Himself through the Church; as Christ was the image of the invisible God, so the Church is appointed to be the image of the invisible Christ; and His members (you and I) are the "express image of His person.” So that we can boldly say that he that has seen us has seen Christ! This is clearly God's intention and will (1 Jn 4:17; 1 Cor 6:17; 1 Jn 3:1-2).
The original word for "image" is "Icon". God is invisible. Actually, Jesus is the only Member of the Godhead who has an image. Jesus is the Icon of the invisible God and in truth and verity, without mincing words, the Church is the Icon of the invisible Jesus. Once you locate Christ, you locate the invisible God; and once you locate the Church, you locate the invisible Christ.
It's like the applications in our tablets, phones or computers. The applications are hidden in the background, yet they have icons which are apparent; but once you click on the icons, you access the applications. By implication, as you receive Jesus, you automatically have access to all of the Godhead and the graces or inheritance available to the saints (Rom 5:2; Eph 1:18, 2:18, 3:12). On the other hand, through the Church, you have access to Jesus. As Jesus came into the world to reveal the invisible God, so the Church (you and I) is in the world to reveal the invisible Christ!
Henceforth, as a member of the Church, begin to see yourself as Christ's representative and representation here on earth. As you are able to function in these two capacities, you'll discover how powerful you are as a believer.
PRAYER:
As Jesus is the Icon of the invisible God, so I am as a member of the Church the icon of the invisible Christ. Hallelujah!