SALVATION AND THE IMAGE

"And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." KJV (Colossians 3:10).

When I use the word "salvation," I have the whole of it in mind. From the academic point of view, "salvation" means deliverance. It involves the rescue of someone in captivity -- the release of one that is in bondage or confinement. The idea of recovery is also included -- like a sick person being made well. When the Spirit uses this word, however, it has a much broader meaning. It deals more with man's real need, and announces a permanent resolution.

       Jesus is called a "horn of salvation" in Luke 1:69. The idea is that with Him came the announcement or proclamation of deliverance. This salvation is something that God has "sent" (Acts 28:28). It is something man needed. More than that, however, it is something God wants to give! His purpose is the driving force behind salvation more than man's need and desire for it.

This is salvation from sin and its effects. Jesus came to "save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). "Their sins" are the thoughts and deeds that drove a wedge between them and God. They are the things that caused us to become unlike Him, even though we bear His image. Until we are born again, we are like God in capacity, but unlike Him in expression. That is another way of saying we have been made so weak by sin that we cannot do what God intended us to do.

       Sin, or violating the will and law of God, takes our moral power away. Moral power is the ability to choose what is right and reject what is wrong. It is the skill of avoiding what is evil and doing what is righteous. On these points, the entire human race has failed. This is what the Bible means when it says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). That is another way of saying we have not acted or thought like God.

Salvation deals with our situation, and does so effectively. Remember, we have been made in the image of God. However, sin scratched and effaced the image -- something like scattering spots of paint over the canvas of a valuable painting. The painting, in such a case, would be marred, or defaced.

       Humanity is like that. It has been defaced by sin. Salvation restores the Divine image, making us like God once again. This is exactly what the Word says.  "Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator" (Colossians 3:10).

       When we are saved from the guilt of our sin, we are also saved from its power over us. Not only is it wrong to lie to one another, we do not have to do so. We can "take off" our "old self," just like we take off dirty and torn clothing. We do not remove our "old self" in our own strength. When we are saved from sin we become strong with God's own strength. Then we are able to quit doing and saying things we could not give up before. We are even able to stop dwelling on such things in our minds. You then take "off your old self with its practices" (NIV).

But it is not enough to simply stop doing what is wrong. That does not properly reflect what God is like -- and we are being restored to His image. The Lord not only does NOT do what is evil, He DOES do what is righteous. The Lord Jesus Christ, Who is "the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being" (Heb 1:3) is described like this: "You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy" (Heb 1:9). This is what empowered Jesus to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah concerning Himself. "Butter and honey shall He eat, that He may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good." (Isaiah 7:15). That means Jesus fed His heart and mind on things that clarified the difference between good and evil. They were also things that reflected His Father's mind and delighted His heart. That is the kind of image to which salvation restores you.

Salvation is becoming like the Lord Jesus Christ – being changed into, and conformed to, His image (2 Cor 3:18; Rom 8:29). That process begins in this world, and will be consummated when we are "ever with the Lord." From this point of view, any salvation that does not result in you being made like Jesus is really no salvation at all! Remember, God has targeted to give you the world, but it cannot occur until you are like His Son! He will not share His rule with someone unlike Himself. This is involved in the word of Amos to wayward Israel. "Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?" (Amos 3:3).

       Salvation addresses the issue of variance between man and God. That variance is resolved in the new creation, and the conformity of the redeemed to the image of God's son. Thus man is being suited to fulfill the purpose for which he was created. What a marvelous and "great salvation" we have in Christ Jesus. Let us not neglect it.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You in Jesus' name for the thoroughness of Your great salvation.

-- Monday: GIVE ME SOME TIME --