871A.htm

(Cont. from Page 870).

871A.

GOD AND HIS SON DID NOT CREATE ADAM IN
THEIR "IMAGE" AND "LIKENESS". (Gen 1:26).

One's acceptance of the accuracy of the above statement is all-important in understanding the ultimate purpose of God in His creation of mankind. If one's reasoning is that God and His Son Michael did create Adam in their "image" and "likeness", how could Adam have contradicted this by sinning? Moreover, the first man Adam was only one person. "And God went on to say: "Let us make man in our image"" not a man, meaning one, for they are creating many. So when will man be created in the "image" and "likeness" of God and His Son? The answer can be found in Galatians 6:15 which says: "For neither is circumcision anything nor is uncircumcision, but a new creation is something" (a newly created one). What does this mean? That the creating of man by God is only complete when He adopts them as His sons when their "rule of conduct" is to obey His Spirit Law. (Gal 6:15,16. Rom 8:14,15). Adam failed to become "something" from the standpoint of God by his lack of obedience to the Lawgiver, even though he had no sufferings to bear if he had obeyed. Adam failed in this first required "rule of conduct" to become "something", in that he listened to satan through his wife's voice.

As the first humans proved to be unlike God and His Son in "image" and "likeness", the meaning of Genesis 1:26 can only be a personal Father to Son "likeness"; the likeness of their spirit relationship and proven love for each other. Consequently, because life without the Spirit creative process of God is futile, He has employed His Son in the spirit creating work of anointed brothers of The Christ gathered from among mankind, until they each become a "new creation"; and as sons of God have the "likeness" of relationship that exists between our Heavenly Father and The Christ Michael His Firstborn Son. Neither the first Adam nor his disobedient offspring reflect the "image" of our Heavenly Father and our Lord Michael who share the work of making man in their spiritual "image".

ADOPT:	Take person into a relationship he did not previously occupy.
IMAGE:	Portray; reflect, mirror; picture (to oneself) etc.

THE CHRIST'S LATER SHARE IN CREATING "MAN" IN THEIR IMAGE.
Having made known the way to God for the anointed first fruits of God's creatures from among mankind that become "new creations", His Christ Michael continues this Spirit administration to the remaining ones of his "body" on earth for the perfection of their spirits also. (Rom 8:23. Eph 3:10,11). Even now, and certainly since the gathering of them at Pentecost in 33CE, it can be said: "For the eager expectation of the creation is waiting for the revealing of the sons of God." (Rom 8:19. 2 Cor 3:8. Eph 3:9-12). When all anointed sons of God have been gathered by resurrection to their heavenly places, they will be ready to administer the Spirit of God to save "other sheep" not of this fold. (John 10:16). By their knowledge of the "other sheep" written in the "scroll of life", they will be able to guide them toward everlasting life with God. (Rom 6:4,5). Through their own experiences of life on earth, and having knowledge of fleshly weaknesses, anointed priestly slaves of God will be judicious in the administration of the Spirit of God for mankind, that they also may be created in the "image" and "likeness" of our Heavenly Father and His Firstborn Son.

In 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 the apostle Paul said, "...we shall bear also the image of the heavenly one". Although already obedient to the spiritual laws of God, Paul was speaking in the future tense. In verse 53 it reads: "For this perishing body must be invested with the imperishable, and this mortal body invested with immortality". (Moffatt). While in the flesh, one cannot achieve immortality, nor can flesh inherit incorruption. For both immortality (not subject to death) and incorruptibility (incapable of corruption) means to have life of a kind and of a quality that cannot decay; in which one knows the outcome of those who lost the life they were given by Jehovah our Lifegiver. For those in a sinless state, Spirit Law is no longer necessary, for Spirit Law is the power for sin for those in the flesh.

(Cont. on Page 871B).

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