God made Adam and Eve in His own image; in His own likeness. And yet, Satan tempted Eve by suggesting that if she would eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, she could BECOME like God. The proper question might then be: what was Satan up to? After all, once Adam and Eve ate and fell, God did say, "They have become like us." Perhaps the simplest answer is that the most significant elements of Satan's lie were the timing and process of it all. Satan sold the idea to humanity that God was holding something back from us; something that would make us MORE like Him. Of course, Satan's original lie to himself was that he could ascend and be like the Most High.
Whatever you make of all that, there is no doubt that the idea of "being like God" is central both to creation and to the fall. But that's not all. It's also central to our redemption. In a very real way Christ saves us from our own wicked imaginations, and by His Spirit recreates us in His own image. Seth was begotten in the image of the first Adam. You and I (who have been regenerated) are begotten in the image of the last Adam; that is, Christ!
So, what is the image of God anyway? What is the (Latin) imago Dei? The Bible teaches us that Christ is the express image of the Father. And, we read that we are being transformed into His image (2nd Corinthians 3:18). But what exactly does that mean and how is it accomplished?
Admittedly, this podcast is a little weightier than some of the past ones have been, but take the time to listen attentively as Patrick and Dave discuss this truth with Jason Alligood. He is the teaching pastor at Fellowship Bible Church of Peoria, IL.
