MAN LIKE GOD IN CHRIST

MAN LIKE GOD IN CHRIST

The final fact in redemption is that of the restoration of man to the image and likeness of God. Underling every creation of God is a most definite purpose. This may not always be easy to trace, but the general principle is most certainly revealed in the vast majority of cases, and therefore it is reasonable to believe it to be universal, and the fact that it is beyond the power of human intelligence always to discover the reason, is to be accounted for by the limitation of that intelligence, rather than by the absence of the purpose. The purpose of angelic life is certainly that of service. In the great Psalm of thanksgiving, angels are referred to in such a way as to declare the very mean­ing of their existence:—

“Bless Jehovah, ye His angels,

That are mighty in strength,

That fulfill His word,

Hearkening unto the voice of His word," (Psa. 103:20)

And the writer of the letter to the Hebrews asks, "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation?" (Heb. 1:14) while all the sacred history reveals them as occupied ever in serving in gladness the will of the King. That was our one of original intent.

The purpose underlying the creation of man was far more inspirational. He was made in the Divine image in a sense that angels never were and in the very nature of that creation there is revealed its purpose. Man was intended as a medium for the Divine manifestation, one through whom; because of his likeness to God it would be possible for God to express Himself to other creations more perfectly. Redemption therefore is only complete when man is re­stored to the perfection of his own being, and thus to fit­ness for the fulfillment of the Divine purpose. This then is the ultimate issue of the work of Christ in man. For the accomplishment of this, vital restoration is the power, and restoration to knowledge is the process. The life of Christ imparted to man by the Holy Spirit is the constrain­ing, transforming power, and the new vision of God in Christ is at once the pattern, towards the carrying out of which the power works, and therefore the governing prin­ciple to which the will of the saint being submitted, the Christ life is the product.

The 1rst fact in redemption that of restoration to God was perfected in JUSTIFICATION;

the 2nd, that  of restoration to the  knowledge of God,  is being perfected through SANCTIFICATION;

the 3rd,  that of restoration to  the likeness of God  will be perfected in GLORIFICATION.

 Redemption is thus seen to be the restora­tion of man to fellowship with the Father. John, who writes most minutely of the great subject under this aspect, affirms that as to standing, that fellowship is accomplished. "Now are we children of God," that as to finality it will be accomplished, "we know that, if He shall be mani­fested, we shall be like Him" that as to process the work goes ever forward, "every one that hath this hope set on Him purifies himself, even as He is pure." (1 John 3:2) The founda­tion fact is created by the reception of the Christ life in germ, the experimental advancement is being caused by the mastery of the whole being by that ever-conquering life; the final fact will be consummated by the complete conformity of the whole life to the Christ. Therefore as Christ is the express Image of the Father, in perfect like­ness to Him, man will fulfill the primary Divine purpose, by becoming restored to the image and the likeness of God. Thus it is evident at once that the present life is, by com­parison with the life to come, as utterly insignificant, as the days of school are, when compared with the sternness and importance of the days for which they are but preparatory. And yet this view of the finality, in another sense, lends new meaning and urgency to the life that now is; for School-days very largely determine the place to be occupied in the more mature opportunities of life.

In considering this last phase of the plenteous redemp­tion, difficulties confront the mind, which it is better at once to recognize, as John did when he wrote, “It is not yet made manifest what we shall be." (1 John 3:2) It will be per­fectly safe, however, to accept the certainty as declared by John, "We know . . . we shall be like Him," (Matt. 5:48) and within that assurance, consider

1st, man becoming like God in his realization of the character and conduct of Christ;

2nd, man becoming like God in his realization of himself;

3rd, man becoming like God, becomes a revelation of God.