In His Image What did our Father mean when He said to the angels, "Let Us make man in Our

image"(Genesis 1:26)? In the Hebrew language "image" means "one who resembles another"; however, I want to focus on the meaning in the Greek language as we are going directly to the New Testament. "Image" in the Greek language is "charakter" (khar-ak-tare'), and it means "a die" as one would utilize to strike an impression on a coin. In other words, in the Greek language "image" means "to make an exact copy". It is important that we consider the word at this depth for our study. Let's begin in Colossians. Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, Which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Light is truth. We should remember to be thankful for eyes to see and ears to hear truth. Light dispels darkness in your life. We usually fear only the unknown. Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son;(14) In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: God delivered us from the power of darkness by giving us power over our enemies(Luke 10:18-20). Order the darkness our of your life in the name of Jesus. God came to this earth in the image of His Son to pay the price on the cross so we might have forgiveness. Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of every creature: Here we have our word "image". God is invisible to us in this dimension, but His Son is in His exact image. Jesus said, "he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father"(John 14:9) Colossians 1:16 For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that ere in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: (17) And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. That is power. That is your Father. Meditate on this. Colossians 1:18 And He is the Head of the body, the church: Who is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have preeminence. Christ defeated the power of death (heb.2:14). If you believe Christ was resurrected, then you also believe you will be resurrected. After His resurrection, Christ went to those who had died before the crucifixion to give them the same opportunity of salvation that you and I have. Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in HIm should all fulness dwell; (20) And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or in heaven. This power should give you great comfort and stability in your life. For when you are in Christ, you become a servant that our Father can utilize and bless. Turn with me to the Book of Hebrews. Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, (2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His son, Whom He hath appointed Heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds; Jesus was with God from the very beginning. Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (4) Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. How long is Jesus going to sit at the right hand of God? Until all of His enemies are made His footstool (Psalm 110:1). Do you have a part in this? If you are a servant of the living God, you certainly do. We are kicking dragon. Hebrews 1:5 For unto which of the angels said He at any time, "Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee"? And again. "I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son"? The answer is none. Jesus is the only begotten Son. Keep in perspective. There is a big difference between He Which was made in the perfect image of God and us. Hebrews 1:6 And again, when He bringeth in the Firstbegotten into the world, He saith, "And let all the angels of God worship Him." (7) And of the angels He saith, "Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire." Christ will bring fire unpon the earth at the second advent. He will be pleased if that fire is already kindled,

when He returns. Fire purifies. Fan the flame! Hebrews 1:8 But unto the Son He saith, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy Kingdom. (9) Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows." He paid the price on the cross so that every single one of His children may repent and have forgiveness. Hebrews 1:10 And, "Thou, LORD, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands: (11) They shall perish; but Thou remainest; and they shall wax old as doth a garment; This, the second, earth age will perish. The new earth age to follow begins the ( Rev. 21:1-3) Hebrews 1:12 And as vesture shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail." We will be changed into oou spiritual bodies at the seventh trump( I Cor. 15:52). God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Let's go to Hebrews Chapter 2:9. Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus , Who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour, that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. In the flesh, Jesus was lower then the angels. When He tasted death, He defeated death. Jesus did this for you. Hebrews 2 :10 For it became Him, for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (11) For both He That sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of One: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren, Jesus is not ashamed to call you His brother. There is no gender intended. Christians are part of His family. Hebrews 2:12 Saying, "I will declare Thy Name unto My brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee." (13) And again, "I will put my trust in Him." And again, "Behold, I and the children which God hath given Me." (14) Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had power of death, that is, the devil: Immanuel, which is to say God with us, was born of the flesh and crucified on the cross to defeat death. He could have taken a supernatural form, but He took on the flesh body to show us how to handle Satan. Turn with me to Chapter 5:6. Let's consider Melchisedec. Hebrews 5:6 As He saith also in another place, "Thou art a Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec." Don't let the name Melchisedec, which means King of the Zedok or the righteous, throw you. Melchisedec is Jesus. He was with God from the beginning. (John 1:1). Hebrews 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him That was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared; (8) Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; He followed God's instructions concerning the cross. Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him; Don't overlook the condition. We all fall short at times, but eternal salvation is for those who obey Him. Hebrews 5:10 Called of God an High Priest after the order of Melchisedec. (11) Of Whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. This is difficult to hear with understanding for those who do not understand the three world ages. Hebrews 5:12 For when the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (13) For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. Unfortunately, many have gone to church for thirty years, and they have heard nothing preached but salvation. Where is the rest of the Word? How do they know God's will? They don't is the point. Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercized to discern both good and evil. To be of full age means to be mature. Those who are mature in God's Word know the difference between good and evil. In conclusion, turn with me to Chapter 7. Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; With this knowledge we are able to understand John 8:58 where Jesus said to the kenites, "Before Abraham

was, I am". Jesus met Abraham as Melchisedec. Hebrews 7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all: first being by interpretation king of Salem, which is, King of peace; (3) Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. Jesus was made in the exact image of Almighty God, King of kings and Lord of lords. Hebrews 7:4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. (5) And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: The Levites were of Abraham, but Abraham himself tithed to Melchisedec. Hebrews 7:6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. Melchisedec is the Son of God, not the son of man. Hebrews 7:7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. (8) And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. Abraham knew Melchisedec was the Son of God. We have only One Priest, Jesus Christ. The die was cast in Mary's geneology. Half of the tribe of Judah and half of the tribe of Levi, Christ brought together the priestline and the kingline forever after the order of Melchisedec. Christ, in the express image of our Father, brought forth salvation to all who will obey and believe. In His Service, Arnold Murray.