Have you ever felt guilty about something that you said or did? Have your actions made you wish that you were a better person? Do you desire to be a more patient and compassionate person? The Bible tells us that in the beginning God created man in His own image. Do you have the desire to return to who you were originally created to be?
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27)
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you have a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:12-13)
Created in His image is not how we look physically, God is a spiritual being, and cannot be seen by our eyes. It is acts of love (which is what He is) that is the image in which we were created. The Bible teaches us that all people are born into sin because of Adam. When babies are born, they possess certain qualities associated with God, like innocence and purity, even if they are not yet aware of them. Depending on who you ask, some teach that babies are not “born as sinners,” but rather are born with what is often referred to as a “sinful nature.” We know babies are solely dependent on their adult caregivers, so in the beginning they don’t get to choose evil or good. However as they grow, they learn from the people around them and the society they live in. And because of Adam’s sin, , humans have the tendency to navigate toward evil and bad. Jesus said, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (James 4:17) Although it may be debatable to some whether babies are “born sinners” or born with a “sinful nature”, the Good News is because of the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior we are freed from our sins by the blood of Christ!
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)
“Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” (Psalms 51:5)
“You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you.” (Ezekiel 28:15)“We are freed from our sins by the blood of Christ.” (Revelation 1:5)
The Bible tells us that we have “free will,” the choice to sin or not, just as we have the choice to accept or reject Christ. The enemy loves to mislead us so that we can make the wrong choices. He wants us to believe what the world has to offer is much better than what God has to offer.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Whenever you feel like you have fallen short and you feel condemned, trust that the God who created you can also restore you to who He created you to be. The moment we receive Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. We begin to experience a process of transformation, growing more and more like Jesus in our character and actions, through our faith and our relationship with God. Believers are continually, day by day being renewed. The Holy Spirit teaches and trains us, guards and guides us, discipline us, and corrects us as we walk out our new life in Christ. It is the Lord who formed us and placed us in our mother’s womb and it is only He who can restore us. Salvation is not the end but the beginning of God finishing the work He started in us.
“and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Colossians 3:10)
“God the Father, God the Son (Christ), and God the spirit (Holy Spirit) dwell in those who belong to God and are faithful. (John 17)
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
“The Holy Spirit will teach believers all things and remind them of everything Jesus said.” (John 14:26)
“being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” ( Philippians 1:6)
Sometimes others will notice the transformation before we do, which is how it should be, not for us to shine the light on ourselves but for others to see the light radiating from us. The change is not because we become rich or famous, educated or more beautiful, it is much deeper than that. The change is within. Each day we should be growing spiritually. We do that by maintaining a relationship with our Creator.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:11)
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
We are not self-made, and we cannot transform ourselves. We can however experience spiritual rebirth, by being born again, which give us the nature of Christ. This new birth is brought about by the Holy Spirit working within us when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. And in this change we are set free from the bondage of sin. Love and blessings…
“I will heartily rejoice in the Lord, my soul will delight in my God; for he has wrapped me in garments of salvation; he has arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.” (Isaiah 61:10)
EMMANUEL 