12/29/2012

• SABBATH SERMON PREACHED 12/29/12 IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF YAHVAH

  IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF YAHVAH

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  SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

  Genesis 1:26-27, 5:1-3; Jn 4:23-24;Ro 8:18-19, 29-30;1 Co 13:4-8;1 Jn 4:7-8, 16-21

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  What does it mean for us to be in the image and likeness of Yahvah?

  Does it mean that we have the same physical appearance as Yahvah?

  Does He look like a man, or is it that in our attempt to understand what it means to be created in the image of Yahvah, we have actually imagined Yahvah to be in our image?

  Let's begin by taking a look at what we are told in Ge 1:26-27.

  26-27    And the Eternal said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So the Eternal created man in his own image, in the image of the Eternal created he him; male and female created he them.
  Does this mean that Yahvah looks like both a man and a woman?

  No, it doesn't.  Yahvah is not physical, as we are.

  Being in the image and likeness of Yahvah is beyond the physical nature of this world.  It is in the spiritual realm that we were created in His image and likeness.

  And it is this image and likeness that has been implanted in our physical bodies.

  Listen to how Yahvahosha explained this to the Samaritan woman at the well in Sycar. (John 4:23-24 But the hour cometh, and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

  Since Yahvah is spirit, without the physical substance of a body, then we, who are in His image and likeness, must also relate to Him in the spiritual realm.

  We cannot write a letter to Yahvah, or call him on the telephone, in order to communicate with Him.  We must commune through prayer, which is our spiritual form of communication.

  But we also live upon this earth, and upon this earth we are to present ourselves in such a way that others see the image and likeness of Yahvah within us.

  Let's take a look at an example of this type of living as John expresses it in 1 John 4:7-8. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of Yahvah; and every one that loveth is born of Yahvah, and knoweth Yahvah. He that loveth not knoweth not. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of Yahvah; and every one that loveth is born of Yahvah, and knoweth Yahvah. He that loveth not knoweth not Yahvah; for Yahvah is love.

  If there is any part of our nature that is not totally loving, then that part of us is not in the image and likeness of Yahvah.

  But Yahvah made us in His image and likeness, didn't He?

  Absolutely!

  Then why is His created image and likeness flawed?

  It isn't, but we have contaminated it with the sins and fears in our lives.

  Look at 1 John 4:16-21. Vs 16. And we have known and believed the love that Yahvah hath to us. Yahvah is love; and he that dwelleth in him, and he in Yahvah

  This is the key: Since Yahvah is love, then the image and likeness that should be evident in our lives is love:  total, absolute, and unconditional love.

  Anything else builds walls between us and Yahvah, but love demolishes the walls we have built in the past.

  So, we are to live in love.

  17-21  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love Yahvah, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love Yahvah whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth Yahvah love his brother also.

  And we can and should extend this love way beyond our brothers and sisters; we must extend it to Yahvah, and in so doing to His whole creation.

  But what about the sin in our lives?  Isn't that what caused us not to fully love, and thus not to be in the total image and likeness of Yahvah?

  Yes, it is!

  Then how do we change, that we once again return to being in the full image and likeness of Yahvah?

  The simple, theological answer is to repent, but that's not completely addressing the problem, for as often as we repent, we also sin again.

  We solve this dilemma by changing our outlook on life.

  We solve this problem by resensitizing ourselves to the Holy Ghost, and by walking each and every moment of every day with the Saviour.

  This means that we are to ask ourselves and the Holy Ghost, "What would Yahvahosha do in this situation?"  Would Yahvahosha be happy with the way I'm thinking, with the way I'm living, with everything I do and say?"

  And the answers we get to these questions will go a long way in telling us whether or not we're in the image and likeness of Yahvah.

  Let's go back to the Book of Genesis, and take a look at 5:1-3, which gives us an example of being in the image and likeness of the Eternal.

  1-3: This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that the Eternal created man, in the likeness of the Eternal made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

  Note that we are told that Adam was made in the likeness of the Eternal, and that Seth was in the likeness and image of his father, Adam, who in turn must be in the image and likeness of the Eternal.

  But prior to Seth being born, Adam and Eve had two other sons, Cain and Abel.

  Cain killed Abel, so Abel is not present at this time, but Cain is still alive.

  But Cain was no longer in the image and likeness of the Eternal, because he didn't love his brother, and because he killed his brother.

  This is what Genesis 5:3 is talking about; it is Seth who will carry on the Righteous line of Adam, but Cain's line will all die in the Flood.

  But what about us?

  All of us have some form of sin in our lives.  How can we be restored back to the image and likeness of Yahvah?

  As we said, by sensitizing ourselves to the inner voice of the Holy Ghost, and by responding to His promptings, just as we are told in Ro 8:29-30.

  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified,

  If we are conformed into the likeness of Yahvah's Son, Yahvahosha Messiah, then we have become sons and daughters of Yahvah: thus, creatures of love.

  With this thought in mind, let's look at what we are told in Ro 8:18-19.

  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of Yahvah.

  All the problems we have upon this earth, all the pain and suffering, all the destruction and death are because there are too few sons and daughters of Yahvah who have revealed themselves.

  Not to reveal ourselves, not to speak out, not to do something to make this world a better place to live, not to spread Yahvah's love, is not being in the image and likeness of Yahvah.

  It must really sadden Yahvah to have so many of his children know the truth, and still do nothing, and even worse, to actually support the evilness in this world by going along with the ways of the world.

  To be in the image and likeness of Yahvah is to dare to be different, to dare to be like Yahvahosha, and to dare to live in His love and openly express it.

  Just in case some of us have forgotten some of the main characteristics of love, note how Paul explains it in 1 Co 13:4-8a.

  Charity suffereth long, and is king: charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth:…

  So, if this kind of love never fails, and if this kind of love is part of our very nature, both inwardly and outwardly, then we cannot fail to be in the image and likeness of Yahvah.

  Then all of creation will rejoice, for at least some of the sons and daughters of Yahvah will have been revealed.

   S

  • 1:34 pm
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