Image of God

The Image of God

(By clicking on red scripture, a pop up window will come up with the scripture)

We have to submit our own instincts/beliefs on who God really is by scripture and not by our own experiences, other people's experiences, etc.

- God is transcendent- above us and beyond us

- yet he comes to us in his glory and grace and love, and patience, etc. to us (imminence) 

• we feel as if we are entitled to God's grace, so the image of God is distorted 

Here is the image of God...

Isaiah 6

V. 1- description on God- lofty chair suggests he is king over all, the superior king

  * God's robe is filling the temple

  * the train of his robe- sounds like a wedding gown for royalty, so the robe here sounds like the longest train imaginable, suggesting his majesty

V. 2- seraphim- sinless holy creatures

  * seraphim are covering their face, they can't even look upon God's beauty and royalty- they are worshipping God 

  * seraphim are also covering their feet, suggesting a humble posture

V. 3- holy holy holy- suggests how marvelous his majesty is, like lord of lords, king of kings... His holiness is unfathomable 

V. 4- the seraphim are calling back and forth with such passion and intensity that the foundations of the temple shutter/tremble 

  * this could be what worship will look like in days to come

  * the smoke may convey the purity of God since Isaiah had a burning coal touched to his lips to purify him

V. 5 only when  we see how Holy God is do we realize how ruined we are before God

  * Isaiah sees that in comparison to God, we are leveled as a people. No matter how you compare yourself to another believer, how holy they seem, we are leveled by our sin. Everyone is level

- but God, rich in mercy, is not obligated to save anyone. The fact that he saves people is astonishing.

- really who Isaiah is seeing here is Jesus.., a king on a thrown in a temple. We would imagine a king on a thrown would be in a palace. But this scripture suggests a king and a high priest is sitting here in the temple. So the only king and high priest is Jesus. Also notice how he saves Isaiah in 6-8 - we are saved through Christ!

V.9 God tells Isaiah I want you to preach what people will reject and ridicule

  * be faithful to these people even though they will reject because it will bring fulfillment in the coming messiah- the truth will prevail in the end 

Song of the Day! Our song is greater by Chris Tomlin--- Click here--> Our God is Greater