Category: Bible Reflections

23. How do I put on the image of God?

Ephesians 4:17-24.  “With the Lord’s authority I say this: live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God — truly righteous and holy.” (NLT – my italics) or “created after the likeness of God” (ESV)

Continuing the thoughts of my last devotional time, looking at taking off my old nature and putting on my new nature. Another thought from this passage is that my new nature is “created to be like God.” We know from the creation account that Adam and Eve were created in God’s image. I wish I knew exactly what Genesis 1:26-27 meant by that. Are we like God in the way we are relational beings, able to love and connect with each other? Are we like Him in our range of emotions? In our creative abilities? In our desire for purposeful life? After human beings first sinned, did that change how subsequent babies were created? Was our image of God corrupted after the Fall, leaving us unable to be righteous? And now, as believers, is our new nature a quantitative or qualitative change in our natures? In other words, is God changing our inborn image-of-God qualities to be more pure, more loving, more patient, etc., than we would be without His work? Or is He giving us totally new qualities from what we had before new life in Christ began? Or perhaps a combination of both??  

Once again, I end up with more questions than answers. What I do know from Ephesians is that I have been created “anew in Christ Jesus, so [I] can do the good things he planned for [me] long ago” (2:10). Without this new birth, I would be unable to accomplish the good things He prepared for me to do. And I also get a hint from James 3:9 that human beings are still “made in the image of God.” That affects how I view others; since they are made in the image of God, I owe all people respect and compassion. 

Father, no matter how You have put Your stamp of identity on human beings, I want to see myself and others in the same way You view us. Please, Holy Spirit, change how I think and feel and act so that I can look more and more like Jesus to those with whom I come in contact. Amen.

22.  How do I take off one nature and put on another? 

Ephesians 4:17-24.  “With the Lord’s authority I say this: live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God — truly righteous and holy.” NLT 

I love the play of tenses in this passage. The Greek indicates that throwing off my pre-Christian ways involves actively turning from what used to be my natural desires and actions. This is something I need to do intentionally, agreeing with God that those ways are not God’s ways, and turning away from them (confessing and repenting). Then, in contrast, Paul instructs us to replace that way of living by a passive response to God* by letting His Spirit change how we think and feel. This is similar to Paul’s instructions to “let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” in Romans 12:2. At times I tend to reverse the actions of taking off and putting on. I passively accept God’s forgiveness for my ungodly thoughts, feelings, and actions, and I put lots of energy into trying to make myself better, at least in my own eyes. 

So how should I throw off my old nature? Some parts of my old nature are easier to take off than other parts. But I need help on all parts. Some things mentioned in this chapter are fairly simple (but not easy), to take off. For example, “stop telling lies” (v. 25). The simple solution? Just don’t tell them; still easier said than done, right? But other aspects of my old nature are much more complicated. For example, how do I get rid of bitterness (v. 31) that may have developed over years in response to hurts? 

I think the point is that all aspects of my old sin nature need more than just my decision to stop, more than just my willpower. They need supernatural intervention. My part is to recognize aspects of my sin nature as I become aware of them through the Holy Spirit, confess, repent, and ask God to remove them. He will help me change, sometimes abruptly, but most often gradually. And God often works His supernatural change through interaction within a relationship with another human being or community.  For example, when I talk with my husband Allan about a characteristic needing change in my life and enlist his prayer and accountability help, it is more likely that I will see God changing me internally. 

Holy Spirit, please do Your often-painful work of convicting me of my sins and giving me grace so that I can turn from them through Your help. Make me more like my Father. Amen.

*O’Brien, Peter T (1999). The Letter to the Ephesians. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, p 329.

21. Why did God give gifts and people? 

Ephesians 4:11-16. “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” (NLT)

My outline of the progression of this passage:

God gave gifts to certain people —or— God gave certain people as gifts to the church (passage might mean either or both according to commentaries),

• In order to – get God’s people ready to do His work (the meaning of “equipping”);
• In order that — the community of Jesus-followers will live and work together more effectively; the church will look more like a living organism (a body) than an organization;
• In order that — we all become spiritually mature by being united in our faith and knowledge of Christ;
• So that – 

> we will individually be mature and Christlike; 

> we won’t be fooled by those who teach ideas that are 

contrary to the truths presented in the Bible;           

> we will lovingly speak the truth;

> we will grow more and more like Christ in every 

aspect of our lives;

> we will fit together with our Christian brothers and 

sisters to form a healthy functioning Church;

> we will each do our own special work, 

using our individual gifts for the benefit of all;

> we will help each other grow;

• Resulting in – personal spiritual maturity and a more loving, growing, healthy church. 

What do the gifts say about the giver of the gifts? (God)

• He is generous. He could manage His business Himself, but He has chosen to work through His human followers.
• He wants His community, His Bride, to be united, taking care of each other, and helping each other build His kingdom. 
• His goal for us includes personal fulfillment (each with a gift, each with a significant purpose, each benefiting from the interactions with other believers, each in personal spiritual relationship with the Father.) 
• His goal for the Church is to carry on the work of Christ, loving and bringing honor to God, loving others, reflecting the nature of God, inviting others to enter a relationship with God, etc.

Where do I fit into this progression? And how should I respond?

1. I will recognize my gifts and use them as part of the church. This will require communication with others in the church so I know how I fit together effectively with others in our church. 

2. I will recognize others’ gifts, work harmoniously with them, and pray for their effectiveness and personal growth.

3. I will feed myself wholesome (spiritual) food and exercise (my faith) regularly so I can continue to grow spiritually. 

Thank You, Lord, for the gifts You have given to Your church. Thank You for how You have made each of us to play a significant part in Your church body, just as each of our physical organs plays an essential part in our physical body. Please help me to remember that any gift You have given me or ministry You have called me to is for the purpose of building Your community, not primarily for my personal satisfaction or feeling of fulfillment.  Purify my motives so that I will serve You and others out of love. Amen