Continued from my last post…this is Part II of summary of insights I gleaned from the Wesley Forum lecture at Evangelical Seminary, featuring Dr Ben Witherington. He gave us three presentations on the topic of the Imago Dei (image of God).
The 2nd lecture was about the Imago Dei in Jesus.
Here are some snippets I enjoyed:
“charakter” latin
(Yes, it’s the original of our English word “character”).
It refers to the impressionable wax seal used by a king to imprint his royal signet ring.
God’s charakter is manifest in Jesus and includes these qualities:
1. Heir of God, the King
2. Co-Creator
3. Perfect Reflection
4. Exact Imprint
5. He sustains by his word (logos: Jesus was and is the word)
6. Purifies sin
7. Rules over all
Witherington says that Romans 3:23 is better translated as this:
“For all have sinned and lack the glory of God.”
(This verse refers to the effaced but not erased Image of God in humans.)
SALVATION: the behavior & pattern of life.
I was saved.
I am being saved.
I will be saved.
Church is not a collection of individuals.
It’s a family and an identity centered on community, not individuality.
(In ancient times who your daddy was and who your clan was told everyone who you were. Only secondarily was your individual identity noticed (unlike how modern, North Americans experience identity).
The Imago Dei is a royal seal.
We have the imprint.
You embody the word; you become it.
• Jesus gave us the “what” – Great Commandment
LOVE
(The chief imperative is forgiveness and is a Christian distinctive that breaks the cycle of bitterness and violence.)
• Jesus gave us the “how” – Great Commission
(go and tell, and make more like me– which is discipleship)
• Jesus gave us the “goal” – Great Doxology
(praise) Live in the wonder and love of God.
When we pray in Jesus’ name we must always consider this question:
“Would I sign Jesus’ name to this?”
The next post will conclude my notes on the final lecture of Dr Witherington.
You won’t want to miss it!
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