In the first chapter of Genesis we find a written account of the creation of physical man and physical creatures. Each animal species was designed to reproduce after its own kind, according to its own physical characteristics. Man, on the other hand, was created differently as we are told in verse 26: “And God said, ‘Let US make man in OUR (spiritual) image, after OUR (physical) likeness.” One of the Gods in the Godhead was speaking to His fellow God. The two Gods obviously shared the same image and likeness. This is brought out in Philippians 2:6 where it is written that Jesus (the Word–Jn. 1:1-4,14) “did not think it robbery to be equal with God” before coming to earth as Jesus of Nazareth., having left behind His God powers. The Word “equal” was not qualified, meaning that the two Gods’ equality involved Their total beings. The Word (Who became Jesus Christ) was exactly like His fellow God in every way. The two Gods comprised the Godhead. The Spirit (power) They shared (share) was (is) the Holy Spirit, which is not a God, but rather Their power which They want to share with man. Read The Trinity. Key word–Trinity.

As is the case in all groups of two or more, one assumes the leadership role with the agreement of the other (others). The One Who would become the Father of Jesus of Nazareth was obviously the designated leader who sent the other God (the Word–Jn. 1:1-4,14) to earth to die for the sins of mankind. The Word obviously agreed with the Leader and became the child of a human female in order to fulfill His designated role in the salvation of other human beings who would obey God’s Law of life.

Having fulfilled His commission, Jesus of Nazareth now sits, as a MAN (1 Tim. 2:5) at the right hand of His Father in the northern heavens where He serves as a mediator between God and earthly men who, having realized that they are sinners, ask God to justify them (forgive all of their past sins), convert them, sanctify them and enable them to join Him in the next life. Having lived as a man, Jesus understands the challenges they face in their struggle to overcome Satan, which they must do in order to receive eternal life. Read Jesus of Nazareth: God, Man or God-man. Key word–God-man.

Human beings are made in God’s physical likeness–we look like Him just as the man Jesus looked (looks) like Him. Though God is a spirit (Jn. 4:24), He has a form. A spirit cannot be seen. This is why “No man has seen God at any time” (Jn. 1:18). If God’s form could be seen it would look exactly like man’s form, Jesus Christ being the prototype. At conception, man is given a mind like God’s mind, but on a lesser level. As did Jesus, man has the potential to grow mentally and spiritually until he able to think like God. Man can have the “mind of Christ” which, through the power of the Holy Spirit, can operate on the same level as did Jesus while on earth. He was not given this level of thought by fiat. Rather, “He LEARNED obedience by the things He suffered” (Heb. 5:8). As is the case with all human beings, there was a time when He did not know right from wrong (Isa. 7:15,16). Like His fellow man, He had to learn the right and choose to do it. It was a matter of will.

The same holds true for you and me. We begin life as Jesus began life. In order to join Him in God’s kingdom we must choose to live as He lived while on earth. He grew into His role. In Hebrews 5:9 we are told that Jesus WAS “MADE PERFECT” so that He could “BECOME” THE PROVIDER OF SALVATION for those who “OBEY HIM” as He obeyed the Father. So must we. Read Romans 8:27, First Corinthians 2:16 and Philippians 2:5, Hebrews 5:9-6:6.

Man also has a personal, one-of-a-kind human spirit which God gives him following birth. Job identifies this human spirit as “the spirit that is in man” (32:8). It is man’s spirit, placed in him with his first breath, that enables man to communicate with God. Recall that, having created Adam out of the earth, God “breathed into his (Adam’s) nostrils and he BECAME A LIVING SOUL (NEPHESH–BODY).” Prior to that instant, Adam was a dead soul. There was nothing living within him. God “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” Man’s spirit was given to him for three reasons, 1) to receive physical life, 2) to receive a spirit by which he can hear God’s “voice” (His Holy Spirit) which, IF believed and obeyed, enables man to resemble God spiritually (Rom. 8:14) and 3) to enable man to communicate with God.

It is God’s intention to recreate Himself in man, just as He did in Jesus Christ Who began life and lived life exactly as did his human peers, having no physical, mental or spiritual advantage over them. It was ONLY through the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus was able to overcome Satan’s temptations to disobey His Father. He did so, thereby qualifying to become the Savior of man. Those who will join Father and Son in their kingdom must follow in His spiritual footsteps. This will take place IF man “walks as He walked” (1 Jn. 2:6) and, like Him, resists the call of Satan and self (the flesh) which we all have (Rev. 3:21). In order to “be as He is” in the next life we must “walk (live) as He walked” in this life. We are commanded to be holy BECAUSE God is holy (1 Pet. 1:15,16). Jesus lamented that, though many would be called to holiness, only a few would CHOOSE to answer His call. Most salvation seekers, He said, would choose to enter Satan’s counterfeit “come as you are” church system and follow his “stay as you are, only believe and repent” path (Mat. 7:13,14; 20:16).

As important as the beginning and ending of life are, what matters most is what takes place between those two events. It is called “growth.” We are told that in order to spend eternity with Father and Son, we must grow in faith and holiness until we “come to (become) the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13), then keep ourselves “pure as He is pure” (1 Jn. 3:3) by the “washing of the water through the (study of) the Word” of God (Eph. 5:26). God’s Word (“water”) is His cleansing agent. I equate the Holy Spirit as His “soap.” Forgive my crudeness.

As a man, Jesus ingested God’s Words, which made Him like His Father. He was the exact replica of God in both form (likeness) and spirit (image), therefore He could honestly say; “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (Lk. 14:9). Note that the vast majority who saw Him did not believe they were looking at the exact image and likeness of God–God in human form. And this unbelief goes further than simply not recognizing God in human form.

For those who are determined to follow in Christ’s spiritual footsteps, prepare to be rejected by other salvation seekers, including your relatives (Mat. 10:32-39). This is a cross saints must bear (Lk. 9:23; 14:27). Only those who maintain their holiness (“endure” rejection, etc.) until the end of life will be saved (born again) upon His return (Mat. 10:22). Read First Corinthians 15:51,52, Second Corinthians 13:3:18 and First John 3:2. Read Born Again and Persecution. Key words–Born and Persecution.

In order to recreate Himself in those willing to obey Him, the Lord, through His Holy Spirit, tells man what to do and what not to do. He does not offer suggestions or options. His every Word is LAW that must be obeyed. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit operating from within can man obey God’s commands. But ultimately, the decision to obey or not to obey God belongs to man. It is man’s will that determines whom (God or Satan) he will follow. There is no other alternative, nor is there any sharing of man’s obedience in the eyes of God (Rev. 3 15,16). One is either all in or all out. Note that in Revelation chapter 3 Jesus is speaking to the end-time (Laodicean era) church of today. Peter tells us that only the righteous within God’s one and only church will be saved (1 Pet. 4:17,18). So how do we get there? How do we get to the end of life with our holiness intact as Jesus commands in Matthew 10:22. We must go back to the beginning, both physically and spiritually, in order to answer the question.

The best way to envision the journey from spiritual birth to rebirth is to view it from the standpoint of human conception and growth. Recall that God is reproducing Himself in His true saints. As a matter of example, the process is the same as that used by human beings to reproduce themselves. We will study this similarity beginning with the next segment. L.J.