29 - THE FREEDOM OF MAN

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after 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 all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Genesis 1:26

INTRODUCTION

Freedom is a thirst born in the heart of man, for history has shown that slaves will rebel and even die for freedom. The inalienable drive of man is for freedom--political, social, religious, and intellectual. When a person is in bondage, lacking any of these freedoms, he is not living according to God’s expectations. A famous man once cried, "Born free, but everywhere men are in chains." Rousseau’s statement referred to law and government, but could have a broader application to spiritual liberty. Why do some rebel for their freedom., and why do others fight for the freedom of slaves? Because freedom first existed in the heart of God, and man was created free because he was created in the image of God and with the nature of God. "God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." Freedom for man means he has the power of spontaneous self- determination. The Westminster Confession reads: "God has indued the will of man with that natural liberty that is neither forced, nor by any absolute necessity of nature determined, to good or evil." The freedom of man cannot be understood apart from understanding how man was created in the image and likeness of God. And with man’s freedom, he was given dominion over the animal and vegetable realm of creation.

While it is natural for people to seek their God-given liberty, the history of political revolutions demonstrates that they often replace one restrictive government with another usually more totalitarian than the former. Man would be far more successful in attaining greater personal liberty if he sought to reestablish the original image and likeness of God in his heart, rather than making his priority the search for political freedom. When God created man in his image and likeness, man was given freedom, with one limitation, and that was he was personally responsible to God alone. Man failed the test that centered on his freedom by rebelling against God. Immediately upon the entrance of sin into the human race, the liberties of man were restricted. Someday, the original image and likeness of God may be again personified in our nature and we will enjoy eternal freedom in heaven. THE CREATED IMAGE AND LIKENESS

One of the principles by which God governs his universe is the law "like begets like," as seen in the verse "after his kind" (Genesis 1:12, Genesis 1:21, Genesis 1:24-25). God created various forms of animal and plant life,, commanding them to reproduce themselves after their own kind. When God created man he continued the same principle. God highlighted his creation with a representation and analogy of himself (Genesis 1:26). In a very real sense, man was not just another catalog selection of possible life forms in the mind of God, but rather, man is a representation of God himself. This is what Luke communicated when he called "Adam., the son of God" (Luke 3:38). The image of God. The word. "image" appears only thirty-four times in the Old Testament and twenty-three times in the New. The expression "image of God" is used primarily in reference to man, but it is also used to speak of idols, statues, and portraits. An image is a representation or replica of one person or thing by another. When Jesus asked his listeners whose "image" was on the coin (Matthew 22:20), they all under. stood him. When one looks at an image in the mirror, he sees an optical counterpart of himself. An image is something that is similar, with the same properties, but not necessarily identical. THE USE OF "IMAGE" IN SCRIPTURE

1. Of man in the image of God-- 1 Corinthians 11:7 2. Of Christ in the image of God- 2 Corinthians 4:4 3. Of man in the image of Christ- Romans 8:20 4. Of idols as images of God- Romans 1:23 The likeness of God. While some theologians do not distinguish between the terms "image" and "likeness," we think that words are important in Scripture and there is a distinction between them. The term "likeness" is used throughout Scripture in the sense of comparison or analogy. In our English language we may use the word "like" to make comparisons, as a child may look or act like his parent. A scene in one city may look like a similar scene in another city. This idea of comparison is seen in the way 13ible translators have translated the word in the original language. It is translated "likeness" twenty-two times, and also on occasion translated "fashion," "manner," "similitude," "like," "like as," "shape," and "made like to." The following chart identifies three truths in the New Testament concerning likeness. THE USE OF "LIKENESS" IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

1. Of Adam’s sin- Romans 5:14 2. Of the death, burial, and, resurrection of Christ-- Romans 6:5 3. Of Christ in human flesh- Php 2:7 The freedom of man. The best way to describe the original freedom of man at creation would be "freedom minus one"-he was free to do everything except that he could not eat of the fruit of certain trees in the garden. The idea of unlimited freedom is a misnomer. If everyone was completely free to accomplish his own desire, without any restrictions, he could not maintain his liberty because of his incomplete wisdom, power, or self-restraint. At creation, Adam was given the fewest restrictions possible. For his positive restrictions, man was placed in a garden and commanded to keep it (Genesis 2:15). He was told to name the animals (Genesis 2:19). Because man was created in the image and likeness of God, he was also given dominion over the rest of creation (Genesis 1:26). Man was given only one negative restriction, "And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Genesis 2:16-17). The only other direction God gave man was to reproduce and fill the earth (Genesis 1:28). This is as close to "unlimited freedom" as anyone can have. Always, when man accepts personal liberty, he accepts personal responsibility. Adam had liberty to eat of the garden, but he also had responsibility to care for it. He was given both the responsibility of naming the animals and also dominion over them. This balance of personal liberty and responsibility was perfectly characterized in Adam before the Fall. THE LOSS IN THE FALL With the introduction of sin into the human race, the image and likeness of God was marred. While the image of God in man was not totally destroyed, there are some apparent marks remaining in every man, but not the same as Adam knew.

Man did not lose God’s image completely when he sinned. When God prohibited one human from murdering another human, the basis was that man is made’ in the image of God (Genesis 9:6), and that prohibition continues to this day.

God hates the sin of idolatry so much that the first commandment prohibits worship of any other God and the second commandment prohibits idolatry. Why do these prohibitions receive more priority than prohibitions against moral sins? Because in worshiping idols, man becomes "a little god." just as God makes man in his image, so man in turn makes an idol (the word "idol" means image) in his image. Then, instead of trying to get the idol to worship man, the human falls on his face to the "image." This is repulsive to God because he wants man to worship him.

Since man would not become like God, nor worship him, Christ was made in the "likeness of men" (Php 2:7). To remedy man’s failure, Christ, "the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15), took human flesh and personified the image and likeness expected of Adam. In doing so, Christ made it possible for man to one day assume the image of God. There are at least three aspects to the image and likeness of God that were lost in the Fall of man.

Spiritual likeness. When man was created, he was created in innocence. He did not have an inner desire to rebel against God or to be disobedient to God’s commands. Man learned to rebel experientially. Man was given freedom to obey the commands of God, therefore, it is reasonable to assume God was aware of the possibility of sin and rebellion. In the garden, the serpent promised Adam and Eve the possibility of gaining further knowledge to make them even more like God. "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods [literally, God], knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:5). With the violation of the law of God by Adam, sin entered the human race. The serpent was only half right. Adam and Eve were aware of the knowledge of sin experientially and all the consequences of it (Genesis 3:10). They did not become more like God. In their innocence, they were spiritually alive. Now, the existence of a sin nature so hinders spiritual likeness with God that man’s former fellowship with God cannot be regained apart from justification. "For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous" (Romans 5:19). The means of being made right with God is the application of the work of Christ to our lives by faith: "Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).

Character likeness. A second aspect of the likeness of God that we lost in the Fall was our character likeness. Before the Fall, man was inclined to perform the will of God. We have no way of knowing how long Adam and Eve remained in the garden before they sinned, except that, it must have included at least the day of creation and the Sabbath day of rest. It may be that several other days were also involved. Adam was given various responsibilities before the Fall, and as we consider what he did compared with our present responsibilities, we begin to understand how his character was changed. Before the Fall, man reflected the character of God; he had holiness, although it was "unconfirmed holiness." In the incarnation, God became like man, that men might become like God. The apostle Paul acknowledged that our nature would be transformed like Christ. "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" (Romans 8:29). Paul later challenged the Romans in the same epistle, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2). We can regain a character like God through sanctification. Unlike the new birth, this is not an instantaneous experience but rather a continual process in the Christian life. But then one day the process will be completed, "We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2).

Physical likeness. No one is certain what Jesus looked like physically after his resurrection, but if we knew, we would have some idea of what Adam may have been like and what we shall be like someday. The one physical attribute that was lost at the Fall was eternal physical life on this earth. God promised, "In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Genesis 2:17). Since sin entered the human race, we have been plagued with death (Romans 5:12). We must live with the sting of death until the return of Christ. At that time, "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" (1 Corinthians 15:52-53). Then we shall be like Jesus, restored in the original image and likeness of God. THE LOST LIKENESS OF GOD Likeness Regained How through 1. Spiritual likeness Justification Instantaneous experience at conversion 2. Character likeness Sanctification Continuous process in the Christian life 3. Physical likeness Glorification Instantaneous experience to Christ at the resurrection or rapture PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF FREEDOM

Freedom means we are responsible for where we spend eternity. The Bible teaches that man is totally depraved. That means that every part of his life is infected with sin, which, like cancer, has influenced the five senses, the bodily functions, the walk, speech, and thought processes of man. Depravity means every aspect of man is influenced by sin and as a result all are condemned. Total depravity means there is nothing a person can do to save himself or gain merit before God. But total depravity does not mean that every person is outwardly as sinful as he could be. Some live "moral" lives, while others live evil lives, but such persons, who have rejected salvation, gain no merit before God.

Total depravity does not mean that a person cannot respond to the gospel. "Total depravity" does not mean total inability. The doctrine of freedom teaches that every person in whom the Holy Spirit brings enlightenment has the freedom to receive Jesus Christ and be saved. God offers salvation to all because of what Christ did. God will judge all who do not respond to the Holy Spirit’s urging to receive Jesus Christ by faith.

Freedom means we are responsible for our daily lives. Wrong ideas about human responsibilities keep many believers from growing in Jesus Christ. Some blame their lack of joy or spirituality on someone else, while others just sit in a spiritual rocking chair, waiting for God to do all the work in their lives. The Bible teaches that freedom coincides with responsibility. A Christian is responsible to read the Scripture and claim the blessings of God. The Christian is responsible to witness, to be a responsible person (whether single or married), and to provide for his earthly needs. Man has the freedom to accept his responsibility to grow in Christ. But freedom to others is followed by failure because they reject their spiritual resources of God. And those who make unwise choices for their lives will be judged when they stand before Christ.

Freedom unlocks vast possibilities. Man is the greatest potential on earth. He has been given the freedom to subdue the whole earthly creation within the bounds God sets, as we see exercised at the tower of Babel (Genesis 10:1-32). We have seen man walk on the moon and split the atom. Man, the magnificent creation of God, is reflective of God the Creator. Man’s freedom is his greatest attribute, but when he makes himself equal with God, or even tries to supplant God as man did at Babel, then his freedom leads to the bondage of ignorance and sin.

Freedom should be reflected in government. History has witnessed every type of slavery possible. People have been mental, physical, emotional, and religious slaves. But every time one person enslaves another, the basic drive for freedom is rekindled in the heart of the slave, because a person must have liberty, an attribute he gets from God.

CONCLUSION The apostle John recognized that some day every Christian would again realize the image and likeness of God in his life. He also realized that that hope should affect the way we live. "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (1 John 3:3). If we know Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, some day we will be like him for eternity (1 John 3:2). If this is so, we need to be seeking continuously to become more like Jesus today. "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18).

DAILY READINGS Monday: Genesis 1:24-31 Tuesday: Romans 8:18-30 Wednesday: 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 Thursday: Php 2:5-12 Friday: Genesis 5:1-2; Genesis 9:1-7 Saturday: Romans 12:1-16 Sunday: 1 John 2:28 - 1 John 3:3