Greetings Friends! At the creation of humanity, God uttered these irrevocable wondrous words about mankind and his destiny upon the earth, and in the universe ultimately, “Let us make mankind in Our image, in Our likeness…So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground. Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so” (Gen.1:26-30).

What would we say was the supremely vital piece of information from this creation passage of humanity? It is this, when God created humanity we were made “In God’s image and likeness.” What is God’s image? That image is Jesus Christ, God’s own Son whose image we are given to appropriate so humans may live the “Triune Life.” Paul said this to the Romans, “For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers” (Rom.8:29). Recall what Jesus told Philip we read earlier, “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). The book of Hebrews makes this abundantly clear, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His Being (image)” (Heb.1:3).

Paul tells believers, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes” (Gal.3:27, NLT). Baptism is the titual a beliver undertakes to symbolize burial of the fallen Adamic humanity inherited from Eden in the watery grave of the baptismal waters, and to rise in resurrected new life in Jesus just as He was resurrected from the dead after His crucifixion and death.

Paul told the Colossians, “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross” (Col.1:15-20). Paul would later tell the Colossians, “You have been made complete in Christ” (Col.2:10, BSB).

Why is it imperative upon us that in true spiritual life we take on the image of Jesus through the indwelling Holy Spirit? Because Paul told the Corinthians this: “The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam (Jesus), a life-giving spirit… The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven…For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Cor.15:45-49; 21-22).

What we saw in the book of Hebrews and read Paul’s words to the Romans and Colossians is the vital subject of transformation whereby humanity experiences the process of human deification – away from the fallen deathly state of existence in the first Adam to the glorified state of immortality through and in Christ Jesus. (John 3:16-18; Gal.2:20) This is the incarnation, but in reverse. Just as we witness how Jesus was God incarnated into our fallen humanity in order to save us, He now saves mankind ultimately by incarnating fallen humans into eternal life through Him. (Rom.6:23; Isa.7:14; Rom.8:29)

Deification or human spiritual incarnation is made possible because Jesus is God in the Triune Godhead and has the power to impart immmortality – “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom.6:23). This act of God of deifying humanity through Jesus Christ spells out the Christocentric view of mankind’s future potential in God’s eternal realm and everlasting Kingdom. It is through the light and life of His Son into a life of immortality in the Father’s eternal presence forever.

Human deification is primarily about humans being deified in the very primordial divine nature of Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead of LOVE! God’s primordial “LOVE-NATURE” and immortality in Christ are the IMAGE of God humanity was created to replicate and thereby sealed and locked in Adam’s human genome mankind has inherited from creation. LOVE (God’s eternsl nature) is what makes us human and thereby connected to the divine seal of regency and governance over earth authorised by Almighty God, the Creator. (Gen.1:26-30; 1 Cor.13) The earth is the birthright for the human species by divine edict. (Psa.115:16)

If God’s divine Love-nature is what defines our humanity (for humans were cast in His Love-image), then anything that is opposed to, or antithesis of, God’s Love is inhumane and therefore not cast in God’s likeness – like fear, rebellion, lust, and might I add all works of the flesh (Gal.5:19-20; Col.3:5-11). Then Paul is emphatic about living a life with God’s Love leading the way. (Gal.5.22-25; see the fruits of Love as shown by Paul to Corinthians 1 Cor.13:1-12).

Paul told the Colossians about this new resurrected life we now have, saying, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ…you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your (true) life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory.”

When Paul said, “For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory,” what and how is the actual mechanics and process of immortality made reality in human life? Again, Paul answers by telling the Romans, “If he Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you, then just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you” (Rom.8:11). Yes, the Holy Spirit is the One who raised Christ’ mortal body to immortality will likewise raise us from the dead to immortality. So, here we see the Triune activity of the Godhead at comprehensive activity in the process of human immortality.

On account of this new eternal life we received by token of faith from God through Christ in the power of the Spirit, Paul tells us how we ought to be living today, in anticipation of the glory that will be revealed in us, “Set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. Put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming” (Col.3:1-6).

In my post, titled “Living The Triune Life” I shared a parable about this process of human immortality. Please go to: http://bulamanriver.net/31262 to read my post. I sincerely hope you  will find it beneficial to you personal journey as a believer.

Before you leave this post, I customarily give our readers the opportunity to give their lives to our Maker. I thank you for investing your precious time with me in the sharing of the good news of Jesus who has enabled us to live the Triune Life*. Jesus is alive today as our High Priest in heaven seated at His Father’s side, and ceaselessly mediating for us. I hope that in your heart to heart, and faith to faith, you will receive Him as your personal Savior, receive God’s Spirit, and be part of living this glorious humanity made children of God forever.

You can privately and quietly pray the prayer below in your heart. I am asking you to pray this prayer as a human being Christ died for, regardless of your background. All are inducted into the one mankind Jesus saved, not into any religious sect or denomination, or any division one may espouse – but into the glorious humanity that Christ is preparing as the holy temple for God’s dwelling:

Prayer Petition: “Almighty God, Father of all humanity, forgive me of all my sins for I believe and receive Your Son, Jesus, as my personal Savior. In Your incalculable grace, grant Your promised celestial life in Your Son through Your Holy Spirit, and open my eyes to the wondrous gifts you have conferred upon me and all humanity. May Your Love guide and protect me and my Loved ones always, and bring us all into Your beloved and divine Kingdom. I praise and thank You, Amen.”

Welcome to the celestial life of Love in God’s holy, eternal Family. (1 Tim.6:19) Then keep in touch with God’s Word for you by reading and studying your Bible, and visiting this blog and website and look at various subjects that may be relevant for your situation – go to: http://bulamanriver.net You can email me with your questions at the address shown below.

Personal Blessing: Until we meet again in my next post, may the blessings of the God who ceaselessly expresses Himself in His dependable Triune Love, be with you always. May the Spirit enliven your spirit and make all things concerning you possible as you live the “Triune Life”* Be strong in the Lord’s Temple where fullness of joy abounds.

Farewell for now!

*Triune Life”: Relationship with God has no meaning without Love. By its very nature, Love cannot endure in solitary existence. So, when God said “Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness…” He was revealing Himself as existing in His trinitarian Being and plural existence. That is, His Tri-Personal Being as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Gen.1:26; Matt.28:19; John 14:10, 16; 16:7) The Hebrew word for ‘God’ in the creation account is “Elohim.” It describes God as a Trinity – the Tri-Personal Godhead, which other scriptures attests. (Matt.28:18-20; 1 Pet.1:2; 2 Thess.2:13; 2 Cor.13:14) So, God is Trinitarian in His Love nature. Love by its nature unveils a God who is relational and multifaceted in His Tri-Personal Being. Hence, a human being was created a relational Love-being.

Adam was solitary and incomplete until God made Eve. He said, “It is not good for the man to be alone (solitary). I will make a helper suitable for him” (Gen.2:18, italics mine). So, God gave Adam a family composed of a father, mother, and offspring, to reflect Himself in His plural Love-Being. (1 John 4:16) The Bible states that the Church’s or humanity’s destiny is to marry Christ, the second Person of the Triune Godhead, in the new age to come which will be an everlasting relationship. (2 Cor.11:2; Eph.5:23-27, 32; Rev.19:7) The Bible is abundantly clear about God’s nature and declaration of Himself in His relational Triune Being from the past, the present, and the future. God has never lived as a solitary Being, but a Tri-Personal Love-Being with His Son, Jesus, and His Spirit. (Mat..28:18-20)

It’s noteworthy to understand that Eve was not created an individual creation from the dust of the earth as was Adam. She was not created apart from Adam as an individualized separate human being, instead, she was taken out from Adam’s side to show she was biologically one and indivisibly part of Adam. Eve was not detached (solitary) from Adam, but intrinsically inseparable from Adam’s innermost being and humanity. When Adam saw Eve, he said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man” (Gen.2:21-23).

Each one of us was created as an indivisible relational human being incubated and given birth from Adam’s mold as one species, for God created humanity to reflect the eternal likeness in His singular triunity. We are born for relationships with the divine triune Love as our guiding principle. All this show that humans were created to be indivisibly one to reflect God’s Tri-Personal image of Oneness, not solitary separateness. When God sent Jesus His eternal Son, He became human in order to unify humanity spiritually to the Triune Being of God once for all time. Hence, when the prophet Isaiah proclaimed Jesus’ coming, He was given the prophetic name, Immanuel. (Isa.7:14) The name means “God with us” (Matt.1:23). Humanity is ‘organically’ one with the Triune God, just as all of humanity is inseparably one with Adam.

Most religions believe God as some solitary being. The true God is not solitary by any means, He is the Trinity in His Tri-Personal Being. God consist of three Persons in One divine triune Godhead. They exist in One “homoousion” meaning consisting in one substance, or “consubstantiality.” The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist in One hypostatic union, One substance, like Eve was biologically part of and never physically separate, but of one substance from and in Adam. Likewise, humanity is made of one spiritual substance with the triune God through Jesus Christ who took our humanity upon Himself and joined it to the divine triune existence forever. Jesus was given the prophetic name Immanuel which means “God with us”, or God with humanity. (Matt.1:23; Isa.7:14) As the prophecy foretold and fulfilled, God assimillated Himself with mankind through Mary who bore His Son, Jesus Christ. (Matt.1:20; 18-25; 2:1-2)

The three-dimensional Triune Life/Love is opposed to living the one-dimensional solitary life of the fallen humanity inherited from Satan through Adam’s rebellion. For additional information about the Triune Life: http://bulamanriver.net/?p=8036. Also at: http://bulamanriver.net/9092.

**Bulamanriver: To read the different facets of the life of the Bulamanriver, you may obtain a copy of my book, “Bula” Man-River, from Amazon.com; xulonpress.com, barnesandnoble.com, and other online book stores. All proceeds will go towards furthering the work of Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world.

All scriptures are taken from the NIV Version 2011, unless stated otherwise.

Mission Statement: Read the Triune Love Mission, Vision, and Value statements at: http://bulamanriver.net/8664

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