FOUNDATIONS PART 5a: The Image of God

"He is the image of the invisible God" Colossians 1:15a

This is enigmatic ... does not all of humanity bear the imago dei? How can an invisible God be visible? Who can see what is invisible?

• The image (Gk eikon - where we get the word icon) of God conjures up thoughts of Genesis 1:27 - "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."
• What is the difference between our "image of God" and that of Christ's? Do we not image forth the invisible God?
• We are created in God's image whereas, Christ is the image of God. When people see humans they see echos of the Divine, reflections of the Creator, but they do not see God Himself. Thus it can be said, "No one has ever seen God..." John 1:18a; or "[No one] has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father." John 6:46
• Therefore, when one sees Jesus, they see the Father since Jesus is not a derivative of the imago dei but the manifestation of the Imago Dei. Philip did not yet understand this, thus he asked of Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." To which Jesus replied, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip?" John 14:8-9a Think about Jesus' response. Philip asked to be shown the Father. Jesus essentially said, "I am right here." It is like me calling my house and asking to speak with my father, unaware that it was he who had answered the phone, "Don't you recognize my voice?" Jesus makes this clear in the next statement, "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father." John 14:9b. Jesus was revealing to them that he was "the image of the invisible God."
• We can only see the invisible God by way of the visible image - Jesus Christ. But even then ... he no longer walks this earth, therefore, how are we to see God? By faith: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible." Heb 11:1-3
• Now is a life of faith in that which is not fully seen ... there are echoes of the divine ... but we await the day when we shall alas, see him as he is! (1John 3:2)