God's Representative in this World

 

When we are born again of water and of the Spirit, we take on the image of God. He has chosen us to be His representative in this world. We repent of our sinful ways. Our sins are buried/washed away/remitted by water baptism by immersion in the name of Jesus. We take on the name of Jesus by water baptism, and are filled with His Spirit by receiving the gift of His Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38, 2Corinthians 5:19-21).

"And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." - 1 Corinthians 15:49

There are some things we are to put off, and some things we are to put on in order for us to bear the image of our Creator. We no longer have our old lifestyle. By our new birth, we have a new life in Jesus. Our affection should be set on Him, and on those things above, and no longer on the things of the world. (Colossians 3:1-17).

We must put off sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, for a greedy person worships the things of this world. We must get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. We must quit lying to each other, for we have repented and put to death our old sinful nature, the “old man” and all its wicked deeds, and put on a new self, the “new man,” with the Spirit of Jesus changing us into His Godly image.

As Gods holy people we must put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, making allowance for each other’s faults, and forgiving anyone that offends us, just as God has forgiven us. Above all we must put on the love of God, which brings true unity among the body of Christ. The peace and reconciliation we have found between us and God must rule our heart and actions towards others. For it is by His mercy that we are now in the body of Christ, whose mercy we should be deeply thankful for, and by our mercy and forgiveness of others that we will stay in the body of Christ.

"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