“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews13:8 BSB)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1 BSB)
“So Jesus answered them by saying, “the Son can do nothing of Himself [of His own accord], unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever things the Father does, the Son [in His turn] also does in the same way.” (John 5:19 AMP)
I have heard the phrase, “Jesus is perfect theology” a number of times from various voices recently. Every time I hear it I sense a “nod” in my spirit as though Daddy were nodding His head in agreement. Looking at Jesus is looking at the Father. Seeing the Son is seeing Daddy.
Hopefully you were able to read and ponder the verses given in the previous Life Lesson. These verses, along with the inner “still, small voice” of my Daddy, radically changed my image of God. For many years the very idea of calling the Almighty, Infinite, Righteous, and Holy Creator of all that is seen, and unseen, “Daddy”, was unthinkable. It was far too casual. It even seemed a bit disrespectful for me to think of the King of Kings in this way, even though Scripture clearly tells me that “Daddy” is what He wants me to call Him…
…”So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, “Abba [Daddy], Father.” (Romans 8:15 NLT)
When my Daddy transformed my image of Him, and I started seeing Him as He truly is, it changed everything about how I approach my “religous” expression. For the first time I was approaching Worship as an intimate act of love rather than a fearful act of sacrifice. I began living to enjoy my Daddy rather than appease an angry God. I am now thrilled to wake up each day and partner with my Daddy in spreading the Good News of His love for all of humanity. I am able to share His written expectations and instructions (Scripture) from His perspective of building relationships and rescuing those in need, rather than perpetuating religion and condemning those who fall short.
When I read the Old Testament filtered through the life and teaching of Jesus it transforms how I understand even what at first glance appears to be hugely judgmental and harsh. I have talked to Daddy a number of times about what I read throughout the Old Testament. How could my good, loving, patient, merciful Daddy act like that? Here is my paraphrase what I believe He shared with me in our most recent conversation about this…
…”I have never changed who I am regardless of what was taking place in the earth. I gave the earth to Adam, and he gave it to Satan. I knew he was going to do that (even though he had the power not to) so I had a plan in place. Prior to the completion of my plan to redeem my creation I was forced to take drastic steps at times. All of my children had turned their backs on me to follow the enemy. The deception was so complete at times that even the animals were filled with the spirit of the enemy. If I had not continued to reach out to those like Noah, Abraham, and David, there would not have been a bloodline from which my Son could enter the earth. Under Satan’s reign humanity was bent on death. If I had not stepped in when I did, and as a Master Surgeon, amputated the malignancy, the human race would have gone extinct long before Jesus was born. Do you remember how Jesus agonized to the point of sweating drops of blood over going to die on the cross? He wasn’t trying to change the plan of redemption. He was doing what we did every time we were forced to take human life in order to save the human race. He agonized before death on the cross just as I agonized before Sodom and Gomorrah and before I flooded the earth. I have always come to save, never to condemn. I did what I did after delaying as long as I possibly could. Do you really think that I ever enjoyed doing those things? In every case, including the cross, if there had been any other way I waould have taken it. Right from the start the only way that I could truly create a being that was in my image and likeness was to give the power of choice, including the power to choose death and destruction. That is why I created the plan of redemption before I began creating everything that now exists. Now that Jesus finished his work, and redeemed humanity, I no longer am forced to act as I did in the Old Covenant. I am now back with my children as I intended it to be. Sure the enemy is still out there, but he has no power over you. Sin still abounds, but it no longer seperates us. I wrote for all to read that I am no longer holding you accountable for sin. Don’t be deceived. Stand up straight. Come in my throne room boldly. Look me in the eye and have no fear. Sit on your Daddy’s lap and let me flood you with mercy and grace for everything you face.”
I am not claiming a “thus saith the Lord” with what I just wrote, but I am fully persuaded that the heart of that message came from my Daddy. I have folloowed the Apostle John’s advice to test the spirit of the message. I have done like the Bereans and searched the Scripture to make sure that what I heard was Truth. I believe that seeing my Daddy by seeing Jesus, and interprteting the Daddy represented in the Old Testament through the teaching of Jesus, is the path to seeng the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in complete unity with one image and likeness that never changes.
I feel like I covered a lot of ground in…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 191: “Can You See Me Now?” (Peering through the Looking Glass of “Image”) Part 4 “Image of God” – Jesus is Perfect Theology