𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗚𝗢𝗗 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬?

𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗚𝗢𝗗 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬?

Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 15:49; Colossians 3:10

𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

The Bible teaches that all men were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26–27), but through Adam’s fall that image was marred and lost (Genesis 5:3). Today, not all bear God’s image in truth. In God’s dispensational dealings, we must distinguish between (1) In Adam, (2) In Christ, and (3) In Israel’s future restoration. The key question: Who truly bears the image of God today?

𝗚 – 𝗚𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗩𝗢𝗨𝗦 𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗠

Fallen Identity – “Children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3).

Fallen Image – “Adam begat in his own likeness” (Genesis 5:3).

Fallen Destiny – “Dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1).

In Adam, mankind lost God’s image and became slaves of sin.

𝗢 – 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬 𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗗

New Creation – “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

New Conformation – “Predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29).

New Completion – “Put on the new man… renewed in knowledge after the image of him” (Colossians 3:10).

Only those in Christ bear God’s image spiritually today.

𝗗 – 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗬 𝗢𝗙 𝗚𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

At the Rapture – “We shall all be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51–53).

At the Resurrection – “Fashioned like unto his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21).

At the Revelation – “When Christ shall appear, we shall be like him” (1 John 3:2).

Glorification perfects the believer into Christ’s image forever.

𝗦 – 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗜𝗦𝗥𝗔𝗘𝗟

Prophecy of Restoration – “I will pour upon the house of David…” (Zechariah 12:10).

Promise of Salvation – “All Israel shall be saved” (Romans 11:26).

Perfection at Second Coming – “They shall see Him… and mourn” (Zechariah 12:10).

Israel will bear God’s image in the future kingdom, not today.

𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗘 – 𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗠𝗔𝗗𝗘 𝗚𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗢𝗨𝗦 𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬

Christ the Pattern – “As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall… the heavenly” (1 Corinthians 15:49).

Church the Present Bearers – “Being conformed now” (Romans 8:29).

Creation the Final Witness – “That He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29).

The Body of Christ alone bears God’s image now, Israel will bear it later, the lost never will—unless they believe.

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡

Today, only those in Christ bear the image of God. The lost remain in Adam’s fallen image, while Israel awaits her future restoration at Christ’s return. The Body of Christ is presently being conformed to Christ’s image and will be glorified with Him in heaven.

𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗢 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

Get Saved – Trust Christ’s finished work (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).

Grow Spiritually – Renew your mind in the Word (Romans 12:2).

Go Share – Proclaim the gospel of grace so others may bear God’s image (Acts 20:24).

𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦

In Adam – Image lost.

In Christ – Image restored.

In Glorification – Image perfected.

In Israel – Image promised for the future.

In Eternity – Image shared in glory forever.