Page 93 - Push Back

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness...”

Let us therefore visualize man in the image and likeness of Elohim as the standard. It is the goal
of our creation. The New Testament reveals that this process of creating man in the image and
likeness of God is ongoing. It has not yet been completed.

Romans 8:29
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son...

The apostle Paul describes the bulls-eye toward which mankind has been directed.

Ephesians 4:13
Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature
man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ.

This is a very high and lofty goal that is set before mankind. It is a goal man could not approach,
or draw near unto, in his own strength, by his own wisdom, or abilities. We are guaranteed of
arriving at this goal only because Yahweh has determined that we should do so. He has set
mankind on the course to bear His image and likeness, but man has grievously deviated from the
path.

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Whenever we deviate from the path, when we act or think in a manner that is not in accordance
with Yahweh’s image and likeness, we sin. Homosexuality is deviant behavior. It is an example
of deviating from the goal of being conformed to the image of Christ. The Bible tells us this is
so, but let us seek to understand how homosexual behavior is a departure from the character of
God.

A characteristic of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that is both foundational to the divine nature,
and immutable (unchanging) is that it is an expression of life. There is no death in the godhead.
The apostle Paul provides the following insight.

I Corinthians 15:45