Image Bearing

[its_brad]

As a result of this course, how do you better understand what it means to bear the image of the triune God in community? Give specific examples.

[trietjens]

I think there are two main places where I can represent the Trinity in Unity and the community that is expressed there. The first is in marriage. Dr. Toon even implies that the concept of oneness in the Old Testament is the same as the oneness described in the one flesh statement in Genesis 2:24. There should be a unity of purpose and mind and a perfect love in marriage that reflects that found in the persons of the God-head. The second place of community where we should reflect the image of the Triune God is in the Church. We are told in 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 that we are all individual members of one body - but that we are one body. As one body we should all care for one another and be united in mind and purpose and not be divisive. I am afraid that most marriages and churches tend to not reflect the unity in Trinity image that is stamped on us.

[cmoore]

As a result of this course I better understand what it means to bear the image of the Triune God. I must first refer to Genesis 1:26 in my answer where is says, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’” The pronoun that denotes “more than one” is noted more than once in this scripture. The reference to “Us” and “Our” refers to the Trinity. The Godhead made us in His image and His likeness. To bear this likeness does not mean to be separated from who we are into three personalities, but I believe that it means that we can only know what this image is through the Economic Trinity. Until we first understand that God created and formed us to be like Him we cannot bear His image. Until we understand that it was Christ Jesus who came to die for our sins and give us redemption through His blood we cannot bear His image. Until we understand that the Holy Spirit is the seal of our salvation and the power that holds us until the day of redemption we cannot bear the image of God. We must recognize the place of the Economic Trinity in our lives in order to bear the Image of the Godhead. We cannot understand the Immanent Trinity unless we have experienced the Economic Trinity. We cannot understand fully and then imitate the fact that God is Holy until we realize that we’re not and it is through Him that we can become Holy.

[JesseCottrell]

As a result of this course, how do you better understand what it means to bear the image of the triune God in community? Give specific examples.

I had always been taught but had never fully comprehended the idea that perfect love does not always have to be shared between two individuals alone; I wondered where that notion had come from – now I know, the Trinity. This course was very insightful by helping me to understand that the three members of the Trinity love each other perfectly; it is not a one on one relationship, but rather a one on one on one relationship. This perfection of love that exists between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit was a revelation to me by helping me to understand that when it comes to loving my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ I can fully love not just one specific person, but more than one. Also, I do not have children yet but I can imagine that if the Lord blesses me with a full quiver (however many that may be) I will be able to love each of them completely and fully (albeit not perfectly) even though according to some people my love would be “divided”. Knowing that God is love, bearing the image of the Trinity in this way really revolutionized how I will view the church body and members of my family.

[JesseCottrell]

I think there are two main places where I can represent the Trinity in Unity and the community that is expressed there. The first is in marriage. Dr. Toon even implies that the concept of oneness in the Old Testament is the same as the oneness described in the one flesh statement in Genesis 2:24. There should be a unity of purpose and mind and a perfect love in marriage that reflects that found in the persons of the God-head. The second place of community where we should reflect the image of the Triune God is in the Church. We are told in 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 that we are all individual members of one body - but that we are one body. As one body we should all care for one another and be united in mind and purpose and not be divisive. I am afraid that most marriages and churches tend to not reflect the unity in Trinity image that is stamped on us.

I agree wholeheartedly with trietjens – if more Christians better manifested the unity in Trinity image our earthly impact on this world would be greatly magnified. I would however like to ask this one question: At what point does the idea of unity (as shown in the Trinity) become impossible? Can we be unified with our liberal neighbor who lives next door? trietjens two ideas of marriage and the church were great, but can this idea of unity be extended to those who are unsaved or is this impossible? I’m just wondering if all human beings are made in the image of God, is it possible for all to display and reflect the unity in Trinity idea or only those who are regenerate? Just a thought…

[JesseCottrell]

As a result of this course I better understand what it means to bear the image of the Triune God. I must first refer to Genesis 1:26 in my answer where is says, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’” The pronoun that denotes “more than one” is noted more than once in this scripture. The reference to “Us” and “Our” refers to the Trinity. The Godhead made us in His image and His likeness. To bear this likeness does not mean to be separated from who we are into three personalities, but I believe that it means that we can only know what this image is through the Economic Trinity. Until we first understand that God created and formed us to be like Him we cannot bear His image. Until we understand that it was Christ Jesus who came to die for our sins and give us redemption through His blood we cannot bear His image. Until we understand that the Holy Spirit is the seal of our salvation and the power that holds us until the day of redemption we cannot bear the image of God. We must recognize the place of the Economic Trinity in our lives in order to bear the Image of the Godhead. We cannot understand the Immanent Trinity unless we have experienced the Economic Trinity. We cannot understand fully and then imitate the fact that God is Holy until we realize that we’re not and it is through Him that we can become Holy.

I appreciate cmoore laying out so clearly what he/she believes; however I do believe certain statements pose a problem – Genesis 1:26 certainly can’t be restricted to believers only. I’m sure the exegetical arguments are both numerous and long, but it seems that dominion in the Genesis 1:26 sense refers to dominion over other living creatures. I certainly know unbelievers who exercise this type of dominion over the earth. Could it be that believers bear the image of God more fully and completely than unbelievers, but both bear it nonetheless? Just a thought…

[Ryan N]

The second place of community where we should reflect the image of the Triune God is in the Church. We are told in 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 that we are all individual members of one body - but that we are one body. As one body we should all care for one another and be united in mind and purpose and not be divisive.

I agree that the image of the one God in Trinity serves as an example of how the universal church should function in terms of unity. It seems like the only news you hear about the church today is over split congregations or denominations. As God's people, the church should be an example to the world of a community that is unified as one body. We are not very different from the world if we aren’t bearing this aspect of the image of God in community.

[Ryan N]

I better understand what it means to bear the image of the triune God in community in seeing myself as a reflection of the Godhead (Genesis 1:26). This has been one of the traditional arguments for the value of every human life, but now this argument is even more meaningful to me because I have a slightly greater glimpse into what that community between the triune God looks like. Another understanding I have gained is in seeing the diversity of people all over the world as speaking to the diversity of the divine persons within the triune God in community.

[Ryan N]

Until we first understand that God created and formed us to be like Him we cannot bear His image. Until we understand that it was Christ Jesus who came to die for our sins and give us redemption through His blood we cannot bear His image. Until we understand that the Holy Spirit is the seal of our salvation and the power that holds us until the day of redemption we cannot bear the image of God. We must recognize the place of the Economic Trinity in our lives in order to bear the Image of the Godhead. We cannot understand the Immanent Trinity unless we have experienced the Economic Trinity. We cannot understand fully and then imitate the fact that God is Holy until we realize that we’re not and it is through Him that we can become Holy.

It's a great point that you bring up in bearing the image of the Godhead spiritually as opposed to physical appearance. I agree that we cannot fully bear the image of God until we realize our need for redemption, come to Christ for forgiveness and live in the Spirit. Spiritually, we cannot bear the image of God until we are one of his children because we have no idea of what the image of the triune God is in community. The Bible says that we are enemies of God until we are in Christ, so from a spiritual perspective we are doing the opposite of bearing the image of God!

[Ryan N]

[QUOTE=JesseCottrell;1234]This perfection of love that exists between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit was a revelation to me by helping me to understand that when it comes to loving my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ I can fully love not just one specific person, but more than one. QUOTE]


This is a great observation. The image of the Godhead in community is the ultimate example of how believers should love one another. This love should be pure, unconditional and sacrifical amongst many other qualities. Within the body of Christ, it's easy to make excuses as to why we don't love all of brothers and sisters, whether within our local church or the universal church. I know that there will always be differences of interpretation and opinion in the church, but all of us Christians would be such a greater testimony of Christ if we loved one another as the triune God loves one another in community.