Image Bearers

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

YOU’RE AN IMAGE BEARER

What I mean by that is simply this - you were created in the very image of God

If you were at Grow Group last season we talked about the Image of God and went super in-depth

In case you weren’t there, or don’t remember, it simply means that you were made in the very image and likeness of God.

When people look at you they should be able to see God.

Just like you are an image bearer of your parents, family, siblings - when people look at you they should be able to see them.

Being an image bearer means that the person you bear the image of cares about you!

Luke 12:6–7

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

God knows and cares about you so much that He knows the hairs on your head, the very number!

So if we are an image bearer of God - what does that mean for us?

John the Baptist shows us exactly what it means to be an image bearer

John 3:26-28

John 3:26–28

And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’

YOU ARE SENT BY CHRIST

John the Baptist’s entire life is marked by being sent

He was the first prophet to come to Israel in over 400 years.

He entire ministry is summed up in what he said right here “I am not the Christ, but am being sent by Him”

His entire ministry and life is about showing people who Jesus is

That needs to be what our entire life is about - showing people Jesus

We are sent by Jesus

Matthew 28:18–20

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The command to make disciples streches to us

We are sent by Christ to make disciples - we are sent to show people who He is

That means we as image bearers, just like JtB, are meant to share Christ with people - we are meant to reach people.

That must be a part of our identity

John 3:29

The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.

YOUR JOY COMES FROM CHRIST

John the Baptist then makes a reference to a bride, and bridegroom

Simple terms: Jesus is the bridegroom, the church is the bride

John the Baptist says his role is to be the friend of the bridegroom, to help the bridegroom in gathering his bride - the bride again being the church

By doing that JtB says his joy is complete

The same is true for us

In my life I have searched for joy in all kinds of things. And I can tell you I have never once found joy in anything that was outside of Christ.

True joy comes from Christ.

The reason for this is because we are image bearers of the living God.

Once you realize that you are an image bearer, and you surrender to Him and start living how he calls you to live you’ll be amazed at the amount of joy that comes in your life.

This is something I have struggled with, I confess to you guys, just like I have confessed to my wife, There are times I don’t feel joy. That’s because I have been trying to do things for myself.

It’s only when we surrender to Christ, accept our role as image bearers and like JtB says - rejoice at the Lord’s words - will we then have joy.

I promise you this. You’ll never be satisfied if you are seeking joy outside of God

You are an image bearer - your joy comes from God

John 3:30

He must increase, but I must decrease.”

YOUR GLORY MUST GO TO CHRIST

John the Baptist then finishes answering his disciples with a famous verse

“He must increase, but I must decrease”

So many people know this verse, but I think it’s misunderstood

It does not mean that you have no identity - it does not mean that you cannot have interests or hobbies or skills or a job or a “life”

What it means is, all the credit must go to God

All glory that you receive must go to God

If you are an image bearer your glory isn’t your glory - you have no glory

Everything is given to you by God.

Because of this your glory must become God’s glory.

You must give it up and give it to God

He is the one that must receive glory

1 Corinthians 1:31

so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

We are a people who boasts and brags.

Trip Lee - one of the Reach Records artists - always said we are built to brag!

We are people that can’t help to brag and boast and ascribe glory

What JtB is saying is this: if you are an image bearer you are meant to do all of those things for God

Conclusion

When you are struggling with your identity remember - you already have an identity. You already have a place

You are an image bearer of God

That is your identity!

You are meant to show God in all things

So how do we live as Image bearers?

You must understand that

You are sent by Christ

Your joy comes from Christ

Your glory must turn into Christ’s glory

If we do this I promise you you’ll be satisfied

I promise you that everything you are searching for in life will be found!

You are an image bearer, it’s time to walk in it

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