The facts are clear and simple:
We were created in the image and the likeness of God to rule and have dominion in the stead of God among His creation.
And 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 fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day (Genesis 1:26-31 KJV)
There are three enemies out there who are fighting fiercely and trying to keep us from ever being able to walk in the image and likeness of God. These are mainly the devil, sin, and death.
The devil, the devil is our adversary.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world (1 Peter 5:8-9 KJV)
Sin: sin is a person; sin is a captor that can hold anyone bound.
If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me (Romans 7:16-17 KJV)
Death
For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (1 Corinthians 15:25-26 KJV)
The essence of faith and religion is to recieve the truth and power to subdue these enemies in order to walk in the image and the likeness of God.
These enemies and forces are teamed up to stop you from ever walking in the image and likeness or semblance of God. Your life is under a siege and you are involved in a fierce fight.
Understand that though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh; because the weapons of our warfare, the weapons to fight the good fight of faith are not carnal, yet they are mighty through God.
Our weapons may look feeble until it is yielded and operated through God.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s (2 Corinthians 10:3-7 KJV)
We are not wrestling against flesh and blood, our fight is against;
You don’t need a prophet to tell you that something is fighting you, the Bible clearly says so.
There are two key things religion and faith seeks to achieve: to redeem and regenerate (restore) you to that place in life where you will both walk in the image and the likeness of God in the midst of His creation.
- You must look like God. Appear like God, in appearance you must look like God
- You must live like God, bear fruits like God both in this life and that to come.
Religion and faith must redeem and regenerate you. You must be made anew. Your religion and faith must both redeem and regenerate you into a new creation.
The five simple steps to total recovery and advancement by faith and religion are:
Admit you need a saviour
When apostle Paul realised his own captivity, he cried out for a saviour.
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin (Romans 7:24-25 KJV)
Admit you need a saviour. You need someone to save you. You can’t save yourself from this wretch life of sin and carnality.
Believe on Jesus
One day, a jailor enquired diligently after seeing God’s miracle, what must I do to be saved? And the answer came straightforwardly “believe on the Lord Jesus!’
Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house (Acts 16:29-32 KJV)
Confess your faith
With the heart you believe unto righteousness but with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. Your confession activates the power to save.
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:8-13 KJV)
Depend on Jesus
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you (John 15:5-7 KJV)
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction (Philippians 4:12-14 KJV)
Engage with the word and power daily
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed (John 8:31-36 KJV)
Stay blessed
