Have you ever used a rubber stamp that failed to transfer the image correctly?

How about trying to print an image only to find that the printer failed to print it as it should?

The image intended in such a case becomes marred and is unclear.  You may know what it should look like because you are the creator of it.  But those who did not create it may see it in its marred state and assume that is what you intended to start with.

When Scripture speaks of glory, it often refers to likeness—the original image of a person or thing.

If we take this idea with us when we read,

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

We understand that the issue is that humanity has fallen short of the likeness God intended for it. The declaration of good given to man at the beginning was marred by Adam’s sin.  He exchanged the glory of his original state as created by God for the knowledge of good and evil.  In other words, Adam opted for his own brand of glory, his own brand of image, as opposed to what God had originally chosen for him.

Adam altered what was good at the beginning, diminishing the glory originally given. Adam fell short of God’s glory because man cannot create the likeness of God by himself. The enticement of the serpent was that Adam and Eve might improve upon what God did to start.  The lie insinuated that by gaining this specific brand of knowledge, they could rise to a level equal to God and thus bear His image.

The lie was actually rooted in distracting them from the truth, removing from their imaginations the reality they already possessed as a God-given gift when He created them.  They moved from a place of free-flowing fellowship and intimacy with God to a place of being afraid of Him.

This explains that the first creation was marred by the sin of self-realization and effort, which is the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. Therefore, a new creation is required if one wishes to have fellowship with God. To be restored to a place of glory as God intended, one must be born again and become a new creation in Christ.  This is the reason for Christ coming to give His life.  This matter of image, glory, and being properly imprinted according to His image as opposed to our own is what the New Covenant is all about.  Our way of advancing now is not gained by what we can do to improve ourselves, but rather, it is rooted in how we view Jesus.

2Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

To correctly view Jesus, we must first have the veil removed that blocks our ability to see Him correctly.

2Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.

When we become new creations in Christ, we are enabled to see Him. This is why getting the gospel right is so important: The gospel is God’s image-transfer mechanism, the power of God unto salvation, and the means of delivering a new creation in Christ.  The knowledge of good and evil cannot remove the veil that blinds us to the glorious image of Christ that transforms us into His image from glory to glory.  The right gospel reveals that this is all of God and not of us.

2Corinthians 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

It is God’s will that Christ’s image be imprinted on our imagination and hearts. He wants our lives to be forever changed so that we can enjoy the fellowship that is the fruit of His glory.  Our transformation comes from beholding Jesus, not ourselves.  It comes from rejoicing and being thankful for His accomplishment on our behalf, not our accomplishments on His behalf.  So, I will conclude today with this encouragement from Scripture.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.