The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 281

AFTER THE SCRIPTURE Rom.

Him

And

viii. 29.

ity, is

241

the Church, representing regenerated

the pleroma of the Lord

;

human-

for it is called " the fulness of

that filleth all in all."

Secondly, since

must be willing

to

man

is

created to be God's image on earth, he

remain image, and never presume or imagine to

Original and image are opposites. God is God, and man not God, but only the image of God. Hence it is the essence of

be original. is

sin

when man

refuses to remain image, reflection, shadow, exalting

himself to be something real in himself.

Conversion depends,

upon his willingness to become image again, i.e., to believe. He that becomes an image is nothing in himself, and exhibits all that he is in absolute dependence upon Him whose image he bears; and this is at once man's highest honor and completest therefore, solely

dependence.

God must have His image in the earth. For this purHe created Adam. Having defiled it beyond recognition, man denies the existence of the divine image in the earth. And thus image- worship originated. Image-worship means that man says: " I will undertake to make an image of God." And this diametriLastly,

pose

cally opposes God's work. It is His holy prerogative to make an image of Himself; and the creature should never dare undertake it. Hence it is presumption when, aspiring to be God, man refuses to remain His image, defiles it in himself, and undertakes to repre-

God in gold or silver. Image-worship is an awful

sent

God

Thou shalt not This sin is from Satan. He will not be less than God. When

sin.

saith

:

"

make unto thee any graven image."

always imitates God's work. He at last the Great Beast appears, the Dragon proclaims " They that dwell in the earth should make an image of the Beast !" God has decreed to make His own image to be the object of His eternal :

But Satan, opposing this, defiles that image and makes an man, for he is defiled and ruined, but of a beast. And thus in his supreme manifestation he judges himself. God's Son became a man, Satan's creation is a beast. When finally the Beast and its image are overthrown, by One who is like a son of man, it is the Lord's triumph over His enemies. Then the divine image is restored, nevermore to be defiled. And the Almighty God rejoices forever and ever in His own reflection. pleasure.

image

for himself; not of

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