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By Nicholas Damascus | FāVS News Columnist
What is the image and likeness that man was created to become?
The ever-existent Almighty God, who is unconditional love and infinitely more, in his goodness and lovingkindness, freely chose to express who he is. The one true God, the source of everything, created all out of nothing, both physical and spiritual, animate and inanimate, heaven and Earth, which were void and initially without form.
In the first five “days” of creation, God proceeded by command to create in the following manner. Let there be light, let there be firmament, let there be waters, etc., until he came to the sixth day.
On the sixth day, the creation of man was not by command, but by the council and declaration of the persons of the trinity, giving man a special dignity and honor in introducing life to this living being, as evidenced in the following scripture.
In Genesis 1:26, “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness.”
So, what can we say is the image of God?
What defines a person’s image or personhood is how they treat, interact and relate to others. Those actions form a perception of who that person is. So when I think of my mother, what defines her image is her kindness, love and the sharing of her life with her family, community, workplace and total strangers. That interaction of loving communion with others is her image, her personhood, and one could say, it is the very essence of goodness, the living connective tissue of existence itself.
The scriptures tell us that God is love (1 John 4:8) and good (Matthew 19:17). God’s image is described as the total giving and sharing and complete indwelling within each person in the trinitarian Godhead. This action is what we refer to as love, the “life source” of all life.
So then we can also say that man, who is an icon of God and created in that image, is also love.
You are alive and living if God indwells in you. Saint Paul says in Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (life source himself).
So what can we say is God’s likeness?
We can say that his likeness would be holiness and righteousness. The Greek word for holy is hagios (ἅγιος), the ha meaning “not of” and gios meaning “this world.” We live in this world, but are called not to be of this world.
For Christians, the purpose of this life is not happiness, which is mostly fleeting, but holiness as we read in 1 Peter 1:16, “Be holy for I am holy,” where one receives the true fruit of the Spirit of God of joy, love, peace, etc. The joy a parent experiences in the birth of a son or daughter would be an everlasting experience in this life and the next.
When one receives the fruit of the Spirit, their perception of reality expands infinitely. If one only lives in the rational cognitive mind, their perception of reality is limited to the worldly five senses.
If society has a godly (holy) presence, its benefit is the morality of good, peace and order. In a godless society, morality is based on what the majority is doing, often resulting in meaningless conflict, chaos and disorder.
In summary
In striving to be Christians, we are called to be saints (1 Corinthians 1:2) to do good, to witness, and most of all, not just to love one another, but to become love to one another. That struggle is a work in progress and should be done in baby steps to build a foundation to become more like Christ.
Eastern Orthodox Christians have always practiced this process of theosis from the beginning. One may never attain that true end or goal, but what is most important is that one makes an earnest effort and maintains a focus to stay on course, to prevail to finish the race.
Why would we want to become more like Christ? Because when this life terminates and we transition to the next, if we are not like him, we will not be able to receive all that he wants to share and give us, and therein lies the self-judgement. We determine our salvation by how we love and relate to our creator and one another. Man who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:8).
In the final judgement (Matthew 25:31-46), the goats and sheep are surprised about where they would be spending eternity. This life is all about intent and purpose, and the greatest misfortune of man is the failure to realize that true life (actual living) is to become love.
How do you do this? Humbly trust in God, live a life of love (briefly described as a giving of oneself to another) and all truth will be revealed to you.
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I like your full explanation.
Is your understanding of theosis similar to Sanctification, being made holy or righteous?
That is in contrast to being Justified, being counted holy or righteous.
Becoming like God in character, our maker, is indeed the goal of every true Christian.
My understanding is that we lost that image (character trait) when Adam fell. It is our uniting with Christ in His crucifixion, Rom 6:1-11, the voluntary surrender of our carnal, selfish, human nature for God to transform BACK into that original image, that God wants to do, but will NOT do it against our will, without our permission.
Thank you for your commentary. You asked the question “Is your understanding of theosis similar to Sanctification, being made holy or righteous?” I would say partially, yet different.
In Protestant theology I am under the impression that sanctification is imputed or given by God as a gift whereby one is automatically saved by association and declaration that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior. However if one does their homework most of scripture reference about salvation is in the future tense.
For Eastern Orthodox Christians declaration is only the first part of the salvific journey. They know that saving faith is more than mere belief. In James 2:19 “You believe that there is one God, You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” and they are not saved.” or Matt 10:22 “He that endureth to the end shall be saved.” or 1 Cor 1:18 “to us who are being saved.” or Phil 2:12 “…work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”
Theosis is a process of becoming more like Christ through His grace and mercy. The true aim of every Christian should be to provide an environment for the acquisition of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God. This process is a transformation not conformity. Romans 12:2 “Be transformed by the renewal of your “nous”or heart in the original Greek scriptures, not the brain/mind but the intellect which is your spirit, who you are. Since we are an icon of God created in His image (love) then man too is to become love for “Man who does not love does not know God (1 John 4:8). Love on another is mentioned in the scriptures 16 times.
There may be confusion between justification, what you are describing as sanctification, and what I believe is meant by sanctification. To me, what you describe as theosis is sanctification and what you describe as sanctification is justification.
But you are right. Many Protestants stop with justification.
I see justification as being saved form the penalty of sin, sanctification being saved from the power of sin and glorification saved from the presence of sin.
Justification is what Jesus did FOR us on the cross. He paid for our sins. That gives us a clean slate. We will not be punished for our sins. But that, in itself, does not save us or guarantee us eternal life.
Sanctification is what Jesus is doing IN us now. It begins when we surrender our carnal, selfish, human nature to God for Him, by the indwelling Holy Spirit, to change our nature into God’s selfless nature; God re-creating His image IN us. That will continue until we die or He returns, whichever is first. Rom 6:1-11, 12:1-2, Gal 2:20, 5:24, Phil 2:13.
This is illustrated in the Tabernacle that God had Moses build. It is a blueprint of what God is doing for us and in us and not what we do for God. What Jesus did in His earthly ministry FOR us is illustrated in the courtyard with His sacrifice, gifts and offerings, the laver illustrating the washing of sins from us. The sanctuary illustrates what Jesus is doing IN us now; giving us His Word, the bread, His Spirit, light, and mediation, presenting our prayers to the Father, Him being the vail that shield’s us from God, a consuming fire (Heb 10:20) and the arc (our heart/spirit) where He wants to write His law.
Justification, the outer court, only cleanses us enough to start the sanctification process.
We are to have eyes to see and ears to hear His voice, Is 30:21, John 10:27.
Abram knew God’s voice. If not, he would not have left Ur. He knew God’s voice or he would not have sacrificed his son. It is that voice, the Holy Spirit, that leads us. As we obey, we become sanctified. If we reject it, say it is another spirit, God will reject us.
It is knowing God’s voice and the experiences that we have of God’s care and leading that becomes the foundation we build our faith on.
So, what is the image and likeness that man was created to become? It is the image of God’s character through theosis/sanctification. (In my humble opinion.)
Well said, in our finite and inadequate laguages of lost nuances, we do our best.to know the Truth. As for me and I’m sure you would agree that one should humbly trust God, live a life of love, and the Truth will be revealed to us. Should you wish, stay in touch… +N