Topic No. 6 - The Likeness of God

In this week’s topics, we’ll be discussing God’s Second Commandment. This topic is lengthy, so please make sure you can devote a few minutes to reading this topic thoroughly, and then praying and asking God to reveal to you what He would have you know about the second commandment.

No. 2: "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images.”

       “You shall not make unto you any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 You shall not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my Commandments.” Exodus 20:4-6

This Second Commandment clearly forbids the use of any type of non-living or lifeless imagery, “any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath,” in the worship of the living God. Yet God did create on earth a likeness of Himself in humans. He specifically tells us that He “created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:27

Only God can reveal what He is like
In one sense, in the Second Commandment God tells mankind: “Don't try to tell Me what I am like. I will tell you what I am like! It is important that you correctly understand that I will accept no representations of Me.”

The perfect example
However, we are not without a perfect model of God's character. Jesus Christ as a human being so perfectly represented what God is like that He told His disciples, “He that has seen me has seen the Father…” John 14:9

Paul describes Jesus Christ as “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.” Colossians 1:15. He describes Christians as those who “have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” Colossians 3:9-10

God wants to change your spiritual nature. Just as Christ is “the image of the invisible God,” so does God the Father want to recreate your character in His image. The time is coming when God will transform those who have become like Him in heart and mind from a physical to a spiritual existence. Paul described to the church in Corinth how this will happen. “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” 1 Corinthians 15:50-53

That is how God will complete your wonderful transformation to becoming like Him. John described the same ultimate transformation when he wrote, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2. Being like God is your destiny, providing you surrender your life to Him in obedience to His Commandments.

God requires accountability
This brings us to the latter part of the Second Commandment: “You shall not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my Commandments.” Exodus 20:5-6

God holds us accountable for our words and deeds. Bowing before an idol to pay honor to your own image of God may appear to be an act of great devotion, but you may be ignorant of God's great purpose for your life! God expects those who worship Him in truth and understanding to demonstrate their love for Him by keeping His Commandments from the heart, not by going through useless rites in front of any object. Jesus made this clear when He said, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24. We are not to worship God with images and meaningless rituals. Jesus explained that “the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” John 4:23

In conclusion, people fashion idols and images out of metal, wood, stone, and plastic. They also fashion idols mentally, that is, they create false ideas about God. These ideas about God are man’s feeble attempt to describe God.  Parents who place emphasis in images or concepts are bound to influence their children. They set the example, whether good or bad. Children should be taught the right way of God, not the wrong way of idols and false concepts. Children who are taught error most likely will reflect that error all their lives. They will often follow the gods of their parents with negative consequences.

Christians by the millions accept what they are taught in their churches without questioning anything. They believe their particular denomination teaches the Bible. How can this be when many of these denominations disagree with each other? They cannot all be right. Some of our most respected religious celebrations and holidays come directly out of paganism. Anyone who is willing to check the encyclopedias can quickly find this out.

A converted woman walks with God. She loves the way of God. She finds no fellowship with those who oppose God, who walk in opposition to the Laws of God. What does God say about these human ways of opposition? “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord” (Isa. 55:8). One cannot be doing the will of God by participating in its various forms of idolatry-religious concepts, images and idols, fundamental concepts, etc. An idol is anything that takes the place of God. Anything that is more important than God is an idol. Idolaters are guilty of breaking the second commandment.

Remember: an idol is a representation of an idea or concept. Whether you serve a tangible idol or a concept/idea, the result is the same. You have been deprived of the true knowledge of God. To be accepted, many people do not have the courage to reject these things. To live a truly godly life is not popular. Just as in the days of Christ, “For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:43). What should Christian service be? Paul tells us, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom. 12:1-2). Forms of religion that are approved in this world may not be approved by God. It is imperative that we know the difference. Mark Twain once remarked, “religion is a very dangerous thing unless you get it right.”

Questions and Answers to share with your KOTH Partner:

1.    In ancient days, people worshipped the god of the Sun, or the god of the Moon, or the god of the Seas in order to be “blessed” by these gods (little “g.”)  In modern society, what gods are you worshipping instead of the one true God?  Example:  Money?  Success?  Popularity?  Horoscopes? 

2.    Take a hard look at your beliefs of what God is like.  Write these beliefs down on paper, and then go to scripture (or Google scriptures on the internet) to find if your beliefs line up with what the Bible states about God.  Share these with your KOTH partner.  If you struggle with this task, then just write down two beliefs you have about God, and go to scripture to find out if this is in line with what God states about Himself.  Example:  I believe God is a jealous God, so I would go to scripture and find out if this belief is correct.

3.    Is there a ritual or a belief in your own church that you question?  Write this down, and then go to scripture to find out the Truth of this ritual or belief.

4.    What false beliefs have you been passing down to your children or family members? 

5.    What idols have you been “bowing down to” instead of bowing down to the One, True God?