Greetings!

I want to post a simple question for any to ponder, but the answer might be difficult to answer or explain.

If God created an image of Himself would you worship it?

If this image was uncorrupted

If He commanded that this image of himself be worshipped, would you?

HB what a question....


John 4:19-24 "Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem." Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

Your question, to me, poses two alternatives...

One, the right one, according to my belief, which is stated in the text above...

Second one, I believe, would change what I currently know....If God ordained such a thing in His Word, then it would be so..You know that saying from the Ten Commandmants, "So let it be written, so let it be done" type of change....If the Word stands as is with NO change, then NO, because God does not share His glory.

Isaiah 42:8 I am Jehovah, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images.

It is written: "You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you worship."He has NOT commanded an image, or any other creation to be worshipped.

http://www.bible.ca/ef/topical-what-the-bi...out-worship.htm

I believe that worshipping in spirit refers to worship that emanates from the spirit of man. Paul said: "For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son...." (Rom. 1:9). Because God is Spirit (Jn. 4:24), the true worshipper will worship God with that part of himself that is made in the image of God -- his spirit. In other words, worship must spring forth from the inner man, and this inner man, the spirit, includes the intellect (1 Cor. 2:11), the emotions (Mk. 8:12; Acts 17:16) and the will (Mt. 26:41).

God created an image of Himself in Jesus Christ and we may feel free to worship His image.

Joh 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father?

Jesus is the physical manifestation of the Father of Spirits, and was not created...He Is God. Always was, just as the Father.

I would combine Maz's statement and Earendel's statement to answer the question...

Bravo Pamela, the Lord gives you a fleet foot and deliberate contemplation.

To the others, please try again, for this is a serious question with quite the bombshell that I shall deliver. A casual answer will not earn anyone brownie points on wisdom.

Exodus 20:4
Thou shalt not make unto thee 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:

It is a commandment that I or any other PERSON shall not make a graven image to worship, but the Bible does not say anything about God making an image of Himself and worshipping that image.

I am not talking about a man making an image or the devil which corrupts an image, but I am talking about God making an uncorrupted image of himself.

So, if God makes an image of himself that is uncorrupted and say commanded you to worship it, would you?

This study will reveal a lot more than what might seem on the surface ( I pray in Jesus name)

P.S. After reading it, I'll also credit CSA for giving a good response.

But there is more to hit this one right on the nail.

Love HB

To me worship is the highest form of Love and exalting. God Loves us because we are in His image, and we love Him because He first loved us. We love each other because Christ indwells His elect...just because I love God's Spirit and image in someone, it is still God that I am worshipping...it is just another way that God manifests Himself...it is still God that I am loving/worshipping. Does this make sense to you? But pay your adorations to God, and not to me who am your fellow-creature.

In God's presence we ...will enjoy the sight of God, the blessed spring and eternal source of all our happiness. But what this is, I can no more fully explain than can finite creatures comprehend infinity. Yet the sight of God continually fills our souls with joy unspeakable and full of glory, and with a love so ravishing that nothing but the blessed author of it can satisfy, nor eternity itself can end. It is that which makes us live, love, sing, and praise forever while it also transforms us into His blessed likeness. Beholding God's face, we enjoy His love. His blessed smiles make glad our souls, and in His favor we rejoice continually, 'for in His favor is life.' And by this blessed vision of God, we come to know Him far above how any had known Him in the world below. For the sight of Him opens our understandings, and 'gives us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.' ...in heaven, all enjoy Him face to face. Below the saints enjoy God in a measure, but there we will enjoy Him without measure. Here we have some sips of His goodness, but there we shall drink largely and swim in the boundless ocean of happiness. Below the saints have their communion with God broken off many times, but here it is uninterrupted. Below love is mixed with fear, and fear has torment; but here love is perfect, and perfect love casts out fear. In heaven we love God more than ourselves, and one another like ourselves. Here we enjoy the perfection of all grace. ...and we will enjoy the image of God in each other...because we love God.

...borrowed in part from John Bunyan.

True.

Sure...

Have we not had enough bombshells?

That's a very good response, Earendel. It is the closest to this.

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

And researcher, you answered well, because if it were God's commandment you would simply follow it.

Well, it's not quite the bombshell, Larry. Forgive me, I boast (BTW where did you go?)

But, consider this (to anyone). Man was made in the image of God and God made man uncorrupted.

So, what if God commanded His image be worshipped, who does anyone suppose would refuse?

God told Abraham to kill his son, so, same thing.



Rev 3:9 Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Someone will be worshiping us apparently. After we're perfect of course.

If God commanded people to worship His image, I suppose no one would, unless they disobeyed.

this is really not that easy to respond to humble bob the reason i am saying this speaking for my self if god were to ask me to worship an image he created of him self i would want to make sure it is god talking to me and not some demon trying to throw me off track hear is what i am going to leave and this should show you why i would question weather it was god talking to me


Daniel 1


8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile him self with the kings food or with the wine that he drank .Therfeore he asked the cheif of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himeself

9 and God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the enuchs


Daniel 3


1 king Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold whoes height was sixty cubits and its breath six cubits he set it up on the plain of Dura in the provinance of Babylon

4 And the herald proclaimed aloud you are commanded o peoples nations and languages

5 that when you hear the sound of the horn pipe lyre trigon harp bagpipe and every kind of music you are to worship the golden image that king Nebuchadnezzar has set up

6 And who ever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into the burning furance

Daniel meshach

Abednego refused to worship the statue the king built and out of rage the king had them thrown in the furance

here was daniels responc to the king


17 if this be so our God whom we serve would be able to deliver us from the burning firey furance and he wil deliver us out of your hand o king

18 But if not be it known to you o king that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden immage that you have set up



and hear is the kings responce



30 therefore i make a decree any people nation or language that speaks anything against the God of shadrach meshach and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses laied in ruins for there is no other God who is able to rescue this way




Exodus 20

4 you shall not make for yourself a carved immage or any likeness of anything 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 to them for i the lord your God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the fathers of the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me



we dont belong to this world and we should not bow down to the ways of this world or what is done in our citys and country towns we live in

when i am in the philippines with my fiancee i dont get involved in the celebrations like celebrating the dead saints and the lights festival and so on the catholic church expects us christians to pay for these festivals they hold and they expect us to be involved we have told the catholic church that is planted in the heart of the town not to expect us to bow to the gods you worship or dont expect us or our members to participate


if it is written in gods word then for god to expect me to do this he wil have to prove to me and my fiancee and my members that he is who he says he is



John 4


22 you worship what you do not know we worship what we know for salvation is from the jews

23 but the hour is coming and is now here when the true worshipers will worship the father in spirit and truth for the father is seeking such people to worship him

24 god is spirit and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth


i cant speak for anyone else who has applied to your post humble bob i can only speak for my self humble bob

when i was living in sin i worshiped the gods my father and his father worshiped i did what my father and his father did humble bob in the village i grew up in yugoslavia we had our festival these festivals we had would show people who visited our country who we really were and i was proud of my country

just like your indapendance day 4th of july


now that i am a christian god expects me not to bow to the gods i use to bow to when i was living in sin


and its the same for our members and my fiancee and my in laws when the catholic church holds its festivals the city shuts down for two days its law but the christians dont get involved they made their stand


sorry this post is long i had to think hard to what i was going to say i just did not want to be agreeing with people and slapping people on the back it had to be my answer and this was the only way i could state this


my answer wil be no i wil not do this until i know its god him self



God bless from damo

Your concerns are well founded Damo, I would deeply regret being deceived.

But my question is a hypothetical one and it's purpose is to understand the deeper mysteries of God.

Researcher, think (or pray) about it. If God creates man uncorrupted and in His image who would He might have commanded to worship His image and who would have refused?

It does not make sense to me that an image would worship itself, so it would be commanded by God to someone or something else. Who or what would that be? Hint: this is well before man had first sinned.

Satan

Oops, angels, including Satan

looking forward to this study and to your Question if god commanded it i will then do as he is requesting off me


well before man had sinned i would say god was pleased with what he had created which is what i see every day when i open my eyes i could also say jesus came into this world as a man and had no sin in him at all and the only person he honored was his father


i look forward to this study humble bob



God bless from damo

Exactly!

Now you know why the devil rails against man! Because God created man uncorrupted and in God's image. So the devil, hating God, has hated God's image and in doing so he corrupts the image of God that is man.

But, what has God done by the blood of Christ?

1 John 3:8
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

God has undone the corruption done to His image that is man, and I for one is ever so grateful



Ah, Researcher, you've edited your response and brought an added aspect to this thread. I pray this that the Holy Spirit inspired you, for here is what I posit , and if it is true then it comes from the Lord (if it is wrong it comes from my vanity )

The angels that also refused were the ones satan had made.

Just another way at looking at God's beautiful love and perfect plan.

be blessed, everyone.

Love HB

Perfect! Fun study.

I think Adam was a replacement for Satan.

He is currently the "god" of this world. But, we are taking over, with Christ at the head.

Replacements. A changing of the guard if you will.




Oops, sorry. It just made sense that if Satan would have to worship, then, the others would too. Or perhaps, only the fallen ones.

I read all the way to the answer, and got here too late; lol.

I would have said, Yes! er, but I don't always do what he says; gulp,
Okay, I'll do it tomorrow.

Was enjoying the Olympic closing ceremonies the other night, and watching all of the thousands of young people smiling, doing their choreographs, proud of their culture on display; beautiful, and the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, and said, "They're ours."

And I mean, it wasn't like Mr. Burns - Excellent, they're ours; lol, it was like - Yes, they are our people. They are us.

And I was like: Is that you Lord? No, i'm kidding, I was like, yeah, they really are.

And I know about the Dragon and all that, but this was a perspective from the 'mind of Christ.' Paul said, But we have the mind of Christ, and everything is new; and he doesn't see an enemy, he sees us; and I with that in mind, I was really able to enjoy it from a wonderful perspective; and I found myself thinking, gee, I wonder how many Christians are in that magnificent assembly, proud of their heritage, loving life.

Because if you were to meet a Chinese stranger right now, chances are you would meet an atheist, there are alot of those; or an animist, there are alot of those; or a Buddhist, alot of those; or a Christian, there are alot of those too, and growing;

I continued not to see 'the other', after that word - I continued to see 'us' and it was great;

Just my perspective from the outfield, as to why I thought this thread was so great as well; God bless.

Ps, and I appreciate those whose assignment is to warn of dangers, so don't be like Olympics! aargh; cause it isn't mine, not today.

Hello HB

If it was commanded by God, yes. It would have to be written as Jesus customs are.

Mt 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Bob, your question is moot.

IN Christ - MM

The devil thinks the same, MM

HB,

I don't believe angels will be worshiping us. In the following verse it makes it clear those who will bow down to those who overcome; it is those who claimed to be Jews (and I believe that is applied to those who claim loyalty to Christ, yet are not...for one is a Jew whose inward heart has been circumsized...etc). (No mention of angels either).

Rev 3:8 "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 "Indeed I will make [those] of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie -- indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.

I've heard many people claim that Angels shall be in subjection to the overcomers after the resurrection but I disagree with that. One of those reasons given to make that claim is that Angels were not created in the image of God; that only man was created in that image. This is conjecture on the part of those who hold to this doctrine. The following verse gives a vital clue concerning Angels and their standing before God...they stand as Sons of God; which we shall too. A *Son of God* bears the image of God...and not only this; but Jesus claims that we shall be *equal* to the Angels...(not beneath and NOT above...but equal).

(NKJV) Luke 20:34 And Jesus answered and said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 "But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 "nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

And although this *equality* shall be obtained by those who overcome...it needs to be considered that although we shall share in equality as "Sons of God"; this does not necessarily mean that we will have the same degree or level *authority* as the Holy Angels or their higer ranking Angels such as Cherubim, Seraphim and Arch Angels.

Not to be left unsaid...although scripture does state that the world to come will not be subjected to Angels...we cannot conclude from that verse that Holy Angels will be subjected to us...or that they will not continue to rule and reign with authority, for we finite beings cannot grasp outside the confines of this world or even the next, new world. Who among us can claim to know or grasp what lies beyond our heavens? For all I or you know, there could be countless worlds, countless heavens, etc which would require the Holy Angel's rulership.

And last but not least...the following verse which many use to claim that men shall be judges of all angels, I believe is over-reaching at best. It is completely safe to say that we shall be judges over the fallen angels...and rightfully so. But to believe that Holy Angels shall in any way deserve our judgment or be in need of it is at the least naive; yet also borders upon holy indignation. I want everyone who thinks this way to consider...will you, or I, or Paul or John or any other, *judge* those Holy Angels which poured out the righteous bowls of wrath upon the earth...those bowls which God Himself ordained these Holy Angels to pour out upon mankind? I see a very large OPPOSITE picture being presented here...and not only here, but throughout scripture. Jesus refers to Him returning again, many times WITH His Holy Angels. His Holy Angels will take part in the gathering together of the wicked and the righteous...they play a vital part in the judgment of men...but I do not see any reference of Holy Angels being judged by men....unless you take one scripture reference to *angels* being judged by men found in 1 Cor 6:3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?

Once again; it needs to be said...we can safely say that fallen angels of course shall be judged by us...but at the very least; caution should be applied to any angel falling outside of that category of *fallen*. What NEED would there be for righteous, HOLY Angels to be judged by us?

Sincerely,
Kim

I'd go one further.

We are angels. In flesh bodies. We'll be the same thing after we're changed.

Job 2:1 Again it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan came also among them to present himself before Jehovah.

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they ARE the sons of God.

Oh my !

I think you should rethink your question as put forth. Think again.

IN Christ - MM

hi~

Jesus Christ is the image of the Word made flesh, the LORD in the flesh. though ask yourself how many times did the LORD point not to himself, but to worship our Father which is in heaven? truly, as He walked the earth, He pointed to our Father in heaven. truly, as He taught, He pointed to our Father in heaven. truly, as He reproved - even upon Himself, He still pointed to our Father in heaven.

worship God, for even as the image walked the earth, worship still went to where it matters most.

~levite-7

Okay MM, I will not only rethink the question but rephrase it.

Why did the devil rebel against God?

Have I made myself clearer or do you think it still a moot question?

The original question was a moot question. Your reconstructed question does not in any way line up with your original question. But, be that as it may.

He had free will as we all do.

He thought his power was as greater than the one whom made him, for he was the angel of light. Little did he realize , and I might add, the other angels which did not rebel, that their powers were equal only with the other angels that God made. He tried to over throne God, which was a misunderstanding on his part. He continues to follow this same train of thought within his mind. Pride and a miscalculation is why he rebelled against God.

IN Christ - MM

No, MM. I was misunderstood, and perhaps because I did not make myself clear. I will try to make myself clearer again.

God made man in his image, Gen 1:26-27. Since God is perfect and uncorrupted His image was made perfect and uncorrupted. If God commanded the angels to worship God's created and uncorrupted image the obedient angels would do so, because it would be God's commandment.

But if satan refused to worship God's image he would be disobeying God and would be rebelling against Him.

Get the picture now? So, my hypothetical question is connected to the more direct question as to why the devil rebelled against God. And my answer offers a hypothesis as to why.

Throw in free will if you want because it doesn't discount the notion satan took it upon himself to exercise his "free will" to refuse to worship God's image.

Now before anyone misunderstands my statement here, I am not proclaiming for man to worship man. Nor am I proclaiming man will be worshipped afterwards, after all my question was made under the pretext of the image of God being perfect, and if man is that image well it has since become corrupted, and that's another issue altogether.

But, I put the question to you people to see if you would simply do what God would have you do IF that were His will. In otherwords, I posed the same question to people that might have once been posed to the angels.

And, interestingly I received anwers I imagine would might have been the same with the angels in heaven, that is indirect, questioning, doubtlful and sideways responses.

Only one person here answered correctly and in accordance to the same faith that Abraham had demonstrated in that he would do it if God - not me asking, not the devil deceiving, but undeniably God if He told him to worship His image.

I hope this explains what I was trying to say.