The Target for the Imago Dei Christian Fellowship is Found Within the Name “Imago Dei” Itself
Imago Dei means “Image of God” in Latin. In Genesis 1:26-27 we see the first biblical reference to the Imago Dei - “And God said, Let us make man in our image, and after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth on the earth.”
The New Testament continues the same Image of God or Imago Dei theme in Romans 8:29- “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” In this verse the target of Imago Dei Christian Fellowship is even more defined than in the Genesis account of the Imago Dei. In the Imago Dei of Romans 8 we see that the image of God is seen in the perfect expression of His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The New Testament deepens this theme in Hebrews 1:3- "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person... .” Jesus IS the fullest expression of the Father that exists. He is the Imago Dei at its’ peak. Imago Dei and Jesus are synonymous.
The target of Imago Dei then, is to be conformed to the most complete image of God, the Son of God Himself. The center of the target is being like Him in our heart. The Father has predetermined that we are to be the Imago Dei in the earth as His people. We are to be the Imago Dei in thought, word, action, reaction, purpose, and nature.
The target of the Imago Dei is extremely narrow. Not to be like Jesus is to not hit the target for us as a church. Everything we do as a church is toward this end- the Imago Dei in the hearts of the believers.
How will the Imago Dei be achieved?
The Imago Dei will be achieved at our Christian Fellowship by:
1) Looking into the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, the Bible. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
As we look into the Word of the Lord by reading, hearing, or meditating on it, a transformation takes place! We are transformed into the image of what we are looking at. Unlike looking at a mirror, which shows the exact image of that which is looking into it, the Word of the Lord shows us back the image that it is- the Imago Dei! What a glorious miracle. The Imago Dei takes us from one level of glory to the next! Hallelujah! Somebody shout because of the Imago Dei being transformed in our hearts and lives!
2) By prayer and fasting. Prayer and fasting are critical if we are to ever to have the Imago Dei on the inside of us as believers. Prayer causes us to draw near to the heart of God and creates a hunger to be like Jesus within us. As we pray we allow the Holy Spirit inscribe the picture of the Imago Dei on the spiritual canvas of our hearts. Fasting keeps our flesh in check as we deny it what it desires. The flesh will NEVER desire the Imago Dei. The flesh desires not the Imago Dei but rather the satisfaction of all it desires. The flesh craves the opposite of the Imago Dei. Fasting sees to it that none of what the flesh desires is fulfilled.
3) By Fellowship with other believers. As we have Bible fellowship with those of like precious faith we once again are looking into another mirror of the Imago Dei. Those who are truly born again and are in love with Jesus are carriers of the Imago Dei. That precious image resides on the inside of these believers and goes wherever they go. The believers are more than just “friends”. They become our brothers and sisters, or mothers and fathers in the Lord. A relationship is created that is supernatural. These believers become covenant partners in our lives. The scripture teaches us in Proverbs 27:17 that “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” As we are with a brother or sister in the Lord their countenance of the Imago Dei sharpens ours and ours theirs. What a glorious truth this is to think that being with those we love helps further us along the predestined path of being transformed into the Imago Dei.
The target (Imago Dei) God has for us to hit can and will be attained! It is more than mere talk to us. It is a reality we strive for and are certain can be produced.
Imago Dei - it takes the mundane out of our lives and gives them deeper meaning and purpose. Every day when our feet hit the floor we should confess with our mouths - “I am created in the image of God; I am supernatural and uncommon! The image of God’s Son is within me!”
We pray that this overview has helped you understand our mission at Imago Dei Christian Fellowship and God’s target for us all in a deeper way!
Walk in the Imago Dei - Live in the Imago Dei
Give in the Imago Dei - Praise in the Imago Dei
Worship in the Imago Dei