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NASB | Genesis 5:3 ¶ When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 5:3 ¶ When Adam had lived a hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth. |
Bible Question:
Dear Charis, thanks for the clarification. To clarify my prior question to you, you had stated, 'This is the part of us that knows good and evil, and allows us know (be known by) the Lord and recognize His image in us, or conversely be led by our earthly body.' My implication was that I think that our spirits are what allows us to know God. I believe that scripture supports that many things of God are spiritually discerned. My soul (mind, will, and emotions - personality) cannot (to my utter frustration) understand the Trinity. But God has revealed it (through the Word written by, ultimately, the Holy Spirit) to be fact. It is the same way with my unregenerated spiritual death. My soul, apart from the revelation of God through His Word, would never have know that I was born spiritually dead. I would have thought, in my natural senses, sure, I'm alive. I could perceive myself and others (soul perception, soulishly alive) but I have no perception of God other than what my soul discerns from nature. I.e. I can tell from nature that God exists by I have very little information as to what He is really like. Hence the Law reflected His character in the OT (and ours) and Jesus Christ is the true, exact representation of God's nature in the NT. Well, I've probably taken this further than I initially wanted to and I have maybe confussed you (and myself). But, what I was trying to find out is this: Many co-workers are saying, "Now, Bill, you claim to be a Christian. Christians are against the death penalty and men are created in the image of God. So if you want these terrorists punished by death, than you will be killing what God created, right?" This was the point of my initial question. Are we STILL being created in the image of God? Thanks for your input and Christ-like spirit, Bill Mc |
Bible Answer: Dear Bill, Greetings, my friend. Now that a few terms have been clarified, I have to be careful how I word this :-) I continue to believe that all men are conceived by God's miraculous power, as compared to just a biological result. We are known by God, therefore precious in His sight, and potential 'knowers' of God. This is God's reason for creating mankind, a mutual relationship. For reasons beyond our ability to understand, God chose beforehand which would know Him. I do not (can not) grasp this part of His plan. Whatever an individual's works, God will know whom He wills to know. I cannot, and therefore do not, judge who knows or will know the Lord. You wrote: "So if you want these terrorists punished by death, than you will be killing what God created, right?" No, I do not *want* them to be punished. Yes, I admit anger at seeing the TV broadcast, even from the other side of the globe (Yokohama). But, as time passes, my spirit resumes predominance, and I can pray for these misguided, lost souls. But I cannot absolve them of responsibility. Only God has this ability. Therefore, I believe they *must* be brought to justice, and face the consequences of breaking society's laws. If these people repent before God, then God have mercy on them. If they are belligerent to the end, then God have mercy on them. Meanwhile, they cannot be allowed to mock justice, or more injustice will follow. That these men are conceived in the image (form) of God, with the potential of salvation, changes not the consequences of their actions. Even if we administer capital punishment, or they die while fleeing justice, God will know whom He will know. There is no 'premature' death. In Jesus, charis |