Who Am I?نموونە

In answering the question Who am I?, we’ve established that you are a man or woman made in the Image of God. Sin has distorted the reflection of God’s Image in your life, but through your faith in Jesus, God is once again restoring you to His Likeness. This transformation will be complete one day in Heaven, so we left off yesterday wondering, What are we to do—and how are we to live—in the meantime?

Well, look around! The people at work, the people in your family, the people you see at the gym, the store, and the gas station—they are made in God’s Image! The truth about you is true of them too.

Therefore . . .

• Racism is detestable because all people—no matter what they look like, no matter where they’ve immigrated from—bear the Image of God.
• Abortion is abhorrent because a baby in a mother’s womb is formed and made by God.
• Injustice of all kinds is intolerable because every person in the world is a reflection of God’s Glory.

How are we to live? With the words of Micah 6:8 as a guide. Humanity’s instructions are: Do justice. Love kindness. Walk humbly with God.

In our sinfulness, we as humans harm, hurt, and oppress others. But God is transforming us. And the more we become like Jesus, the more we will, in Micah’s words, “do justice.”

How does that play out practically? How do we “do justice” in our everyday lives?

• We work hard and honestly at our jobs (Ephesians 4:28).
• We give generously to people in need (1 Timothy 6:17–19).
• We steward the advantages we have for the sake of the disadvantaged (2 Corinthians 8:1–9).
• We use any leadership, authority, or influence we have to serve others, just like Jesus did (Mark 10:42–45).
• We model and teach justice and mercy in our families (Deuteronomy 4:1–9).
• We understand the needs and defend the rights of the poor (Proverbs 29:7 and 31:8–9).
• We correct oppression (Isaiah 1:17).

Jesus has made it possible for us to be forgiven of our sin, filled with the Holy Spirit, and transformed into His Image. But if that were the whole story, then Jesus could take you or me to Heaven right now and everything would be great. Our Salvation and Glorification would be complete. But that’s not what He has done.

He has left us here, in this time and place, with commandments to love God with everything we have and to love others as ourselves. In all of Scripture, it’s clear: God has left us here in this world, at this time in human history, with a responsibility to act justly and mercifully for the good of humanity . . . for the good of over eight billion Image Bearers all around us.

How do we know what is good for humanity? How would God have us view the issues and debates of today? That’s what we’ll consider issue-by-issue as we continue exploring God’s Word together, starting tomorrow with the question of human sexuality.