Knowledge Knowledge: Recognition in the Image of Christ

Knowledge 

Knowledge: Recognition in the Image of Christ

How do you recognize life?

As God created it

Or

As you created it

Does what you know give you an image of Christ?

Paul writes… “Renewed in knowledge”  

Colossians 3:10

From the time Adam and Eve ate from

the Tree of Knowledge man’s knowledge

has come from a world’s point of view.

Adam and Eve’s image of life before that bite of knowledge

of good and evil was through the image of God.

Life in the garden was full of pleasant

fruit and everything was good. 

When God is no longer our image of life our

image of life comes from an earthly nature.

Paul gives us a small list of results that come

from the earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity,

lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

It is so clear to see that life in this world is full of…

anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy

language from your lips… and lie to each other.

Paul says “being” renewed in knowledge…

Being is an active ongoing process.

Renew in knowledge is to renew our minds…

The way we think about life.

Paul says the renewing process is accomplished

through the “Image of its Creator”.

Paul’s words to the Corinthians are very interesting, he says…

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

The person “in Christ” is “a new

creation” (original formation).

The curse that came from the Tree of Knowledge

brought death, the life God had created was gone.

In Christ, the life God created for us becomes

a reality as our worldly thinking dies.

Put on the new man Colossians 3:10

the new creation 2 Corinthians 5:17

the new creature Galatians 6:15

To be “renewed in knowledge”

our minds have to change…

“…to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

and to put on the new self, created to be like

God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Ephesians 4:23-24 NIV

The word knowledge means recognition.

You and I can only recognize true life,

and fullness through Christ our Creator.

We must desire to see life as God created it to

be and die to eating from the Tree of Knowledge.

We must put on the mind of Christ.

It is not just a change of mind.

It is a transformation of our mind.

It is bringing every thought into

captivity unto the obedience of Christ.

Does everything you know,

everything you think about

give you an “image of Christ”?

Recognize / know the life God has

for you, think about nothing else.

Stop eating from the knowledge of good and evil.

And come taste and see that

the Lord of Creation is good.

Have you let anything into your mind that

would not be found in the mind of Christ.

“Put on the new self, which is being renewed

in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”   

Scripture Reading

Colossians 3:5-11 NIV

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.  7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices

10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.