God created us to bear the imprint of His image and likeness. Adam lost that image through sin and rebellion. God’s plan sent His Son to restore that image to His creation. By faith in Christ Jesus and through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we are being transformed into God’s image. The things that the first Adam lost are being restored.
One of the most glorious of promises given to us is that one day that imprint of God will be permanent, never capable of being marred or lost again. 1 Corinthians 15:49: “Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man.” [NLT]
There is a Latin theological sequence which describes the state of mankind.
–Poco non pecare – able not to sin. That was the first Adam’s state. He had a choice, he could sin or not sin. He failed that test miserably and we all came to bear his image.
–Non poco non pecare – not able not to sin. This is the state of mankind now in this life. We are born with a sin nature, and it rules us until we come to faith in Christ Jesus.
–Non poco pecare – not able to sin. This is the state of believers when we see Christ face-to-face in glory. We shall forever be sealed in the image and likeness of Christ Jesus, the second Adam. There will be not even a temptation or an inkling of sin.
We will forever, permanently, bear the likeness of the man from heaven. Hallelujah!
