In the Image of God

One of my favorite teachings that Jesus ever said was when the Pharisees sent their disciples to question Jesus about whether or not it was right to give the poll-tax to Emperor Caesar.

And He *said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”  They *said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He *said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”

Matthew 22:20‭-‬21 NASB

In this Jesus is making a reference back to one of the oldest verses in the Bible. He says that if the coin has the likeness and inscription of Caesar then we are to render to Caesar that which is his, and that the same principle applies to God. But what is made in the likeness of God?

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Genesis 1:27 NASB

So we can see that what Jesus was really talking about here is that we are to render our lives to God, just as we render our coin to Caesar. And not only that, but more importantly we have been bought by the blood of Christ.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 6:19‭-‬20 NASB

We are not our own and we are to live our lives for Christ. Does that mean that every single Christian is called to be a pastor? No of course not, but we are called to live our lives for Him and that will probably look different for every person. But the most important point is that we are all looking for what we are called to do and follow it.

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Galatians 2:20 NASB

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