We Shall Be Like Christ

A Devotional Series from Genesis

Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)

4/26 Reading Portions: Numbers 3; Psalm 37; Song of Solomon 1; Hebrews 1

Genesis 5:1

This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, He made him in the likeness of God.

LIKENESS

As the generations of Adam are now considered, the account begins with the creation of man, and specifically with our verse reminding us of what the Creator God had revealed in Genesis 1:26. In our devotional thought concerning that verse, we considered the council of the Triune God in man’s creation, as well as the composition of man created in God’s image—in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. Today, we consider mankind’s creation in God’s likeness.

בִּדְמוּת (bid-MOOT), translated into English as “in the likeness,” means “in the shape,” “in the similitude,” “in the resemblance,” or “in the fashion.” It should be fairly obvious that though Adam was made “like” God, he did not have all the attributes of God. God is all-knowing, omniscient. If Adam was omniscient, he wouldn’t have been duped by Satan. God is also omnipotent, all-powerful. If Adam was all-powerful, he would have been strong enough to resist the devil and his temptations thereby. Adam’s design and creation came from the prototype of the pre-incarnate Christ. Though Jesus was not yet born, Jesus was the model by which Adam was made physically. But Jesus was also the prophetic model spiritually of what Adam was meant to be, technically speaking. I say “technically speaking” because we already covered that in our gospel devotional series in Genesis 3 when Adam fell in the garden; that perfect, sinless man, living in the perfect environment, given the perfect companion, and granted perfect dominion upon the earth and all its creatures, apart from faith in Jesus Messiah all he will succeed in doing is be deceived, dishonor God, disobey God, and bring about his death and the death of others. Nevertheless, Adam was created to be like Christ, because that’s what you and I were re-created to be when we were saved by God’s grace. It is written,

For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:29

And one day, when Christ returns, we will be like Him. It is written,

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2

Hallelujah! What a Savior!