| The Berean Expositor Volume 44 - Page 93 of 247 Index | Zoom | |
God, Christ is like man; conversely God is fully revealed in Christ Who is His likeness,
and man is fully prepared for glory in Christ whose likeness he must one day bear.
The Psalmist said:
"I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness" (Psa. 17: 15).
The primary meaning of the word translated `satisfied' is `to be filled'. It occurs with
such a meaning in the same Psalm, in verse 14 `full of children', which is placed in
strong contrast with `satisfied' or `filled' in resurrection glory.
The goal of God thus expressed is seen in the climax prayer of Eph. 3::
"That ye might be filled up to all the fullness of God" (Eph. 3: 19).
There is no burning desire expressed in prophecy, that does not find its satisfaction in
the blessed doctrine of `likeness'. There is no glorious doctrine of the Gospel of grace
that does not look directly to this same element of `likeness'. Sin is the very opposite of
the likeness of God; righteousness, sanctification, glory and peace are but phases of the
Divine Image. When the likeness is complete, then, and then only will the goal of God
be realized, and God will be "All in all" to His moral world even as He is already in the
world of things.
At some other time we may be permitted to pursue this theme along the practical path,
learning the necessary lesson, that they who hope one day to be like Him in glory, should
at least seek grace to be somewhat like Him during their pilgrimage here below. We can
but leave the suggestion with our reader and pray that we all may desire to "adorn the
doctrine of God our Saviour in all things",
"That God may be all in all".