TO BE LIKE JESUS - PART 3B WHY GOD WANTS US TO BE LIKE JESUS (FRUITFULNESS, MULTIPLICATION, AND DOMINION MANDATE) (Google Docs link provided at the end and in the comment for clickable Bible citations to open your Bible App for a fluid study experience) In the previous section we explained that God conforming us to Christ fulfills the original Genesis mandate 👇: Gen 1:26-28 NIV 26 Then God said, “Let Us make mankind in OUR IMAGE, in OUR LIKENESS, so that they may RULE … over all the creatures …” 27 So God created mankind in His own Image… 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be FRUITFUL and INCREASE IN NUMBER; fill the earth and subdue it. RULE … over every living creature …” In that section, we saw how Jesus Christ restored us to the Image of God (Eph 4:12-15, 22-24). Now we’ll explore the final parts of fruitfulness, multiplication, and ruling (dominion). We ended the last post noting Christ’s ultimatum to the unfruitful (John 15:1-6). So what does fruitfulness mean here, and how are we made fruitful through Christ, without Whom we can do NOTHING☝️? In this context, fruitfulness refers to producing God’s righteous virtues. This was God’s expectation for mankind; but after Adam’s fall, humanity tended toward wickedness (Gen 6:5-6, Isaiah 5:1-4, *7*, Luke 6:43-45). In other words, humanity couldn't bear God’s kind of fruit, nor truly meet His righteous standards. Now that we understand the meaning of fruitfulness in this context, we can understand how Christ-likeness makes us fruitful. It is twofold: the Holy Spirit produces the fruit, and we must OBEDIENTLY follow Christ’s commands. Now that we’ve seen the meaning of fruitfulness, we can better understand how Christ-likeness makes us fruitful. Fruitfulness in Christ is twofold: primarily the Holy Spirit produces the fruit, and then secondly, we must OBEDIENTLY follow Christ’s commands. Gal 5:22-23, 25 NIV ²² But THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT is Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. … ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Rom 7:4-6 NIV ⁴ So… you also died to the law through the Body of Christ, that you might belong to Another, to Him Who was raised from the dead, IN ORDER THAT WE MIGHT BEAR FRUIT FOR GOD.⁵ For when we were in the realm of the flesh, … we bore fruit for death. ⁶ But now … we have been released from the law SO THAT WE SERVE IN THE NEW WAY OF THE SPIRIT ... Col 1:9-10 NIV ⁹ … we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will THROUGH all the wisdom and understanding THAT THE SPIRIT GIVES, ¹⁰ so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and PLEASE HIM IN EVERY WAY: BEARING FRUIT IN EVERY GOOD WORK, growing in the knowledge of God, Eph 5:8-10, 17-18 NIV ⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for THE FRUIT OF THE LIGHT consists in ALL goodness, RIGHTEOUSNESS and TRUTH) ¹⁰ and FIND OUT WHAT PLEASES THE LORD. … ¹⁷ … UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LORD’S WILL IS. ¹⁸ Do NOT get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT, So the Genesis mandate of FRUITFULNESS is fulfilled ONLY through the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:5-9), Whom we receive as we OBEDIENTLY submit to Christ (Acts 5:32, John 16:13-15, Matt 28:19-20). How about multiplying? Did Jesus give a new mandate like the one in Genesis? Spiritually speaking, yes. This is captured in the Great Commission. I'll explain shortly. God originally wanted mankind's multiplication through marriage to produce Godly offspring (Mal 2:15 AMPC). But due to Adam’s fall, all his descendants were born into sin (Psa 51:5, Rom 5:19). However, Jesus Christ came and made it possible for people to be born again by the Spirit (John 3:3-8). This rebirth produced children of God, thus restoring God’s intention of having Godly offspring. After enabling the new birth, Jesus commanded ALL His followers to bring others into this new birth—this is the Great Commission (Matt 28:19-20). By this Commission of making OBEDIENT disciples TO Christ, we fulfill the original multiplication mandate. And Christ did not omit the final part of the Genesis mandate: i.e. ruling. Those who choose to belong to Him will reign with Him forever (2 Tim 2:12, Rev 5:10, 22:5). If you think about it, the End of Days would actually mark the true beginning; God would finally have what He intended from creation. At that time He will make a new Heaven and Earth (Rev 21:1-7); we will bear Christ’s Glorified Body (1 John 3:2, Phil 3:20-21, 1 Cor 15:44, 49-53); we will be fully righteous and fruitful with no devil to deceive us (Rev 20:10); and God will reap full multiplication from the one “Seed,” Jesus (John 12:23-24, 32, Rev 5:9). And we will reign with Him forever. This wraps up the series. Hope you were blessed. Feel free to remark or ask questions in the comment section. And again, please get the Free book “Early Steps in Christianity”, which covers this and much more in eight chapters of Biblically grounded teachings. Thanks for the privilege of your time. God bless and Shalom! For the Full Series: https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/TO_BE_LIKE_JESUS_FULL_SERIES/ The Current Post (3B): https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/To_Be_Like_Jesus_Part_3B/ ⏮️For Part 3A: https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/To_Be_Like_Jesus_Part_3A/ ⏮️For Part One: https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/To_Be_Like_Jesus_Part_One/ For the Free PDF of "Early Steps in Christianity" (E.S.C): https://selar.com/EarlyStepsInChristianity For Paperback or Hardcover copies: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GKW4H91N For the Free PDF of "The Biblical Festivals of God" (TBFG): https://selar.com/TheBiblicalFestivalsOfGod For Paperback copies: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GKPP5N6J Follow-up Post to the book, TBFG: https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/BIBLICAL_CIPHERS_AND_CODES-FULL_SERIES/ I'd like to also encourage you to go through the following resources: https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/THE_ORIGINS_OF_EASTER/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/JESUS_CHRIST_THE_PASSOVER_LAMB-FULL_SERIES/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/HOW_CAN_JESUS_PAY_FOR_THE_SINS_OF_OTHERS/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/THE_OLD_TESTAMENT_IS_THE_SHADOW_OF_THE_NEW_COVENANT/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/What_Paul_Meant_by-The_Law_of_Sin_and_Death-Rom_7and8/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/The_Premise_of_Christianity/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/Jesus_The_Redeemer/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/Building_on_Legacy/ #BeLikeJesus #Christlikeness #ObedienceToGod #WalkInTheSpirit #YieldToTheSpirit #SpiritLedLife #Fruitfulness #GreatCommission #KingdomDominion #BibleStudyWithDanielOlatunji #FreeBooks #EarlyStepsInChristianity #TheBiblicalFestivalsOfGod #God #Jesus #JesusChrist #HolySpirit #Theology #TheBible #Scripture #BiblicalTruth #ChristianTeaching #ChristianApologetics #SoundDoctrine #KingdomOfGod #Gospel #FaithInJesus #Salvation #EternalLife

TO BE LIKE JESUS - PART 3A WHY GOD WANTS US TO BE LIKE JESUS - (THE RESTORATION OF OUR IMAGE) (Google Docs link provided at the end and in the comment for clickable Bible citations to open your Bible App for a fluid study experience) Because of the scope of this subject, this section is in two parts (A & B). You may download the free book attached to this series for deeper explanations. In this concluding part, we’ll explore WHY God wants us to be like Jesus (Rom 8:29). In simple terms, being conformed to Christ is the only way God fulfills His purpose for creation in Genesis 1. God created all things for His pleasure, and His purpose must stand (Rev 4:11 KJV, Eph 1:5,9,11, Psa 135:6, Isaiah 46:10). Of all mankind, Jesus alone fully pleased Him (Matt 3:17, 17:5, Isaiah 42:1, John 5:30, 8:29), therefore God desires us to be like Him. Below is the Genesis mandate—the definition and purpose of mankind: Gen 1:26-28 NIV 26 Then God said, “Let Us make mankind in OUR IMAGE, in OUR LIKENESS, so that they may RULE … over all the creatures …” 27 So God created mankind in His own Image… 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be FRUITFUL and INCREASE IN NUMBER; fill the earth and subdue it. RULE … over every living creature …” Thus mankind was made in God’s Image, to be fruitful, multiply, and rule. But man sinned by obeying the devil (Gen 2:16-17, 3:1-7). Since one’s a servant of the one they obey (Rom 6:16-18), mankind effectively joined the devil’s rebellion submitting to his will ([Rom 3:23, 6:20, John 8:34, Eph 2:1-3, Titus 3:3], 2 Tim 2:26); thus adopting the sin nature that originated with Satan (John 8:42-44, 1 John 3:8-10). Adam and Eve passed this corrupted image to humanity (Gen 5:1-3, Rom 5:12, 18-19). Hence, humanity no longer reflected God’s PERFECT Image (Rom 3:23). This is the first point of deviation from the Genesis mandate. The sin nature makes perfection impossible (Rom 7:22-25). Therefore God sent His Son, Who took on the SAME weak flesh (Rom 8:3, Heb 2:14-15, 17, Phil 2:5-8); but by the Spirit’s enablement, and a surrendered will, He lived PERFECTLY without sin ([John 3:34, Heb 9:14], Heb 4:15), thus proving that Man can once again reflect God's PERFECT nature (Matt 5:48, Heb 10:14, 2 Cor 3:18, [1 John 2:6, 2 Tim 2:19]). We have no excuse, Jesus Christ was FULLY like us, and God was with Him as He is with us (John 8:29, Heb 13:5, John 14:16-18 NKJV). God's help does not totally eliminate pain, hardships, or temptation ([John 16:33, 1 Cor 15:10, 2 Cor 12:9-10], 1 Cor 10:12-13); neither does it override our will (Psa 19:13, Heb 10:26-27). Similarly, Jesus Christ had freewill (John 10:18), He faced EVERY hardship we do, and despite that chose to OBEY God. Hunger didn’t make Him sell His Birthright (Heb 12:16; Matt 4:2-4); neither did ego (1 Sam 15:22-30; Phil 2:5-11); nor shame and betrayal make Him turn against us (Rom 11:2-4, Jer 12:3-6, 18:18-23; Luke 22:31-34, 23:34, Heb 12:24). He fully experienced our pains, so we have no excuse (1 John 3:3). And if we fall short, we must simply repent and not make excuses to remain in sin (1 John 2:1-2). Jesus was fully Man (Heb 2:17), and fully Divine, but on incarnation He laid aside His Divinity (John 17:5, Phil 2:6-8). While on earth, He became fully Divine due to the Holy Spirit (Matt 3:16, John 3:34, Col 1:19). He had to be fully Human, otherwise He couldn't be tempted as we are, because God cannot be tempted (Heb 4:15, James 1:13). He overcame temptation by the Spirit, and by surrendering His will to fulfill ALL that the Holy Spirit caused the prophets to write concerning Him (Matt 26:39, 5:17, 2 Peter 1:20-21). In other words, He kept in step with the Spirit (Gal 5:24-25). Jesus took our image so that we may take His through the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:9-10, 2 Peter 1:3-4). He identified with us as “the Son of Man” (Luke 5:20-24, Heb 2:11, 14-17); and now calls us to take His Image (1 Cor 15:45-50), through a surrendered life to the Holy Spirit. And because of that we can become "Children of God" (John 1:12, Rom 8:16, 1 John 3:1). Bearing His Image restores the Genesis mandate, for Jesus is God’s express Image (Col 1:15, John 14:9), and through Him we put on God’s likeness (*Eph 4:12-15, 22-24*). Only through Christ do we become children of God and gain access to dwell with Him (John 1:12, 14:1-6). Understand that God can hear and speak with anyone or any spirit, good or bad (Num 22:9-12, Judges 7:13-15, Job 1:6-7); but only His Children have access to dwell in His Home eternally (John 14:1-3). The devil and everyone else who holds to the image of the sin nature have alternative accommodation in the eternal lake of fire (Rev 20:10, 14-15). God has chosen you to dwell with Him (John 3:16-18, 1 Tim 2:1-6); now the choice is yours (Deut 30:19-20, Josh 24:15). Accepting this invitation requires coming through Christ and allowing the Spirit to purge the sin nature; otherwise, one risks being cast out (Matt 22:9-14). God can easily graft you in, but if you refuse FRUITFULNESS, He can just as easily remove you (John 15:1-6, Rom 11:17-24, Heb 10:26-31). We’ll explore fruitfulness and the rest of the Genesis mandate in Part 3B. Thanks for the privilege of your time. God bless and Shalom! Link to Full Series: https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/To_Be_Like_Jesus_Full_Series/ Link for current post (3A): https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/To_Be_Like_Jesus_Part_3A/ For Part 3B: https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/To_Be_Like_Jesus_Part_3B/ For the Free PDF of "Early Steps in Christianity" (E.S.C): https://selar.com/EarlyStepsInChristianity For Paperback or Hardcover copies: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GKW4H91N For the Free PDF of "The Biblical Festivals of God" (TBFG): https://selar.com/TheBiblicalFestivalsOfGod For Paperback copies: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GKPP5N6J I'd like to also encourage you to go through the following resources: https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/THE_ORIGINS_OF_EASTER/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/JESUS_CHRIST_THE_PASSOVER_LAMB-FULL_SERIES/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/HOW_CAN_JESUS_PAY_FOR_THE_SINS_OF_OTHERS/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/BIBLICAL_CIPHERS_AND_CODES-FULL_SERIES/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/THE_OLD_TESTAMENT_IS_THE_SHADOW_OF_THE_NEW_COVENANT/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/What_Paul_Meant_by-The_Law_of_Sin_and_Death-Rom_7and8/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/The_Premise_of_Christianity/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/Jesus_The_Redeemer/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/Building_on_Legacy/ #BeLikeJesus #ImitateChrist #Christlikeness #ObedienceToGod #WalkInTheSpirit #SpiritLedLife #YieldToTheSpirit #TransformationInChrist #ConformToChrist #ChristianDiscipleship #SpiritualGrowth #BibleStudyWithDanielOlatunji #FreeBooks #EarlyStepsInChristianity #TheBiblicalFestivalsOfGod #God #Jesus #JesusChrist #HolySpirit #TheLivingWord #Theology #TheBible #Scripture #BiblicalTruth #ChristianTeaching #ChristianApologetics #SoundDoctrine #KingdomOfGod #Gospel #FaithInJesus #Salvation #EternalLife