Last night during our small group time, we discussed the importance of reading about God in the Old Testament from a New Testament perspective. What this means is that when we think of God we should think of Him as the one who has revealed Himself to us in the person of Jesus. Paul says in Colossians 1:15, “(Jesus) is the image of the invisible God.”

Many might read this verse and say, “Big deal—Scripture also says that I am created in the image of God.” The issue with us, however, is that we are imperfect images of God. We are like God in that we have the ability to think, feel and choose, but are dislike Him in many other ways. For example, we are not like Him morally. There are also many attributes that we do not share with Him. For example, we are not “all present,” “all knowing,” “all powerful,” “unchanging” etc.

The point Paul is making in reference to Christ is that God is perfectly revealed in Him. This is what Paul means in Phil. 2:6 when he says, “He is in the very form of God.” This is also why Jesus could say “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn. 14:9).

Thinking rightly about Christ is essential for God-honoring worship. Only with a New Testament perspective can one think of and worship God as the God who has revealed himself in the person of Jesus. I am fearful that we often think of Christ as being too much like us and as a result fail to exalt Him in a manner that is worthy of Him. Although Christ “took on flesh and dwelt among us,” He is also distinct from us because He is divine.