Who Do We See in the Mirror?

A Study Outline

I. For some of us, looking at ourselves in the mirror is a difficult experience.Why is this?

II. Perhaps we do not see who really is there; we do not understand ourselves well enough to appreciate who we are.

III. Who really are we?

A. We are made in the image of Elohim.

1. Genesis 1:26-27.“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness …. So God created man in is image, in the image of God created He him: male and female created He them.”

image (Strong 6754) = tselem , “to shade, a phantom, i.e. (fig. illusion, resemblance, hence a representative figure.”

2. If we are made in God’s image, we can discover God’s nature by looking at ourselves in bodily form and traits of mind and spirit.

I Thessalonians 5:23.  “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

3. Jesus Christ was likewise made in the form of the Father, and He was human as we are.

John 14:9.  “Jesus said to him, Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?  He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, Show us the Father?”

Philippians 2:6-7.  “Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”

Hebrews 1:3.  “Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

4. Elohim has revealed His nature, and when He does He appears as a human.

Revelation 1:13-15.  “And in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded abut the chest with a golden band.  His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as is refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of may waters.”

Ezekiel 1:26.  “And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it.”

Daniel 7:9.  “I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool.”

Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6.  Here the Lord (Yahweh) is speaking to the sons of Elohim, and speaking requires the mechanism of speaking.

B. As the saints we are “complete” beings, as was Jesus Christ.

1. I Thessalonians 5:23.“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. As brothers of Christ we are made like Him.Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:18; Revelation 1:5; I Corinthians 15:20, 23.

C. Paul showed that the “real me” was the spirit that God had given him, which would be resurrected.

1. When facing death, he stated, “According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.  For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.”  Philippians 1:20-23.

2. In life of the flesh, or after its death, Paul will existed.Of course, his life after death would be as sleep until the resurrection.

IV. Thus, when we see ourselves in the mirror do we not seeElohim Himself?

A. Might not God say, “If you think a butterfly is amazing, you should see My masterpiece in the mirror!”

B. Why then do we belittle ourselves or become depressed, when we are made in the image of Him who created, through Jesus Christ, everything that is, and yet possessed perfect humility and love?

1. We must be humble.Isaiah 66:2.  “‘For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist, says the Lord.  But on this one will I look; on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.”

2. Christ was totally humble.Zechariah 9:9.  “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your King is coming to you; he is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of  donkey.”  Matthew 11:28-30.  “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

V. It is our sins, our “missing the mark”, that prevents us from seeing ourselves as Ehohim sees us.

A. Isaiah 59:2.“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you.”

B. Romans 7:21-25. “I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.  For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  O wretched man that I am!  Who will deliver me from this body of death?  I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!  So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.”

C. Our conscience convicts us when we err, so the Christian may indeed find it hard to face himself after he is confronted with his own shortcomings and sins.

D. Being depressed about ourselves can be constructive when it moves us toward the character of God, toward humility and repentance.Hebrews 4:1-10.

VI. When looking into the mirror, the image we should see is God’s wonderful creation destined tobecome a spirit being, a son of Elohim in the course of time.  That truth should give us great joy, but also sober us into realizing how sinful human nature is (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 8:7), and how much we need to release the fullness of God’s spirit in our lives.

A. Psalm 4211.“Why are you cast down, O my soul?  And why are you disquieted within me?  Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.”

B. I Corinthians 15:48-49.“As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly.  And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.”

VII.  To have the proper image of ourselves we must have the proper image of God, for we are made in His image, both physically and spiritually.  The better we know Him the better will be the image we have of ourselves so we can look into the mirror and see ourselves without any shame!

A. Walk with Him throughout the day.

B. Study His Word continuously.

C. Fast.

D. Fellowship with the saints, in whom He dwells; we need the encouragement of our friends.

E. Serve others as you would yourself.