In His Image: Lesson 2

In His Image: Lesson 2

What if the question we've been asking about God's will is incomplete? Instead of constantly wondering 'What should I do?' this teaching invites us to ask something deeper: 'Who should I be?' This shift transforms everything. We discover that God's will isn't hidden from us—it's about becoming more like Christ, being re-imaged into His likeness. The session explores two profound attributes: God's goodness and God's justice. His goodness surrounds us in a thousand everyday graces—from sunrises to washing machines, from family to salvation itself. The story of Osceola McCarty, a Mississippi washerwoman who donated her life savings to scholarships, demonstrates how generosity flows from recognizing God's good gifts. We're challenged to list three daily graces, building toward a thousand reasons for gratitude. Matthew 5:14-16 reminds us that we are lights in the world, and our good works should point others to our Father. The teaching then addresses God's justice—a less popular but equally essential attribute. Unlike earthly courts with their limitations, God is the perfect judge who knows every fact, every motive, every hidden thing. His justice and His love aren't contradictory; they meet perfectly at the cross where Christ bore the punishment we deserved. This understanding frees us from score-keeping and self-justification, calling us instead to Micah 6:8: to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. We're invited to care for the marginalized, feed the hungry, and seek justice for those who have none—reflecting both His goodness and His righteousness in a world desperate for both.

Key Points:

•God's will is primarily about who we should be, not just what we should do

•God is more concerned with the decision-maker than the decision itself

•We were created in God's image to represent Him, and though sin damaged this image, we still bear His likeness

•Christ is the perfect image bearer who redeems and restores God's image in us

•God's goodness is infinite, unchanging, and the source of all that is good

•We experience God's goodness in everyday graces and ultimately in salvation through Christ

•Believers are called to be generous with possessions, talents, and time as reflections of God's goodness

•God's justice means He is a perfect judge who knows all facts and executes perfect judgment

•The cross demonstrates both God's justice and mercy—Christ received the punishment we deserved

•Believers should pursue justice for the marginalized, widows, orphans, and overlooked in society

•Understanding God's justice should produce both inward obedience and outward action for others

Scripture References:

Genesis 1:27 (Created in God's image)

Hebrews 1:3 (Christ as the exact imprint of God's nature)

1 John 1:5 (God is light with no darkness)

Psalm 106:1 (Praise the Lord for His goodness)

Genesis 50:20 (What was meant for evil, God used for good)

Matthew 5:14-16 (You are the light of the world)

Galatians 6:9 (Do not grow weary of doing good)

Psalm 119:97 (Love for God's law)

Nahum 1:3 (God will not clear the guilty)

Micah 6:8 (Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with God)

Discussion Questions:

How does shifting from 'What should I do?' to 'Who should I be?' change the way you approach daily decisions and God's will for your life?

In what ways do you see yourself as a 'cracked vessel' designed to display God's beauty, and how does this affect your view of your own worth?

What are three everyday graces you experienced this week that reveal God's goodness, and how can regularly acknowledging these transform your perspective?

How does Osceola McCarty's story of radical generosity challenge your own understanding of what it means to steward God's gifts for others?

Why do you think God's justice is less frequently discussed than His love and mercy, and what happens when we neglect this aspect of His character?

How can understanding that 'no one gets away with anything' before God's perfect justice both comfort and convict you in your daily life?

In what ways does self-justification prevent us from experiencing the full freedom of being justified through Christ on the cross?

What does it practically look like for you to 'do justice' in your specific sphere of influence, whether at home, work, or in your community?

How does recognizing God as both a loving Father and an impartial judge shape the way you worship and fear Him?

Where in your life are you tempted to keep score with others, and how does the settled score of the cross free you from this pattern?