Dr. Jim Richards

Everything about our faith begins with what we believe about creation. The first and simplest place to understand what it looks like to be created in God’s likeness and image is in the life of Jesus. Jesus wasn’t just with God; He WAS God. When He came to Planet Earth, He emptied Himself and became a man. This means that everything Jesus did on Planet Earth required the same abilities to get things done that we possess today. In other words, since we are created in the likeness and image of God, we have all of the same power and authority Jesus did. Everything happening in the world is happening because of our beliefs and decisions. “... the heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to man” (Psalm 115:16). God is not in control of the world. God is in control of Himself. We are only controlled by God to the degree we choose to be because He cannot and will not violate our free will. If He tells us we have free will, that we are created in His likeness and image, and then tries to control us, that