From Image to Dominion: Why Most Christians Live Below Their Design | Dominion Part 7
Jesus, knowing their motives, asked for a coin and said, “Whose image and inscription is this?” When they answered, “Caesar’s,” He replied, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s....
February 8, 2026
The Pharisees tried to trap Jesus with a political question: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” – Matthew 22:15–22.
Jesus, knowing their motives, asked for a coin and said, “Whose image and inscription is this?” When they answered, “Caesar’s,” He replied, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”This was more than a clever escape from a trap. It was a revelation of identity.If the coin bore Caesar’s image, it belonged to Caesar. But what bears God’s image? You do.
Image Comes Before Dominion
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’” – Genesis 1:26
”Notice the order Image and likeness come first. Dominion follows Image is about representation carrying God’s authority. Likeness is about resemblance reflecting His nature.Identity precedes assignment. Authority precedes responsibility. You were created in the image and likeness of God to have dominion, not to struggle for survival.When identity is misunderstood, dominion is lost.
What Happened in the Fall ?
“The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:” – Romans 3:23
Sin is not merely wrongdoing. It is falling short of the glory the image and likeness in which humanity was created.When Adam fell, he stopped operating from heaven’s dimension and began functioning from earthly limitation. Instead of ruling creation, he feared it. Instead of reflecting God, he reflected mortality.
Adam fathered a son “in his own likeness, after his image.” The corrupted image was now inherited. – Genesis 5:3
Humanity began reproducing limitation instead of dominion.
Heaven Is Not Just a Place It’s a Dimension
Many believers think salvation is about going to heaven. But Scripture reveals something deeper.
“For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.” – Romans 8:29
God’s intention was never merely relocation. It was transformation conformity to Christ’s image.Heaven is not only a geographical destination. It is a dimension. You are seated with Christ in heavenly places. That means heaven’s authority, provision, and perspective are accessible now.
When Peter fished all night and caught nothing, Jesus told him to cast the net again. At His word, fish appeared. Where did they come from? From a higher dimension responding to divine authority.God’s Word opens heavenly supply into earthly lack.You were never meant to live confined to visible limitation.
The Second Adam Restored the Image
Adam was created in God’s image and fell. Jesus was born in Adam’s likeness yet overcame.
“From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh.”- 2 Corinthians 5:16
Your identity is not determined by fleshly origin but by spiritual rebirth.
“He is the image of the invisible God.”- Colossians 1:15
Jesus perfectly reflects the Father. And through Him, that image is restored in you.You inherited Adam’s fallen nature by birth. You inherited Christ’s restored image by new birth.
“You have been born again… through the living and abiding word of God.” – 1 Peter 1:23
The same Word that conceived Jesus in Mary recreates you in Christ.You are not merely human trying to reach God.You are God’s image restored in Christ, called to manifest dominion.
Why Struggle Was Never the Design
Struggle begins when identity is forgotten. When we see ourselves as merely human, limited, and earthly, we operate beneath our design.But when we understand:
- We belong to God because we bear His image.
- We are recreated in Christ’s likeness.
- We operate from a heavenly dimension.
- Dominion flows from restored identity.
Then striving gives way to reigning.You were never meant to function as a glorified animal driven by survival concerns. You were created God-class not as God Himself, but born of His nature, carrying His authority, reflecting His likeness.Dominion is not arrogance. It is alignment with design.
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