THROWBACK THURSDAY: ‘Cloned in God’s Image’ (1984)

"In one sense Christians are clones," Virgil Felton wrote in 1984. "We are cloned in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). We are cloned by a new birth (John 3:5). We are cloned as new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17). . . ."

By Christian Standard

April 25, 2024·2 min read

This is an excerpt from the final portion of Virgil Felton’s Reflections column titled “Stones, Bones, and Clones” from May 6, 1984. Felton founded New Churches of Christ Evangelism, Grand Ledge, Mich.

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Stones, Bones, and Clones

By Virgil Felton
May 6, 1984; p. 9

Clones—In one sense Christians are clones. Webster defines a clone as “a twig, slip, akin, the aggregate of the sexually produced progeny of an individual.”

We are cloned in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).

We are cloned by a new birth (John 3:5).

We are cloned as new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17).

We are cloned with His identity (Galatians 2:20).

We are cloned in His mind (Philippians 2:5).

We are cloned in His person (Galatians 3:27).

We are cloned in His love (John 15:12).

We are cloned by putting on Christ (Galatians 3:27).

We are cloned in His example of obedience (Hebrews 5:8).

We are cloned as epistles from Christ (2 Corinthians 3:2, 3).

Thus the Biblically oriented Christian endeavors to clone himself after Christ’s image as revealed in the teaching of His Word. We live in an age of religious mutations. In plants or animals a mutation occurs when a fundamental change in heredity occurs. Religious mutation takes place when men usurp the authority of Christ. They then turn from Christ and His Word and are mutated religiously to other men, to religious creeds, and to ecclesiastical structures.

Historically, religious mutations began in the first century and have continued and multiplied to the present day. With its many cults and denominational divisions, contemporary Christianity presents a sad picture of religious mutations. But for those who are interested only in the “real thing,” there is still the image of Christ. By following His Word only, men can still be cloned after His image. Incidentally, there are also enough characteristics in the Word to clone the church after the pattern found in the New Testament!

We praise God for Christ’s words, “And I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore” (Revelation 1:18). “Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14: 19).

Virgil Felton is the founder of New Churches of Christ Evangelism, Grand Ledge, Michigan.

*Quotations are from American Standard Version.