We create other images in ourselves instead of the Savior’s image. Instead of being the image of the Word, or of wisdom, justice, and the rest of the virtues, we assume the form of the devil. Then we can be called serpents and a generation of vipers.^[1] When we are venomous, cruel or wily, we have taken on the character of the lion, the snake or the fox. When we are prone to pleasure, we are like the goat. I recall once explaining that place in Deuteronomy where it is written, Do not make any image of a male or a female or an image of any beast.^[2] I said that because the law is spiritual,^[3] the passage means this. Some make themselves into the image of a male, others into the image of a female. One has the likeness of birds, another of reptiles and serpents. Still another makes himself into the image of God. Anyone who reads what I wrote will know how the passage can be understood.

The intention of the law was that in everything they should look toward what is real. They should not make up things which are different from reality or misrepresent what is truly male or what is really female, or the nature of beasts or the species of birds or creeping things, or fishes.

It is clear then that since those who live according to the law reverence the One who made the heaven, they do not reverence the heaven as if God. Furthermore, none of those who serve the Mosaic law worship the angels in heaven. And in the same way that they do not worship the sun, moon, and stars and the world of heaven. They avoid worshiping heaven as such or the angels in it.

It is quite likely that the enemy will want to induce us by every possible trick down to the sun and the moon and all the host of heaven.^[1] But we shall reply that the Word of God did not command us to do so. For in no way may we bow down to the creature in the presence of the Creator^[2] who sustains all and anticipates their prayer. Not even the sun would wish that any friend of God or anyone else, it would seem, should bow down to it. It imitates him who says, Why do you call me good? None is good but one, that is God^[3] the Father.

God is spirit, and those who worship him should worship in spirit and in truth.^[1] Our God is also a consuming fire. Therefore God is called by two names: spirit and fire. To the just he is spirit; to sinners he is fire.

Hear what is written: Our God is a consuming fire. What does the God of fire consume? Will we be so senseless as to think that God consumes the firewood or straw or hay?^[1] But the God of fire consumes human sins. He consumes them, devours them, purges them, as he says in another place, I will purge you with fire for purity.^[2]

So the prophets called him a burning fire, because in those three points^[1] we see more intensely the majesty of the Godhead. Since to sanctify is of the Godhead, to illuminate is the property of fire and light, and the Godhead is frequently pointed out or seen in the appearance of fire: For our God is a consuming fire, as Moses said.

If God is fire, he is fire in order to drive out the cold of the devil.

And the Holy Spirit descended upon the holy apostles in the form of fire, because he is God, and God is a consuming fire. See also

Not only Paul but generally all those to whom is committed any ministry of the word never cease to testify but call heaven and earth to witness, on the grounds that now every deed is done within them, and they will be present with the judged in the examination of all of life. So it is said, He shall call to the heavens above and to earth, that he may judge his people.^[1] And so Moses, when about to deliver his oracles to the people, says, I call heaven and earth to witness this day; and again in his song he says, Give ear, O you heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.^[2]

You have never seen his face. Yet Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and many others say that they have seen him. What is it, therefore, that Christ meant here? He was introducing them to a philosophical teaching, showing gradually that with regard to God there is neither voice nor outward appearance; he is superior to such forms and sounds. Just as by saying, You have never heard his voice, he did not mean that God utters sound but is not heard, so by saying, You have never seen his face, he did not mean that God has outward form but cannot be seen. Neither sound nor form exists with regard to God. Indeed, in order that they might not say, You are making a display of knowledge in vain, since God spoke only to Moses (they actually did say, We know that God spoke to Moses; but as for this man, we do not know where he is from),^[1] he spoke in this way to show that with regard to God there is neither voice nor outward appearance.

If we rightly understand the matter, this is the statement of Moses at the beginning of his book: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.^[1] For this is the beginning of all creation; to this beginning the end and consummation of all things must be recalled, in order that this heaven and this earth may be the habitation and resting place of the pious. So all the holy ones and the meek obtain an inheritance in that land, since this is the teaching of the Law and the Prophets and the Gospels.

See how by some ineffable virtue the Scripture, opposing the future errors of those who affirm that either in heaven or on earth there is any god besides the God of the Jews, decides thus: The Lord your God is one God, in heaven above, and in the earth beneath, and besides him there is none else. How then have you dared to say that there is any god besides him who is God of the Jews?

See how distinctly he alludes to this [Mosaic] covenant when he says God did not give the same covenant to their fathers [Abraham and Noah]. For if he had said that absolutely no covenant was given to their fathers it would have been a false statement. For Holy Scripture testifies that a covenant of some kind was given both to Abraham and Noah. And so Moses adds that one not the same was given to their fathers. This points to that other greater and glorious covenant, by which all of these were shown forth as friends of God.