Creation of Man

Man Was Created To Glorify God

God did not create man because He was lonely. He created us to bring Him glory. God is not in need of anything that man can bring him. One might think that if God does not need us that we are not that important. This is far from the truth. Just because God does not need us to bring Him glory, doesn’t mean He doesn’t value the fact that we bring Him glory.

Romans 5:2–3 NASB95

through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

In all things we can bring glory to God!

Philippians 4:4 NASB95

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

We can rejoice in the Lord constantly.

Grudem says, “ When we realize that God created us to glorify him, and when we start to act in ways that fulfill that purpose, then we begin to experience an intensity of joy in the Lord that we have never before known. When we add to that the realization that God himself is rejoicing in our fellowship with him, our joy becomes “inexpressible and filled with heavenly glory.”

Ways Man Is Created In the Image of God

To be made in the image of God does not mean that we are an exact representation of God but that we are made in the likeness of God. The Hebrew word used is tselem which means image. We could spend a lifetime identifying all the ways we are made in the image of God, but fir the sake of this lesson we are going to focus on ways and aspect of being in the image of God.

Sinful man in the image of God

Before sin, man was much more like God than He is today. Every aspect of man has been corrupted. His intellect, moral purity, relationships have been corrupted with sin, falsehoods, and selfishness. Though we are not what God created us to be, through Christ we will become what God created us to be.

Jesus is what God created man to be. He is perfect and holy in all His ways. Jesus is without sin. One day we will return to the original state that God created man to be.

Redemption In Christ

When a person receives Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, He begins the transformation through the sanctification process. Romans 8:29

Romans 8:29 NASB95

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

God conforms us into the image of His Son. 2 Corinthians 3:18

2 Corinthians 3:18 NASB95

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

The sinful man dies little by little every day as he puts to death his sinful ways and puts on Christ’s righteous ways. This is a lifelong process that will culminate in glorification.

Restoration of God’s Image

1 Corinthians 15:49 NASB95

Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.

When we die and go to heaven, part of our reward will be being made perfect and in the true image of God that He intended before the fall. 1 JOhn 3:2

1 John 3:2 NASB95

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.

Aspects of Our Likeness to God

Moral Aspects

We are creature that are accountable to God for our moral decisions. Unlike animals who do not have the ability to make moral decisions, we do. We are able to understand God’s moral commandments and choose to obey or disobey.

Mental Aspects

Humans have the ability ti reason and think logically. Though animals are able to to work out simple puzzles and learn certain behaviors, they will not sit around a table discussing philosophy or doctrinal truths. Also our ability to advance in technology, agriculture and science shows a much more advanced mental aspect than any other living creature. Beavers still build dams and birds still build nests the way they always have. Man builds buildings and homes much different than they use to.

Language is another mental aspect that sets humanity apart from the rest of creation. Though animals can communicate to a certain degree, they cannot communicate with the advance language that humans have. For example, If I tell my 5 year old son to go get me my brown bag in the bedroom next to the dresser, he will be able to understand the request and bring me my bag. If I tell my little poodle to do the same thing, he will just jump in my lap and lick my face. There is no way an animal can communicate the way humans can.

The concept of future sets us apart from the rest of creation. We know that life after death exists. As a result, we have a desire to “get right with God” before we die.

Human creativity is another aspect that we are more like God than other creatures. Art, music, and literature are all forms of creativity that are expressed by man that are not expressed by any other creature. You won’t find a giraffe painting a masterpiece. You wont find a gorilla writing a novel. You wont find an elephant conducting an orchestra. I think you get the point

Emotions are another mental aspect of humanity that is more like God than any other creature. One my say that their dog expresses emotion. He expresses anger, happiness, and fear when they do something wrong. This is true but can a dog be thankful, can a dog feel disrespected, can a dog feel anxiety for being late?

Relational Aspects

Though animals do have a sense of community, the depth of community pales in comparison to humanity. There community generally involves survival, mating and eating. The basics of community. Humanity however has the ability to have internal harmony with one another. Animals cannot have a BFF!

Only Humanity can get married in God’s sight. Though some people do weddings for their pets, it is a mockery of what God intended.

Physical aspects that are like God

We have bodies that facilitate the characteristics of God. God is spirit and has no body, but exhibits the characteristics that our bodies do. For example, we have eyes to see but God does not have eyes but yet he sees. We have ears to hear, but God does not have ears, but he hears our prayers. The physical attributes that contribute to our senses God has, but without a body.

God has given us brains to think and interact with Him and His creation.