Created In His Image

What Is The Image of God?

When we speak of the image of God…what is it?

God is a spirit, He isn’t physical like us.

When we speak of the image of God, it isn’t a physical likeness.

He uses terms such as arm, eyes, & hands; but these are anthropomorphisms or terms human traits to describe heavenly truths.

The technical description of the image of God is the rational faculty of the human soul.

This means God has given us the ability to reason, he’s given us the ability to logically think things through.

Another way of saying it he has given us his attributes.

He has given us His attributes so we can:

1. Do things in like manner as our heavenly Father.

2. Understand our heavenly Father more.

Likeness

Hebrew, de-mut.

This is a word used to create a similarity between two distinct things.

i.e. When Jesus looks at the people, and says they are like sheep without a shepherd.

Are they actually sheep…no

The likeness is being drawn between them based on attributes.

When God says “after our likeness” it doesn’t mean we are just like God.

We have enough limited similarities to be able to make a connection.

These similarities are found in attributes.

Attributes

Attributes are the things that make the character of God.

There are communicable and non-communicable attributes.

non-communicable are attributes that we don’t possess.

Self existence of God, the omnischience, the omnipotence.

Communicable are those that we can possess in part:

Love

God’s love being a perfect love. He has created us with the ability to love, though not in the capacity of God. For His love is perfect.

Justice

Everyone when they are wrong cries out for justice. This comes from God, for He is one who must have justice for transgressions.

Dominion

This is to a small point.

But God tells man to take dominion. To take control over things in the world and to have stewardship over it.

Creativity

Last week we looked at how God created.

Mankind has the ability to create and form things.

My kids love Lego's for this reason.

These are just a few of the attributes that God has communicated to us.

God has given us these attributes for the purpose that we might reflect His glory.

That all of our lives would be for God and thus the way we would live would be worship unto God...

What It Means For US

There are major things taking place in the culture right now that deal with this topic of the image of God.

I want to look at the applications of this to our lives.

Inherent Value

What does the culture say gives you value?

Some would say you job, your net worth, if you are kind, are you a functioning member of society.

You have value in the fact that you are an image bearer of God.

What this means for circumstances in the world

Murder

Genesis 9:6

Genesis 9:6 ESV

6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.

Man was created in the image of God.

This is why it is wrong to kill a human, an not an elk.

By losing this perspective, people believe that it is okay to kill.

Or they believe that people who kill wolves deserve death.

Or loggers deserve death.

These are gross misconceptions that arise when we lose track of doctrines such as the image of God.

Death penalty

Though murder is wrong, what we also see is the institution of the death penalty.

The death penalty isn’t murder, it is a God instituted means of justice.

God is placing value on someone created in His image. So much that it carries the highest penalty for this crime.

What refer to as, “capital punishment.”

Abortion

Why is abortion wrong?

We as Christians believe that life begins at conception.

Luke 1:41

Luke 1:41 ESV

41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

The baby John, in the womb of Elizabeth. Elizabeth was in her 6th month of her pregnancy, Mary was very early in her pregnancy. Probably the first month.

The baby John leaps in his mothers womb…becasue he was alive.

He leapt becasue he recognized the life of the saviour in Mary’s womb. Who probably was’t even a month along yet.

Babies in the womb, are alive.

Though they may not yet be viable, or able to survive on their own.

They still have value, becasue they are created in the image of God.

Euthanasia

If babies have no value becasue they don’t contribute to society yet, it’s only a couple feet down that slippery slope to move to euthanasia.

This person is elderly, no longer able to contribute to society.

They are suffering with some disease.

We might as well kill them.

This position is one where you see people as having no value.

The bible says that they are created in the image of God. They have inherent value.

God has determined our days, we are not to take our lives before God has determined.

Slander

Because people are created in the image of God, it is wrong for us to slander them.

James 3:7-9

Demeaning People

Slander

Where you see a fault in someone, and believe that you are better than them because of that.

Forgetting that we are all created in the image of God.

You must be gracious as God is gracious.

Racism

Racism is wrong! Why? Because you are taking someone who is created in the image of God, and de-valuing them.

Can we not just see that God had created a unique world, with many different unique people. All are created in His image, all are valuable!

Ephesians 2:12-15

Christ died to make us one.

When we engage in things such as “racism,” we are re-building those dividing walls.

Slavery

People owning other people, who are created in the image of God.

The song “Amazing Grace” was written by John Newton, a former slave trader. The song shows that he believes he was a wretch for what he had done, and it was by God’s grace that he was saved.

John Newton was very influential in the life of William Wilberforce who was a driving force in having slavery abolished in the U.K. It was his faith that drove him to make political changes and free slaves.

Sexism

The idea that women are less important than men.

v.27

Both men and women are created equal in the image of God.

The bible does give a submission order that we will go over later this month.

But they are created equal.

With different gifts and abilities.

Created Wonderful

Psalm 139:13-14

Psalm 139:13–14 ESV

13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

We look at our faults, and fixate on them.

You were created the way you are for a purpose.

Sin sometimes does get in the way, we can get confused about who we are.

Sometimes the sins of the parents, come out in the kids.

Fetal alcohol syndrome for example.

However, even the things that we look at as defects. God has created you beautiful, with love, and with a purpose.

Transgender Movement

This is what is so sad, and wrong when we look at movements such as the transgender movement.

God has made only 2 genders.

Male and female he created them.

God has assigned you a gender a birth.

You were created special, just the way you are.

To say you are the wrong gender is to say that God made a mistake…and you must correct it.

This means that you are placing yourself in the position of God.

Some think this is healthy. Studies show that transgender individuals have a 4 fold increase of depression with 50% having thoughts of suicide.

The rate of substance abuse, low self-esteem, stress, and anxiety are also higher among them.

Some would say this is due to them not being accepted.

I see it as a natural side effect of someone who is living in direct opposition to God and His created order.

There is so much hope when we realize that you are made in the image of God. You are unique, special, and loved.

What if this was the message that we were telling kids.

All of these mistakes are becasue people don’t understand that humans are made in the image of God. They don’t realize that people have value. Not becasue of what they will accomplish, not because of how they can contribute. But because they are an image bearer of God.

Next week we are going to look at how Christ restores the image of God.