Mark 12:12-17; God’s Image and Likeness

Sermon in a sentence: God made humans to reflect his image.

Introduction

“Our wisdom, in so far as it ought to be deemed true and solid Wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.” - Calvin’s Institutes 1.1.1.

Since we are made in the image of God, we must know who God is to understand what we are.

Like God in Relationship

Images in the ANE were used to show ownership and rule.

Caesar’s image on the coins demonstrated his ownership of the currency and dominion over the people.

Therefore, being created in God’s image means were are created as sons and daughters of God. (Genesis 1:26-28, Eccl 3:11)

In that light, “likeness” specifies a relationship between God and humans such that ’ādām can be described as the son of God, and “image” refers to a relationship between God and humans such that ’ādām can be described as a servant-king. Although both terms specify the divine-human relationship, the first focuses on the human in relation to God, and the second focuses on the human in relation to the world.

Peter J. Gentry and Stephen J. Wellum, Kingdom through Covenant: A Biblical-Theological Understanding of the Covenants, Second Edition. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018), 230.

The Triune God has relationship in the Godhead. Likewise, we are made for relationship. With God and with man.

What is your relationship with God like? Are you like the prodigal son, still far away in a distant land or the prodigal son that has come home? (Romans 5:1)

What is your relationship with your fellow believers? Are you actively pursuing the fellowship of the saints?

So between the death of Christ and the Last Day it is only by a gracious anticipation of the last things that Christians are privileged to live in visible fellowship with other Christians. It is by the grace of God that a congregation is permitted to gather visibly in this world to share God’s Word and sacrament. Not all Christians receive this blessing. The imprisoned, the sick, the scattered lonely, the proclaimers of the Gospel in heathen lands stand alone…It is easily forgotten that the fellowship of Christian brethren is a gift of grace, a gift of the Kingdom of God that any day may be taken from us, that the time that still separates us from utter loneliness may be brief indeed. Therefore, let him who until now has had the privilege of living a common Christian life with other Christians praise God’s grace from the bottom of his heart. Let him thank God on his knees and declare: It is grace, nothing but grace, that we are allowed to live in community with Christian brethren.

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together (p. 8). Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd. Kindle Edition.

Like God in Role

Since we are made in God’s image, we are commissioned to spread this image and rule to the ends of the earth.

We spread God’s image through missions as servant-kings.

In the home, through leadership and discipleship.

In our church as royal priests.

In our community.

In our state.

In our nation.

To all ethnicities.

We spread God’s rule through dominion.

By being fruitful and multiplying.

By subduing the created order. Seeing creation flourish not stagnate or overtake.

By being a blessing to the world. Whatever field we take, we should be the best.