The Value of a life

We live in a world that loves to alter images. We use filters on our photos to change what we dont like; you can use an app to remove things from the background of your pictures incase someone photobombed your engagement.

Made in the Image of God

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

Genesis 2:8–9 “And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”

Imago Dei” comes from the Latin version of the Bible, translated to English as “image of God.” "Image of God" is defined as the metaphysical expression, associated uniquely to humans, which signifies the symbolical connection between God and humanity.

God Cares for Humanity-

1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

Think of it, God cares for you. Above all the other things in the world. God’s care for you is deeper than his care for any part of his creation. While God has made world to meet the needs of creation; he placed in us desire and then God says that he cares about our desires, the things that cause us anxiety and fear- God meets us there.

God is Involved with Humanity

You can care about something and not be involved in it; and God is involved

Daniel 4:17 “The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’”

Once God creates Adam and Eve and placed them in the garden; he then tasks to them to care for the garden and invites them into the story of creation. He continues to invite us into this grand story of creation. Music does not miraculously come from the sky- God gives us gifts to create it for his glory. The painter takes the brush and creates from the things God has placed in their heart. Babies are not dropped from the sky or grown from the ground, but given by the involvement of mothers and fathers.

1 John 5:14 “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.”

God answers prayer! Is there any better proof that God is involved in the affairs of men than that?

God is Reflected in Humanity

A reflection is not always a perfect representation of the original. We are not a perfect image of God; but there are parts of God’s character and God’s person that are obviously in us.

The Effects of Sin

Sin can distort the image of God; but it cannot cancel it

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Notice that is says we fall short of the glory of God. We are still striving, still being made into his likeness, but we come up short because of our sin.

Colossians 2:9 tells us that Jesus himself was the only person to have the wholeness of the glory of God dwell in him. “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,” because Jesus was sinless he could have God’s glory fully in him.

The meta-effects of sin

The brokenness of this world causes some of this distortion; but even that brokenness cannot take all of the image of God away.

Take for example, people with intellectual or physical disabilities. In our own congregation we have people who have conditions that make their lives look very different that yours of mine. But this does not rob, negate, or reduce the image of God! In fact, many times this brings out more of the image of God in them.

This is why Christians should always advocate and fight for the rights and equal treatment of all people no matter their ability.

Advocating for universal handicap access or stronger special education programs are al part of advocating for the imago dei in people

Salvation shows us the Value

John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

It is the cross of Jesus that points us to the value of a human life.

This means all human life

In the Womb- Psalm 139:13–14 “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

All Races- Galatians 3:28a “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free,”

Both Genders Galatians 3:28b “there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

All Social Statuses- Proverbs 22:2 “The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all.”

Sinners and Saints- Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Our response to God does not dictate God’s love and the value he places on us as people. Jesus died for us while we were sinners, not once we became right with God.

Since God values all people; we should too

Luke 6:31–38 “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.””