The Image of God
Notes
Transcript
There is an identity crisis in our world.
In trying to find identity a fundamental question that so many are asking is “who am I?”
If we look to the material world for an answer then we find we are no better that the lowest insect.
We are just part of nature living in this world with no purpose.
By removing God our society has in essence tried to take away human dignity.
I say tired because they will never be successful in totally removing God as people search for dignity and identity.
on a fundamental level and even deep inside they yearn to no why they are here, for what purpose are they living.
The answer is not found in the world. The world takes away the beauty and purpose for God’s creation. This world and all that it contains does not belong to us.
My desire in the next two lessons, is to consider what it means to be created by God on purpose for purpose.
I know about that search and what it feels like to think there is no purpose to your life.
In a very dark night of utter aloneness God introduced me to Himself — I had a purpose develop this thought
The answer for my purpose I am living now, but it took years to get here. Everything I experienced has led here.
It began though with God showing me who I am in His eyes, that I am loved even when I feel unloved, and I am not alone even when I feel utterly and totally alone!
The Bible begins with human dignity and identity our passage for this series is
26 Then God said, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every crawling thing that crawls on the earth.”
27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Are you ready for the message God has for us today?
Cool let’s dig in!
The imago Dei
The imago Dei
“imago Dei” is latin for image of God and is a popular heading in theology for the subject we are considering.
The image of God makes us special, and its ok to feel that way.
Humanity’s creation in the image of God differentiates human beings from the rest of creation.
It is bestowed upon all humanity.
This imparts an inherent dignity and sanctity to all human life — Genesis 9:6
6 “Whoever sheds human blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made mankind.
4. Even the New Testament shares this thought — James 3:9
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, who have been made in the likeness of God;
People have searched for ages for an answer to the question of what is the image of God.
Two of the main ideas:
The capacity of humans for relationship with God and with one anther.
This could be when considered with Genesis 2:18
18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”
b. For the first time in all eternity there was aloneness.
Humans possess one or more qualities that resemble God.
Like our capacity for love and compassion
We do need to be careful we may have His image but He is not all together like us.
Perhaps through the fall the image of God in us was corrupted.
I believe it is both and more
Whatever it may be exactly we should know we have dignity and are special to God in all of creation.
What does the Bible say?
What does the Bible say?
In Genesis 1:26-27 we find two words — likeness and image.
The word for image means the visual appearance of something or someone.
A model, shadow, likeness.
I wonder if this is how God is able to look down on creation and know us because in all the vastness humanity stands out!
The word for likeness mean similarity in appearance, character, or nature between persons or things.
The big take away is in some way we look like God to God!
I was reminded of something Jesus said — Luke 20:19-26
19 The scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on Him that very hour, and yet they feared the people; for they were aware that He had spoken this parable against them.
20 And so they watched Him closely, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could hand Him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor.
21 And the spies questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to anyone, but You teach the way of God on the basis of truth.
22 Is it permissible for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
23 But He saw through their trickery and said to them,
24 “Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.”
25 And He said to them, “Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
26 And they were unable to catch Him in a statement in the presence of the people; and they were amazed at His answer, and said nothing.
The coin has the image of Caesar, you know that it belongs to him.
The next logical question would have been, whose image is on you?
We forget as we go through life that we carry the image of God!
As you engage with others in public settings, it's common to feel judged or overlooked.
Keep in mind that you are created by God and have a vital role to play in the world.
When faced with criticism or feelings of insignificance, ground yourself in the truth of your divine creation.
Let this awareness inspire you to interact with others in a spirit of kindness and authenticity, knowing that you are a valuable part of God's plan for humanity.
And so are they!
Created with a certain image
Created with a certain image
In saying that we carry the image of God I am not saying we gods!
We are not idols, though our world seems to think we are as they worship self above all else!
With this phrase God is showing we have dignity!
We are made on purpose, for a purpose!
We do share with animals a body of flesh, bone, blood, organs, muscle, and fat.
Even a spirit or breath of life.
That is where the similarity ends for we have more — Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have body and spirit just as animals do, with an additional ingredient the soul!
In that is perhaps is where the image of God lays!
Conclusion
In your workplace, when facing challenging colleagues, in school when facing difficult peers remind yourself that they too are created in the image of God.
Rather than responding in anger or frustration, strive to show empathy and respect.
Try to demonstrate God's grace through your interactions.
There are so many people in the world looking for dignity and purpose, yet it is not in the world.
Post modernism and evolution take away human dignity and purpose, making us more like animals than we really are, in their thinking they remove the one thing that sets us apart from the rest of creation the imago Dei!
May God use us to share with them the answer they are looking for, they were made, on purpose, for a purpose, we will look into that thought next week!
Let us pray!