God's Image

Text: Genesis 1:26-28

Genesis 1:26–28 BSB

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.”

PRAY

Introduction

What is an image?

One way that we understand the word image is in the sense of a mental picture of someone or something.

If I tell you to think of a beautiful place you’ve been, probably some sort of image comes to mind of a particular scene. For me, one such place would be Macchu Picchu in Peru, with its beautiful green hills and ancient ruins from the Inca people. Maybe what comes to your mind is a beach or lakeside view, or some mountains, or a sunset. It’s an image of a place you’ve been.

Is that image the real thing? Of course not. It is a mental representation of a real place.

Or if I tell you to think of your father or mother, some sort of an image comes to mind. Perhaps you think of graying hair, or glasses, or dimples, or wrinkles, or perhaps a particular outfit they liked to wear. It’s an image of a person you know that comes to mind.

Is that image the real thing? Is that really your dad or mom? No, of course not. It is just your mind’s way of representing that person.

Another way we use the word image is in the sense of a picture, nowadays a digital representation of a person or place or thing.

If I want to show you what my dad looks like, I can pull out my phone, scroll through an app, and find an image or picture of my dad and show it to you, and you’ll know what he looks like.

But is that image or picture actually my dad? It may be better or more real than the mental image I can come up with, but no matter how much I talk to that picture it will not respond. It is just a visual representation of my dad.

These are some ways that we use the word image in our everyday communication.

But Moses and the Israelites probably had a different image in mind.

In the ancient world, people would build temples for the gods they wanted to worship, and they would put an image in the temple to represent the god they were worshiping. Perhaps you’re familiar with the story of the Philistines and their god Dagon that we read in 1 Samuel 5. “After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod, carried it into the temple of Dagon, and set it beside his statue. When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and returned him to his place. But when they got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD, with his head and his hands broken off and lying on the threshold. Only the torso remained.”

So the Philistines had a statue of their god Dagon in a temple where they performed their religious rituals. The statue or image was there, representing the god they worshiped (a false god of course). Probably in the way they designed the statue, there were aspects of it that emphasized certain qualities or attributes that they wanted to ascribe to their god. Perhaps gold to emphasize his worth, a large head to symbolize his knowledge, or big arms to show his strength. But the image itself was not the god - it was a representation of the god.

Now, in Genesis 1-2, Moses describes the one true God’s creation of the universe. The universe God created is His temple, a place for Him to be worshiped. There are some clues in Genesis 1-2 that Moses means for us to see all of creation as God’s temple and especially Eden and the Garden of Eden as the special place of God’s presence, similar to the holy of holies in the tabernacle.

One respected biblical scholar, N.T. Wright, says this:

“The Israelites were told not to put an image into the tabernacle in the wilderness or the temple in Jerusalem, because only a living breathing human being can genuinely reflect the true, living God into the world. Dead, lifeless images reflect a dead god, a false god, a pseudo-god. But in God’s good creation, humans have this role.”

From N.T. Wright on the Image of God (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYIbmWTW4Ow)

In the second commandment, Exodus 20:4, God forbids people to make carved images or the likeness of anything anywhere to use as an object of worship. God has already made the image for His temple.

English Standard Version Chapter 20

You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

Historically, people have understood the image of God in man to mean:

Reflecting the mental and spiritual natures of God, not a physical nature.

Intelligence, thinking, ability to reason

Moral nature - mind, will, emotions, ability to make decisions with moral meaning

Let’s consider these verses from Genesis 1 and what they tell us about God’s image.

The Meaning of the Image of God in Man

What does it mean to be created in God’s image and what significance or purpose does that give us?

Relationship

God created mankind to enjoy fellowship with Him and one another (26-27)

Genesis 1:26–27 BSB

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

One of the main meanings of being created in God’s image is that we are created for relationship with God.

Sons (Children) of God (Gen 5:1-3; Luke 3:38)

Tom Schreiner says in his book Covenant and God’s Purpose for the World that “A close relationship exists between image and sonship.” To be created in God’s image is to be created for a Father-son relationship with God. We are to relate to God as children to a father.

We know that Moses intends for us to see the idea of sonship here because of how he uses the same words, image and likeness, to describe Adam’s relationship with his son in chapter 5.

Genesis 5:1–3 BSB

1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in His own likeness. 2 Male and female He created them, and He blessed them. And in the day they were created, He called them “man.” 3 When Adam was 130 years old, he had a son in his own likeness, after his own image; and he named him Seth.

We were created to be God’s children, to love, respect, and obey Him as our Father, and to reflect His character by being like Him.

Covenant and God’s Purpose for the World The Significance of Being Created in God’s Image

Sons bring glory to their parents by living righteous and beautiful lives, and Adam and Eve would bring glory to God by living in accord with his character. Adam and Eve would show they were God’s children by their righteousness.

The Catholic church teaches the idea of the universal Fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man. There is an ounce of truth in that, because that is the way God made man in the beginning. But as we’ll talk about later, the entrance of sin into the world has distorted our relationship with God and one another, and only in Christ can that be restored.

Covenant relationship with God

Another aspect of the relationship God created people for is what is called covenant.

Now, this is such an important subject that it probably deserves its own sermon, and hopefully at some point I’ll have time to deal with this in more depth. The covenants we find in Scripture serve as a backbone to the Scriptures and they are extremely important for both our interpretation and application of Scripture.

Let me just briefly share a definition of covenant and the 6 covenants that shape the story of Scripture.

Definition:

Covenant and God’s Purpose for the World Definition of Covenant

a covenant is a chosen relationship in which two parties make binding promises to each other.

The 6 Covenants: the storyline of Scripture can be understood in terms of 6 covenants, which progress from the creation of the world to consummation in Christ.

God’s Covenant with Adam

God’s Covenant with Noah

God’s Covenant with Abraham

God’s Covenant with Moses/Israel

God’s Covenant with David

God’s New Covenant in Christ

Through the progression of these covenants, we can see how God’s plan for covenant relationship begins with Adam and Eve as a plan for all humanity, but as a result of the Fall and the destruction of sin, God begins again by choosing one man’s family (Noah), then singling out one of his descendants (Abraham), through whom the nation of Israel comes and enters into a covenant relationship with God. From among Israel, God chooses the tribe of Judah and eventually King David as the one through whom He would bring about the Messiah and a New Covenant for all humanity, thus redeeming and restoring humanity to Himself through Jesus Christ.

Sadly, many Bible scholars skip over God’s covenants with Adam and Noah and begin with God’s covenant relationship with Abraham in their interpretation of the Bible. But such a view distorts the Bible’s overall message, making it all about the nation of Israel, when in reality God’s plan is for all of humanity, and Israel is part of His plan for bringing about the restoration of the whole world through Christ.

So it’s important for us to see these elements of a covenant present in God’s relationship with Adam, because this helps us understand God’s purpose and plan for humanity which He is even now fulfilling in the New Covenant.

God’s relationship with Adam as a covenant

Even though the word covenant is not used here or elsewhere in Genesis to describe God’s relationship with Adam and Eve, there is a later Scripture that references God’s relationship with Adam as a covenant: speaking of Israel, He says,

Hosea 6:7 BSB

7 But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; there they were unfaithful to Me.

Just as Adam and Eve broke God’s covenant by disobeying His command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and so were expelled from the Garden of Eden, so Israel was breaking their covenant with God, and they were about to be expelled from the promised land.

There are other evidences as well, but for now, I would just submit this for your consideration. I believe that God’s relationship with Adam and Eve was a covenant, and I believe that this shapes our understanding of all of Scripture and what God’s plan and purpose is in each of the successive covenants with Noah, Abraham, Israel, David, and the New Covenant.

This greatly affects how we understand the role of Israel in Scripture and in history and how we interpret the Scriptures related to these things.

Genesis: Salvation Begins A Distinctive Presentation

What comes first with God is the world, not Israel. What will come last with God is the world, not Israel (think about the way the Bible ends in Revelation 21–22, with all the nations and a new creation!).

In other words, Israel is not ultimate - though a very important part of God’s plan - because God’s plan is for all humanity!

So God created mankind to relate to Him as sons and as covenant partners.

Representation

Second, God created mankind to represent Him in the world He created.

In Scripture, there are three offices related to humanity’s function in the world: Prophet, priest, and king. We have plenty of each of those in Scripture. But Adam is the first to serve these three offices, and they are perfectly fulfilled in the last Adam, Jesus Christ.

Adam functions as the first prophet, priest and king

Adam, the first prophet

A prophet is someone who communicates God’s words to others. It was Adam’s responsibility to communicate God’s prohibition regarding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil to his wife Eve, since God apparently gave Adam the command before He created Eve.

Adam, the first priest

A priest is someone who mediates the presence and blessing of God to his creatures. He goes between God and the rest of the creation to secure a close relationship. We’ll discuss this more later, but when we read in Genesis 2:15 that God put Adam in the Garden of Eden “to cultivate and keep it”, those same two words are used of the Levitical priests and their responsibilities in the Tabernacle and later the Temple. They were to work and keep or serve and guard (same two words in Hebrew). Adam was the first to serve in a priestly role.

Adam, the first king

Perhaps most obvious in this text, and a very important part of God’s purpose for humanity, is that God created mankind to rule over His creation.

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 1: Genesis 1–15 “Image” and “Likeness”

Because man is created in God’s image, he is king over nature. He rules the world on God’s behalf.

When God determines to make man in v. 26, He says,

Genesis 1:26 BSB

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.”

And then following His creation of mankind, He commands them to rule the rest of creation on His behalf:

Genesis 1:28 BSB

28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.”

If mankind is to represent God’s rule, what does that look like?

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 1: Genesis 1–15 “Image” and “Likeness”

mankind is here commissioned to rule nature as a benevolent king, acting as God’s representative over them and therefore treating them in the same way as God who created them.

Genesis The Six Days of Creation and the Seventh, Sabbath Day (1:3–2:4a)

As benevolent rulers, who are the earthly counterpart of the heavenly king, they are to care for and protect the rest of the creation.

Humans are to exercise authority in the same kind way that God does, looking out for the good of His creatures.

Reproduction

God created mankind to fill the earth with worshipers of God. (28)

An important part of God’s plan for His image in mankind is that the whole earth would be filled with His image.

Genesis 1:28 BSB

28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.”

There is a distinct purpose for human procreation that is not present in animals. When animals reproduce, certainly they fill the earth with more beauty. But animals do not bear the image of God. They are important, but not most important.

But human reproduction (having babies) is more significant than just preserving the species or making the world a more beautiful place (although both of those are important).

When humans reproduce, they are filling the earth with more humans, who are in the image of God. Thus God’s glory is extended to more and more of His creation, as His image-bearers create more image-bearers.

Of course, the NT teaches us that far more important than physical reproduction is spiritual reproduction - bringing people to a knowledge of Christ and growth in Him through the process of discipleship.

As the Church obeys the Great Commission and makes disciples of all nations, God is filling the earth with more and more worshipers of Him who represent Him in His creation.

Briefly, we need to mention that something has changed. Something has happened that distorted what we see here in Genesis 1. God’s image in man has been marred or distorted because of sin.

The Marring of the Image of God in Man

What happened to the image of God in man after the Fall? We might be tempted to think that man has lost God’s image altogether, but such is not the case. The Scriptures show us that the image of God in man was…

Distorted but not lost at the Fall

(Gen 9:6; James 3:9; 1 Cor 11:7)

We know this because of the way that later Scriptures reference God’s image or likeness in man:

Centuries after the fall, God institutes capital punishment on the basis of the image of God in man:

Genesis 9:6 BSB

6 Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.

In the NT, both James and Paul affirm for us that people are still created in God’s image and likeness, though that image is distorted because of sin.

But although God’s image in us was distorted by sin, through His work in redemption, God is restoring us once again into His image.

Restored in redemption through Christ

Jesus Christ is the perfect image of God (2 Cor 4:4; Col 1:15; Heb 1:3)

Colossians 1:15 BSB

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

He perfectly reflects God’s character and exercises His authority because He Himself is God in the flesh.

And

We are being transformed into His image (Rom 8:28-29; 2 Cor 3:18; Eph 4:20-24; Col 3:9-10; 1 Cor 15:49; 1 John 3:2)

God’s goal in our salvation isn’t just to take us to heaven. He’s doing something much bigger. He’s restoring His image in us, so that we will perfectly reflect His character and represent His rule in His creation.

Paul tells us that this is God’s purpose in redeeming us:

Romans 8:29 BSB

29 For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

And John tells us that although this work of restoring us to His image and likeness is not complete in this life, there is coming a day when we will perfectly resemble our Creator:

1 John 3:2 BSB

2 Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.

Covenant and God’s Purpose for the World The Significance of Being Created in God’s Image

human beings are restored to the purpose for which they were made when they are “conformed to the image” of God’s Son (Rom. 8:29). Only those who belong to the last Adam, Jesus Christ, are restored to the purpose for which God created human beings as sons and daughters of God. Believers in Jesus Christ are being slowly transformed into the image of God (2 Cor. 3:18). They are being changed “from glory to glory” and will fully bear the image of Christ on the day of resurrection (1 Cor. 15:49).

Application

God has created us to relate to Him and to represent Him.

Live in a close relationship with God.

Do you have a relationship with God?

If not, come to Him today. This is what you are made for. You will not find ultimate satisfaction in life apart from a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

If you do, keep working on it. Just as human relationships require communication, so does our relationship with God. Spend time listening to His voice in His Word, and talk to Him in prayer. Walk closely with God, because that’s what He created you to do.

In Matthew 22, when the religious leaders were testing Jesus and asking Him about paying taxes, Jesus asked them to show Him a Roman coin. The Roman coin had the image of the Roman emperor and some kind of inscription that honored the emperor as the sovereign of His empire. “

Jesus said, “Whose image is this… and whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they answered. So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

Ultimately Jesus is teaching them that although we may owe our coins to the government, we owe all our lives to God. He created us in His image, He own us, and He deserves our full allegiance and devotion.

Reflect God’s character in God’s world.

God made you to reflect His character in His creation - when people look at you, how much does the way you speak and act remind them of God? People who know my dad will often tell me “you look so much like your dad” or “you sound just like your dad.” People should be able to know what God is like by looking at the way I speak and act.

God made you to represent His rule in creation - the way that we treat other people under our authority and all of creation should reflect God’s own use of authority. Do we show the same care and concern for our animals or gardens or whatever earthly things we have that God does for His creation?

Treat other image-bearers with love and respect.

Since all people are created in God’s image, we must treat all people equally with love and respect. We must have the same love and respect for people regardless of their skin color, nationality, gender (male or female), and age. From the womb to the tomb, all human life is precious to God, because it is created in His image, and so we also must value every human and treat them with love and respect.

Matthew 22:17-22. Gen 9:6; James 3:9. Gen 1:26, 28; Psalm 139:13-16. Eph. 2:10.