Created in His Image

Bugatti Video plays-

What did you guys think of that car?

Yeah, so if someone offered you that car for free would you take it?

Ok, what if there was something special about this car. What if I were to tell you that this car was created from a random explosion that threw all of these parts together and made it operable just as you saw on the screen?

What if I said this car use to be an ant but over thousands of years it changed and ended up evolving to become a Bugatti?

There are many ideas, thoughts and theories on how everything was created and how mankind was created. However today we will be talking about the truth and how God created us.

Big Question- How and why did God create us?

Big Idea- God created us in His Image to Glorify Him.

Take Aways

God created mankind in His Image.

God created mankind to rule over the earth and multiply His people.

God created mankind to glorify Him.

Genesis 1:26–27 NKJV

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

So here we see that God created mankind differently then all other creatures. He created mankind in His image.

Who can tell me what an image is?

Yes, an image is a representation of the external form of a person or thing. An image reflects the actual thing that the image is an image of.

So if we are made in the image of God then what should we reflect?

Yes, since we are made in the image of God we reflect characteristics of God that he as given us that He also has.

What does the word characteristic mean?

Yes, it is a feature or quality that belongs to a person place or thing.

For example God is loving, God is Just, God is creative and God rules. God has shared those qualities with us and more causing us to be made in His image reflecting Him.

There are also some characteristics that God has not shared with us that are only His.

What is a characteristic that God has that mankind does not have?

God is omnipresent meaning He is in all places at all times, God is Omnipotent meaning He is all powerful, God is Omniscient meaning he knows everything, God is eternal meaning he has not beginning and no end. God is perfect and He is perfectly Holy. We are not perfect and we are not completely set apart from all other beings.

These traits that God has that we do not are what sets Him apart from all others.

However God made us in His image.

How many other creations besides mankind did God make in His image?

None

Mankind is the only one that was created in the image of God.

Because mankind has been made in the image of God we have a high value and we are highly valued and loved by God.

Because of this each person is created in the Image of God humans should be shown dignity and respect as image bearers and human lives are highly voluble to God and should be to others. In fact human lives are so valued that God placed the penalty on taking the life of a human as death to the one who took the life.

Genesis 9:6 NKJV

“Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.

What is the difference between killing someone and killing an animal?

One is an animal and one is human.

Do animals and Humans hold the same value?

No

Why not?

Because humans were made in the image of God!

How should this change how we see human life in this world with things like abortion, murder, and unnecessary violence?

Back to the text.

Genesis 1:28 NKJV

Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

So here we see that God created mankind in his image, then he told them to be fruitful and multiply filling the earth. They were also to rule over the earth doing Gods will as they rule over the earth and taking care of the earth.

So, I have a question for you all and this is a two part answer and I want both parts of the answer in order to get the reward. Here is the question.

When God told man to be fruitful and to multiply and fill the earth, what were they to multiply and fill the earth with?

When God said to multiply and fill the earth he was talking about multiplying humans, but not just any-kind of humans he was talking about humans who are followers of God. It was Gods intent from the beginning to have a relationship with mankind and for mankind to fill the earth representing Him spreading his reign and rule all over the earth.

God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply in this way, and He told Noah and his sons to do the same after the flood. Jesus also said to go out and make disciples before he ascended to heaven which is a directive or an instruction.

The purpose for mankind to fill the earth with Gods Glory, with his reign and rule is one that has not changed. Those of us who have placed our faith in Christ are now to follow Him and to make disciples.

That is going to happen. Jesus is going to return and he will reign on this earth and those of us who place our trust in him will also reign with him forever.

Back to the main text Genesis 1:29-31

Genesis 1:29–31 NKJV

And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Here we even see how God provided for mankind and set him over all other creatures showing the value and importance that He placed on mankind.

I’ve Got a question.

How many types of creatures does God delight in?

God delights in one creature. That is Mankind. Because mankind was created specially and has a different type of value. Mankind was made in the image of God.

Psalm 18:19 NKJV

He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.

This is how God feels about us, he delights in us!

Did you all know that In the Word of God there is a Psalm that talks about Gods work in the creation of mankind?

The Psalm is Psalms 8

Psalm 8 NKJV

To the Chief Musician. On the Instrument of Gath. A Psalm of David. O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens! Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger. When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen— Even the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!

So here in this passage it describes how God created mankind to be over and above all creation and how God has exulted or lifted up mankind above all others. But this passage also highlights the fact that God did not have to do that and had no reason to do so. This shows Gods grace and how even the creation of mankind brings Glory to God.

In fact mankind was created to Glorify God. This truth is shown throughout scripture. Isaiah 43:7

Isaiah 43:7 NKJV

Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”

Matthew 5:16 NKJV

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

What does this mean when He says let your light so shine before men? What is this light?

1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

What does that mean for us who follow Christ?

What is a practical example of this in action?

Now we know that God has created us in His image and that we are highly valued to him. However we know that we were made to Glorify God in all that we do.

If you have not placed your faith in Christ then that is not something that you can do in your state. Even the best that you can try on your own is as filthy rags to Him.

In order to Please God and to Glorify Him we need to put our faith in Christ allowing the Holy Spirit to change us so we can follow Him and Glorify Him.

If you have not given your life to Christ, you can. You can do it any time including right now.

Romans 10:9 NKJV

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

What this means is that you aren't just saying that Jesus is Lord in your words, but you are confessing that He is Lord of your life through the actions of following Him and putting your faith in Him and you believe the truth of the Gospel, that Jesus was born of a virgin, that he died on the cross for our salvation and that he rose again on the third day.

If you do this, then you shall be saved.

Take Aways

God created mankind in His Image.

God created mankind to rule over the earth and multiply His people.

God created mankind to glorify Him.