Genesis 1:26-27

Imago Dei

Introduction

Marvel at works of artists

Observing beauty of creating masterpiece

See personality come forth

Emotions

Greatest artists/craftsman is God

Crown jewel of creation is man

Bavinck, “The entire world is a revelation of God, a mirror of his attributes and perfections. Every creature in its own way and degree is the embodiment of a divine thought. But among creatures, only man is the image of God, God’s highest and richest revelation and consequently the head and crown of the whole creation.”

Ontological and ethical importance

Grounded in “greatest commandment”

Ontologically, in our being, we owe God our worship

Ethically, in our state, we should love others

Ontological importance

Man has worth

Created with communicable attributes

Ethical importance

Obedience to God as Creator

Attack of Imago Dei in secularism

Evolution - Darwinianism

Led to eugenics/abortion

Nihilism - Nietzsche

Mass murder of millions

Alphabet soup

Altering gender, denying God’s image

Attempting to escape wrath by dissociation

Imago Dei gives us the lens by which we view humanity, created in the image of God

Four aspects of man being created in the image of God

Main Points

the Created image of God

Images of God’s attributes

Images for God’s worship

Images of God’s Reign

Images for God’s family

the Continued Image of God

in man

in Christ

in regeneration

the Consummate Image of God

the Usefulness of the Image of God

the Created image of God

“God said”

It happens

Name of God is plural

Not a plurality of “gods”

Father, Son, HS

“Let us”

Major shift in “let there be”

Something momentous is about to happen

The “us” implies there is at least two involved

“We” go to church

Could be two or 100

Nonetheless, plurality is in mind

Two prevalent interpretation

“Royal we”

God speaking to heavenly host

Angels

1 Kings 22:19 “And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left;”

Also, ref. to Job 1-2.

Point fails with “image” and “likeness”

Man is not created in the image/likeness of angels/created things

Created in image of Creator

Trinitarian “we”

“Plural of fullness”

Fullness of Godhead is involved

Continuation from Gen 1.1ff.

God says

Spirit hovers

Word creates

Fits with Scripture elsewhere

Colossians 1:15–16 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

“created”

appears three times in v. 27

Highlighting the importance of mankind

“image and likeness”

Highlight the centrality of the divine image to man’s identity and purpose

Man’s life participates in the divine

2 Peter 1:3–4 “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”

Four Important Aspects of Being Made in the Image of God

[1] Images of God’s attributes

“image” (tselem)

refers to an articistic depiction

“likeness” (demut)

refers to a pattern, appearance, similarity

Both words together only appear elsewhere in Ezek 23.14-15.

Both used interchangeably in Genesis

Parallel construction

Highlighting the same act

Man is not God

Only an image

Turretin, the image of God “does not consist in a participation of the divine essence” but is analogous to the divine image

Representative of the divine, not the divine itself

An analogy is not the thing itself but represents the thing

Therefore, we have a finite way analagous to the divine

Power, authority, wisdom, goodness

Commonly called “communicable attributes”

Divine image implies personality

All mankind has personality

Implies a personal Creator

Also implies God is a volitional, willful being

As we have will and volition

We are rational, because God is rational

Divine image functions to make God known

Serve as prophets to make God known to one another

Prophets in OT represented God in word and deed

Mankind is to represent similarly

But also in their conduct of life

[2] Images for God’s worship

God’s image serves for God’s worship

“Image” (tselem)

Frequently used for image of various gods

Hence, prohibition in Exod 20.4-6.

Idolatry is contra-God

Men make inanimate, blind, dumb, deaf, mute

True God makes living people to bear His image

Idolatry is an inversion of godly worship

Humans are to become like the object they worship, God

Greg Beale, paraphrase, “you resemble what you revere either for your ruin or restoration”

Romans 1:21–23 “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.”

Image of God is to radiate his glory, not the glory of created things

Darwinianism

When we worship the “creator” as evolution/animals

We become what we worship, animals

Images of God’s Reign

“having dominion” v. 26

Divine image is related to man’s status as a servant-king of God

God sets up living images to represent his authority

Prevalent to ANE

Kings/rulers were “images” of their respective god

Ex: Pharaoh was Horus in life, Osiris in death

Divine image was not for nobility/royalty in reign and rule

Given to all made in His image

Man was originally created as faithful servant-king over God’s world

Given all the ruler privileges

Images for God’s family

The image of God is relational

“let us make man in our image”

Trinitarian resemblance in complementary and interdependent relationships with people

“male and female”

Distinct roles

There is no “gender identity”

There is no “feeling” like a different gender

You are what you are

Wish to be a tank, but not going to barrel through an enemy’s frontline

Wish to be a fish, but first deep breath of water you drown

Ironically, science attests to this

LGBTQ claim such a high view of science but go against basic chromosomal patterns of life

Distinct genders with distinct roles

But still made in image of God!

Family unit

Men - lead household

Women - serve husband, household

Church unit

Men - only authorized to preach/teach

Women - not authorized

Distinction do not detract from being made in God’s image

Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Familial relationship in image of God

Sonship, rules, authority, as sons

Sonship in OT

Connection in sonship to image of God

A son is like the father

A son should honor his father

Worship

A son shares in father’s authority

A son works to accomplish father’s will

God created man to represent him as such

However, terrible death blow with sin

the Continued Image of God

in man

Devastating consequences from Adam’s transgression

Murder (Cain and Abel)

Polygamy (Lamech)

Death

Image of God was retained in a sense (ontologically)

Lord reaffirmed this in Genesis 9:5–6 “And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.”

James likewise

Relation to the tongue

James 3:9 “With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.”

Image of God remains as an abiding reality

Sobering implications for how we treat one another

Violence (Gen 9.5-6), hateful speech (James 3.9), rebellion against human authority (Rom 13.)

All assault/violate God’s holiness as they assault those created in His image

Retaining image of God is no promise of salvation

Unconverted lack qualities of holiness

Alienated from God

At enmity/war with the Creator

Unable and unwilling to know him or keep His commands

Children of the Devil

Doing deeds of Satan

Yet there is hope in the restored image of God in Christ

in Christ

Supreme image of God is in Jesus Christ

2 Corinthians 4:4 “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

Christ is the “radiance of the glory of God (Heb 1.3)

Colossians 1:15–17 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Christ is the supreme King over all things

Christ is the supreme Redeemer for God’s people

(Colossians 1:13–14 “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”)

Christ is firstborn over creation

Not created

Ref to his privilege, rights, authority

Christ is equal with God

Philippians 2:6 “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,”

Contrasted with the first Adam

Where Adam failed, Christ persevered in temptation (Luke 4.1-13)

1 Corinthians 15:45 “Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.”

Christ is infinitely greater than Adam

Romans 5:14 “Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.”

in regeneration

God saves by uniting sinners to Christ in his death and resurrection by a Spirit-worked faith.

Light of Christ breaks forth in hearts of sinners

2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Glory of the renewed image of God shines in you brothers and sisters in Christ

Colossians 3:9–10 “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”

“Old man” = Adam, being in Adam

“New man” = united to Christ

Union with Christ binds believers together

Despite ethnic and social divisions,

Colossians 3:11 “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”

If you are not in Christ, let the light of Christ burst forth from the darkness of your sinful nature

There is hope and promise

Bearing image of God calls believers to imitate the Father

Christ calls us to be perfect in our love (Mat 5.48)

Christ calls us to be merciful, as He is merciful (Luke 6.36)

A great calling by Peter

1 Peter 1:14–17 “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,”

Beeke

“Jesus Christ is the supreme image of God, the pathway of growth into that regenerated image involves the imitation of Christ”

Are you imitating Christ?

Ephesians 5:1–2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

In humility?

Phil 2.1-11.

As Jesus’ washed His disciples feet in John 13:1–15.

The Creator, the Lord

Are you imitating Christ in your conduct toward one another?

the Consummate Image of God

Divine image in New Heavens and Earth

Looking forward to fullness

Romans 8:29 “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

Glorified (Rom 8.30)

Our liberty from sin and death (Rom 8.2).

Transformation from God haters to sin haters

Romans 8:4–8 “in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Romans 8:13 “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

Our adoption

Romans 8:14–16 “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,”

Being glorified together with Christ, sharing His glory

Romans 8:17–18 “and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

The full redemption of our mortal bodies

Romans 8:11 “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

Romans 8:23 “And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”

Our being set free from sorrow and corruption

Romans 8:21 “that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”

All of these blessings are actualized by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ

Our image bearing in Christ will be far more glorious than that of Adam’s (1 Cor 15)

1 Corinthians 15:45 “Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.”

The first Adam marked by corruption, dishonor, weakness

Second Adam marked by glory, power, and life empowered by the Spirit

Exalted above Adam

1 Corinthians 15:47–48 “The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.”

Image of God restored in Christ

Bought by Christ

Redeemed by Christ

Perfected by Christ

Why would you want something else?

The world can not redeem/perfect you

Turn to Christ if you are not in Him

Only storing up wrath

God’s image that is retained speaks to His prevalence

Without excuse

Christ is able and willing to save all who call upon His name

Isaac Watts, The Imitation of Christ, God’s Image

Be thou my pattern; make me bear/More of thy glorious image here: Then God the Judge shall own my name/Amongst the followers of the Lamb

the Usefulness of the Image of God

Gen 1.26-27 is evangelistic

From the image of God we derive evangelistic principles and practical application

Christ should be at the center of all engagements

Twelve Points from Beeke’s ST, vol 2

Sanctity

From womb to tomb life matters

Genesis 9:6 ““Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.”

Life is sacred

Christ teaches man is more important than animals and plants (Mat 6.25-33)

Bring those to repentance who engage in murder

Abortion

Violence

Euthanasia

Violence

Spirituality

God is a Spirit (John 4.24)

Man has spiritual and religious obligation to glorifying God

Abomination of idolatry in worship, images, etc.

Priestly office of man

Not profaning the holy

2CV

Rationality

Man has rational faculties

Think, reason, speak, choose, act

We are not animals

Not to act irrationally

Expose fallen humans in their irrational behavior/reasoning

Dignity

All mankind retains image of God

All, the refuge, the particular race, the poor, the homeless, the sick, the old, the young, etc.

Proverbs 14:31 “Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.”

People are not commodities for use either

Issue with “sex” industry, making human beings slaves

Should not engage or participate

Integrity

Not moral integrity, but wholeness of mankind

Seek to understand complexities of those who differ

Physical

Mental

Vocational

Moral

Drive others to acknowledge man’s chief end

Equality

Divine image belongs to

Both genders (only two)

Ethnic groups

Societal classes

Racism, sexism, classism = all prejudices, sinful

Benevolence

Calvin, “The Lord commands all men without exception ‘to do good’ [Heb 13.16]. Yet the great part of them are most unworthy if they be judged by their own merit. But here Scripture helps in the best way when it teaches that we are not to consider that men merit themselves but to look upon the image of God in all men, to which we owe all honor and love.”

We love the wicked neighbor

By doing so, we are loving God

Authority

God given right to farming practices, correct animal slaughter

Our authority over the creation

Also owe obedience to human authority (Rom 13.1-7)

Except when it goes against God’s honor or commands (Acts 5)

Living peaceably amongst others

Stewardship

Royal kings = royal stewards

Taking care of God’s creation

Animals

Plants

Earth

Not in an idolatrous way

Morality

Human conscience bears witness that man cannot escape God’s sight or accountability

Romans 2:14–15 “For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them”

Moral principles matter in vocations

Politics

Medicine

Business

Family

Can only find moral image renewed in Christ

Atrocity

Valuing image of God clarifies why wickedness is such an atrocity

Calling out sin properly

Holy image has been defiled

More precedence for the Gospel

Destiny

Man exists for God’s glory

God made us to know him, fellowship with him, obey him, and honor him

Tragedy of remaining in sins and wickedness

No hope in sin

No hope in secular thought

No hope in world

As above

Only hope in Jesus Christ

1 John 3:2 “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”