SUMMER IN THE PSALMS (4)
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MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE OR IN THE LIKENESS OF GOD!
MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE OR IN THE LIKENESS OF GOD!
Let’s look at the verse that mention being made in God image or likeness; So I’m gonna get a few people to read these verses; ; ; ;
This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God.
This passage has a different Hebrew word than but wit a Similar meaning. Here it mean “likeness,” from mold or resemble. In 1:27 is it can mean likeness as well or a replica or statue from the root word which means to carve out or sculpt.
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
James
Here the Greek is much like the verse. It simply means likeness or similar. So as humans how are we like God?
and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
The Greek word here is KATA which means in accordance to/with. So in this context our new self is being created in accordance to or after God…and the end of the verse says how..in righteousness and holiness. (So we are God’s image bearers and as we are live out His likeness in righteousness and holiness people see God’s image in us.)
The same is true of the verse. That we are being made new, renewed in Knowledge after the image of God.
Q: SO ONE WAY THAT WE COULD HELP TO EXPLORE THIS TOPIC IS ASK SIMPLY; IF WE ARE MADE IN GOD’S LIKENESS, THEN HOW ARE WE LIKE GOD?
What might help is to understand how we are like God in contrast to God’s other living creations.
WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS: “God is Spirit” () and He has made us to have a spirit as well. His Spirit who dwells in us interacts with our spirit. ()
WE ARE MORAL BEINGS: God has placed within us a sense of right and wrong even if it is basic animals do not have that. (GOD IS THE SOURCE OF MORALITY)
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
WE ARE CREATIVE BEINGS: IT is awesome to think that God gives us the talents we have. In Israel we find God giving the builders of the tabernacle the skills to make the beautiful things in it.
“Some have argued in favor of a structural view that believes man’s ontological (the nature of being) qualities, such as rationality and cognitive capacity, constitute the image of God. These qualities distinguish man from the rest of creation. Early church leaders, such as Irenaeus and Augustine, as well as John Calvin, held variants of this view.
Another position is the relational view that stresses the importance of man’s relationships. Emil Brunner and Karl Barth advocated this approach, where being made in God’s image fundamentally entails living in relationship with God and others.
A third view is the functional or “vice-regency” position that posits man’s derivative authority to rule on behalf of God defines the image. Unlike the rest of creation, it is man that functions as God’s chief representative in the world. This view stresses the command to exercise dominion ().” - David Closson (erlc.com)
There is truth in all these things in that we are like God in these ways. WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO LOVE, REASON, LEARN, GRASP THE BASIC CONCEPT OF ETERNITY AND DEATH, WE ARE MADE TO HAVE PURPOSE, WE HAVE A LONGING FOR GOD...
The most important point to be made in reference to how we are created in God’s image ARE NOT A LOT OF THESE THINGS.
WHAT SHOULD BE MOST IMPORTANT TO US AS FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST IS THAT WE ARE TO REFLECT THE IMAGE OF CHRIST IN OUR LIVES. WE ARE BEING MADE MORE AND MORE IN THE IMAGE OF CHRIST TO REPRESENT CHRIST TO THE WORLD.
ALL OF THIS DOES NOT HAVE IMPACT ON US UNLESS WE RECOGNIZE IT AND LIVE IT OUT. THE ENEMY KNOWS THAT IF WE DO NOT SEE IN OURSELVES THE WORTH AND PURPOSE GOD HAS GIVEN US WE WILL WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE.
GOD KNOWS YOU AND STILL LOVES YOU! HE PROMISES TO BE WITH YOU WHEREVER. TRANS: Now that we have established God concern and care for the humans that He made let’s consider that in the context of other people besides ourselves. Read
“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. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”
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. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Q: HOW SHOULD THESE VERSES INFLUENCE HOW WE SEE OURSELVES?
YOU ARE BEAUTIFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE! You are an incredible wonderful, unique creation of God. There is not another like you. You are the only you and God loves you as His creation and image bearer.
Q: HOW SHOULD THESE VERSES INFLUENCE HOW WE SEE OURSELVES?
It should help us to see ourselves outside of the parameters the culture or the parameters we place on ourselves to determine our worth. The fact that God made us alone should cause us to respect ourselves and others as His creation. This idea is in …someone read this!
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
ESVWith it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
Everyone made by God (which is everyone) has intrinsic worth and we should respect them as God’s creation. That includes respecting yourself as God’s creation.
Q: WHY DO YOU THINK SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE SUCH TROUBLE SEEING VALUE IN THEMSELVES? They often see themselves through the lens of...Our culture puts certain parameters on worth that God never does. What are they? We value things God does not care about. (Money, success, athletic ability, etc…)
Q: WHAT UNREALISTIC PARAMETERS DOES OUR CULTURE PUT ON A PERSON’S WORTH?
ESVAnd he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
how you look, what you have, how much money, outward appearance...
ESVAnd he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
We need to remember that God does not look at what we do or consider important what we do.
And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
Q: In the context, what is Jesus talking about that is highly exalted among men?
Q: In the context, what is Jesus talking about that is highly exalted among men?
The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.
So in this case it was money that they valued. Those who had it were valued more than others. Do we still do that today? YES!
ESVThe Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW GOD SEES US OVER HOW OTHERS SEE US.
David’s example is one of the best in Someone read
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
Even David own dad did not think to bring him as a prospect for King. David was the youngest and would not have been considered to be the most likely choice.
It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks of you (whether positive or negative), WHAT GOD THINKS IS MOST IMPORTANT, ALWAYS!
IT IS A POWERFUL THING BECAUSE GOD IS (1) THE ONE WHO CREATED YOU AND (2) THE ONE WHO KNOWS YOU BEST.
Q; SOMETIMES IT IS NOT OTHERS BUT OURSELVES WHO PUT UNREALISTIC PARAMETERS ON OUR WORTH, WHAT ARE THEY?
Our own minds put parameters on our worth that God never does. What are they?
Q: WHAT ARE THE PARAMETERS WE PUT ON OURSELVES SOMETIMES?
Things like how we look, what others think of us, how popular we are, how socially adequatewe FEEL, what we have, how good we are at..., how many mistakes we have made, (as if everyone hasn’t made many, etc.)
We often compare ourselves to others (like Wes was talking about Sunday) and end up putting ourselves down based on someone in a different situation, with different resources, and different skills, etc.
Q: ACCORDING TO THE JAMES VERSE, IS GOD PLEASED WHEN WE PUT OTHERS DOWN? NO! IS GOD PLEASED WHEN WE PUT OURSELVES DOWN IN OUR MINDS? NO!Sometimes even though we know that it is wrong to put others down we will put ourselves down as if that is ok because we are doing it to ourselves.
When we devalue ourselves we are in a way insulting God’s creation just as if we were insulting someone else.
We should have as much respect for ourselves as God has for us. IF GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT US AND STILL LOVES US THEN WE SHOULD SEEK TO RESPECT AND LOVE OURSELVES.
Q: HOW WILL A LACK OF LOVE AND RESPECT FOR OURSELVES AFFECT HOW WE TREAT OTHERS IN OUR LIVES?
A: If we do not love ourselves (as being created by God and worthy of love) we will have a hard time loving others as well. (The greatest commands say what…love others as you love who? Yourself! What if you do not love yourself? With that in mind...
Q: HOW DO WE RECONCILE THIS WITH THE FACT THAT WE DO NOT DESERVE TO BE SAVED AND CANNOT EARN BEING WORTHY OF SALVATION?
A: We need to be careful that we do not turn the message of our unworthiness to deserve salvation into believing we are worthless! (If we do we can turn the Biblical truth of the fact that we sin into an untruth that that sin makes us worthless.)
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WORTH AND BEING WORTHY (OR DESERVING).
We were loved by God and He considered us of such great worth that He paid the ultimate price to save us. We were not worthy of it (or deserving of it by our actions) but worth it to God. With that in mind let’s consider how we should value others and life in general.
Q: WHAT ELSE DOES MAKE YOU THINK OF? The incredible thing that is human life in the womb. It is awesome to know how a baby grows in the womb. (ILL: Meg’s development updates from baby center.com) (Possibly vid of developing baby…)
LIFE IN THE WOMB IS LIFE! WE HAVE NO RIGHT AND WE SHOULD HAVE NO DESIRE TO DESTROY THE LIFE IN THE WOMB.
Having a greater respect for life would cause us to want to protect it not destroy it! WE SHOULD SEEK TO PROTECT IT.
Trans: but just to play the Devil’s advocate for a few minutes...
Q: IF GOD HOLDS LIFE SO HIGH IN VALUE, HOW COULD HE USE THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT?
Let’s look at which includes the idea of man being made in God’s image and the idea of the death penalty.
“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.
The basis for the death penalty is actually the value of human life in this verse because we are made in God’s image. How does that make sense? Because if one person’s life is taken in murder and you give a small penalty that does not reflect the worth of the life taken you are devaluing the life taken. But a punishment that justly equals what was taken is the life of the killer.
THIS PSALM MAGNIFIES GOD’S OMNIPRESENCE AND OMNISCIENCE
Q: SO WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO FEEL CLOSE TO GOD?
A: sin can make us feel distant, so many people acting as if He doesn’t exist or is not near, not seeing how He is near during struggle, disbelief, feeling like God would not want to be close to us perhaps.
WHAT WE NEED TO REMEMBER IS THAT GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT US BECAUSE HE WANTS TO. HE IS INTERESTED IN YOU! HE WANTS TO BE CLOSE TO YOU!
IF THIS WASN’T TRUE HE WOULD NOT HAVE ENCOURAGED US TO DRAW NEAR TO HIM AND PROMISED TO COME CLOSE TO US IF WE WILL try.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Q: DO YOU THINK IT IS POSSIBLE FOR GOD TO FEEL DISTANT EVEN THOUGH HE IS RIGHT THERE WITH US? YES!
But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
ESVBut for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
When we feel like God is far off we can remember His promises that He is near and let that influence or feeling.
When we feel like God is far off we can remember His promises that He is near and let that influence or feeling.
WE MUST OFTEN TRUST GOD’S WORD OVER OUR FEELINGS AT THE MOMENT.
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Trans: now ....
CONSIDERING HOW GOD VIEWS US WE SHOULD TRUST HIM AND HOPE IN HIM AND HE SHOULD BE OUR NUMBER ONE SOURCE OF COMFORT.
Q: DO YOU BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE IN GENERAL FEEL SAFE AND SECURE IN THEIR LIVES?
A: Many do, but many do not. Stats from the National institute of mental health say; 40 million adults in U.S. have anxiety based issues (or anxiety based mental health issues). That is 20% of the population. That is reported cases.
Q:WHY DO YOU THINK SO MANY PEOPLE FEEL INSECURE AND EVEN UNSAFE?
A: THERE ARE A LOT OF ANSWERS OF COURSE…DEPENDS ON THE PERSON BUT there are some common things:
Perception of the world: it may feel unsafe and insecure. If you watch the news a lot you hear about a lot of the chaos int eh world. This may cause you to feel...
Constant stress in life (life struggles, health, work, relationships, etc.) and constant worry about these types of things.
Trauma that has not been healed…can strip away the person’s sense of well-being and safety or security.
Suffered constant trauma in the early years…abuse, unstable home, significant traumatic life change…learn to expect the next disaster…anytime...
Major changes…that changed a person’s sense of reality and trust.
Lack of trust of others and trust of God.
Lack of Community: helps everyone feel taken care of and a part of a whole that is safer than being alone.
IS ALL ABOUT SECURITY IN THE ONLY FULL PROOF PLACE OF SECURITY: GOD!
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
PSALM 46:
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
Q: HOW CAN WE REALLY FIND SECURITY IN GOD?
Q: WHAT DO THE IMAGES IN VERSE 2-3 REMIND YOU OF OR MAKE YOU THINK OF?
Natural disasters, earthquakes, hurricanes…Q: But what are these verses really referring to?
THIS IS JUST A PERFECTLY POETIC WAY OF SAYING THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS THAT GOD IS ALWAYS OUR REFUGE!
Q: DO YOU HAVE A PHYSICAL PLACE YOU GO TO IN ORDER TO RETREAT FROM LIFE? OR SOMETHING YOU DO THAT HELPS YOU FEEL LIKE EVERYTHING IS ALRIGHT?
WE may have a hard time relating to a place of refuge but its a place that is totally secure that nothing can get into.
Q: DOES TRUE SECURITY MEAN THAT GOD TAKES US AWAY FROM ALL OF THE PROBLEMS AND DISASTERS?
TRUE SECURITY IS EVEN BEING IN THE MIDDLE OF PROBLEMS AND KNOWING THAT GOD IS WITH US AND WE ARE SECURE NO MATTER WHERE WE GO!
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”