The Image of God
What is Human? • Sermon • Submitted
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· 11 viewsWhat does it mean to be created in God's image?
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Genesis 1:24-28.
24 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps 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.
28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
In this section of scripture, we see interesting language about man being created in the image of God.
It’s interesting because this language isn’t used of the parts of creation.
The light, darkness, trees, seas, etc. aren’t created in God’s image. Even the other creatures aren’t created in God’s image. As a matter of fact, while the other living creatures are created “according to [their] kind,” humans are the only ones that are created according to God’s image.
It’s important to understand that we are created in God’s image. Our recognition of our image has an impact on the way we see reality. When we don’t understand that we are made in God’s image, we don’t see reality correctly.
If we don’t understand that humans are God’s special creation, then we start trivializing human life. We see this in our society.
Some in our society elevate animal lives, while trivializing human lives.
Some care more about the lives of animals than the lives of unborn children.
We are not animals. We are created in God’s image and it is important that we understand this, but it is equally important that we understand what it truly means to be made in God’s image. Sometimes we read this language in Genesis 1, and we don’t really get it. We don’t really have a full grasp of what it means.
In this lesson, we are going to look into this idea of being created in God’s and we are going to look at the word “image” or “idol” to help us understand this better.
We Express God
We Express God
What I mean by this is that we express the qualities and attributes of God.
We sometimes like to say that Bible represents God anthropomorphically. This means that the Bible gives human qualities to God. 1 Peter 5:6.
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
I think it’s better to say that humans are theomorphic. We are made like God so that we can express Him.
God creates us with communication to show that he communicates with us. We don’t have to wonder if God has any expectations from us. God has communicated His will for us through His spirit in the scriptures.
God created us with ears to show the He hears the cry of the afflicted. We don’t have to worry about whether God truly hears or understands us. If we are able to hear, then God also hears us.
God created us with eyes to show that he sees those who are suffering. At times the righteous suffer while the wicked prosper. Sometimes we feel like the prophet Habakkuk. Habakkuk 1:1-4.
1 The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw.
2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
and you will not hear?
Or cry to you “Violence!”
and you will not save?
3 Why do you make me see iniquity,
and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
strife and contention arise.
4 So the law is paralyzed,
and justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
so justice goes forth perverted.
If we understand that we express God, then we will see what Habakkuk came to see. God both sees and hears.
God created us with hands and feet to show that he can take actions just like we can take action. God can protect and guide us with his mighty hands. He can fight for us with his hands.
This concept is made explicit in Psalm 94:1-9.
1 O Lord, God of vengeance,
O God of vengeance, shine forth!
2 Rise up, O judge of the earth;
repay to the proud what they deserve!
3 O Lord, how long shall the wicked,
how long shall the wicked exult?
4 They pour out their arrogant words;
all the evildoers boast.
5 They crush your people, O Lord,
and afflict your heritage.
6 They kill the widow and the sojourner,
and murder the fatherless;
7 and they say, “The Lord does not see;
the God of Jacob does not perceive.”
8 Understand, O dullest of the people!
Fools, when will you be wise?
9 He who planted the ear, does he not hear?
He who formed the eye, does he not see?
We can learn about God by simply looking at humanity.
Being created in God’s image means that we express God.
We Represent God’s Presence
We Represent God’s Presence
The question of whether or not God exist is a fairly new one. This is not a question that the ancients had. I believe that part of the reason they didn’t have this question is because they could see God’s presence in His creation. Romans 1:20.
20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
While, God’s presence can be seen through all of creation, I think his presence can be seen in humanity in a special way… it can be seen in man’s uniqueness in comparison to the rest of creation. In comparison with the rest of creation, there is something special about us.
Humans have reason and logic. We can think through things. The animals can’t.
Humans have reason and logic. We can think through things. The animals can’t.
Do the animals have concepts of math or argumentation?
Humans can reason and think through difficult concepts.
We can create art and poetry; the animals can’t.
Humans can create and innovate; the animals can’t.
It’s evident to anyone who’s looking. We represent God’s presence.
We Rule for God
We Rule for God
This is important for us to understand. Our creation in God’s image doesn’t only emphasize our uniqueness, but also our function. Because we are created in God’s image, we are to image God. (It’s not only a noun, it’s also a verb)
This is evident in from God’s words on day 6. Genesis 1:24-28.
24 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps 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.
28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Whenever the text mentions that we are created in God’s image it also mentions our function.
To righteously rule over the earth
To multiply and fill the earth with others who image God.
In other words, one of our jobs as image bearers for God is the proper rule and management of His creation. Being human means that we rule for and with God.
This is clear throughout the New Testament. Just look at some of Jesus’ parables.
Matthew 25:14-30.
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
In this parable, the master gave his servants temporary rule. They were to rule for him and he would judge them when he returned.
This parable shows us that God has given us responsibilities in this life. We are to righteously rule over what we have in this life. If we are responsible in this life, then God will give us more responsibility in the next life.
Matthew 24:45-51.
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This parable is like the previous parable. It shows us that God has given us temporary rule. While our master is gone, he has put us in charge of his house.
If we take care of his house, he will give us more authority when he returns. If we don’t righteously rule, then we will be punished.
This is all tied to us being created in God’s image.
Like I hinted earlier, in the next life, we are expected do to rule with Christ.
2 Timothy 2:12.
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
Revelation 3:21.
21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
We are created in God’s image so we must rule righteously for God. What does this mean?
It means we take care of God’s creation.
It means we lead our families according to God’s will.
It means we live righteous lives.
If we do this, then we are truly imaging God, and as a result, we are truly human.
Conclusion
Conclusion
This is what it means to be created in God’s image. It means that we live righteously for God, but we don’t always do this. We don’t always image God like we should.
We still rule, but sometimes we rule wickedly.
Christ is the one who fulfills humanity because it is he who truly images God. He truly represents God.
Christ truly and righteously rules.
We see this idea in Colossians. Colossians 1:15-20.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 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. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
It is through Christ that we become true image bearers again. Colossians 3:9-10.
9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
As citizens of his kingdom, Christ helps us to become true images again.