Man, The Image of God (2)
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
24 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind”; and it was so.
25 God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind; and God saw that it was good.
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27 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 God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
29 Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;
30 and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so.
31 God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Introduction
Introduction
Recall - looking at a new series on “Christ through the Covenants.”
The emphasis here is on the covenants in Scripture.
The fact is, the covenants in Scripture demonstrate for us important aspects relating to our relationship with God.
As men, how is it that God has interacted with us over the course of history in order to demonstrate his glorious purposes for His own glory and the good of His people.
The way in which we may gain a hint of this is through the Biblical covenants.
Last week, we started off by looking at some introductory thoughts regarding covenants, and why they are so important.
We looked at the cultural aspects of the ancient near east, and how those cultural aspects played into the idea of covenant.
And essentially, we looked at some of the important aspects relating to covenants.
This evening, I want to consider an important aspect in terms of the the covenants, and that is the original creation of man, as God had created him in Eden.
Now, you may have been eager to delve into some of the very clearly outlined covenants, and study the various components...
The reason that I’ve avoided that is that we will miss the big picture of Scripture if we do that.
I want us to understand something of the overarching storyline of Scripture, as it is developed under these covenants.
But we simply cannot delve into those covenants without starting at the beginning… at least close to the beginning. And so that is what we’re going to do.
The important aspect from this evening is, how has God created man, and what has he created man for.
This is essential… if we don’t understand this, we’ll never understand the trajectory of Scripture.
1. Man is the Crown of Creation
1. Man is the Crown of Creation
Introductory Comments...
In our day, particularly with the influence of evoluationary theory, man has been relegated to simply being another animal
Even those that don't believe in biology, sometimes elevate animals above people...
Think about dogs... faithful, love unconditionally...
Some people call their animals their children, and treat them as such.
There is a massive fight on the go for animal rights... protection of animals... almost to the minimizing of human rights.
Particularly seen in the unborn child.
However... from our text... there are clear indications that something extremely unique and special is taking place in the creation of man.
1. Change in introductory clause
Previously... "God said, let there be..." - note examples in the text.
Suddenly, here is a change. - Note verse 26...
The text tells us, God says, "let us create man..."
Just that alone separates the creation of all other things with the creation of man.
2. Inclusion of Purpose
In all other creation accounts, something of a similar pattern is followed.
(1) Announcement - e.g. Then God said...
(2) Command - e.g. let there be light
(3) - Report - e.g. and there was light
(4) Evaluation - e.g. God saw that the light was good.
(5) Action described - God separated light from darkness
(6) Naming - God called the light day, darkness, night
(7) Evening and Morning (Temporal framework).
Creation of man quite different.
Announcement (v.26a)
Decision and purpose (v.26b)
Action and purpose (v.27)
Blessing and purpose (v.28)
Food provision (v.29-30)
Report (v.31)
3. Expanded description of the creation of man.
Chapters 2-3 focus in on this creation of man, its significance
While chapter 1 gives a global perspective, chapter 2-3 becomes focused.
Further comments.
There are a number of other literary features in these verses.
We don't have the time to explore all of them.
But the reality is - there are numerous differences, some significant, some slight... but all of them pointing to the distinctive nature of the creation of man.
2. Man is the Image of God
2. Man is the Image of God
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
As we consider these verses briefly, we must note some important general observations.
Firstly We need to see from this that there is something entirely peculiar about man as compared to other created things.
God desired to make man in his own image… in his likeness.
Notice also that whereas all other creation is created after its own kind, man is created after / according to the image of God.
NB!!! This does not mean as some false theologians have taught, that man is a little god… or that man is god… these are teachings that you hear through various false teachers.
This is utterly false teaching and ought to be rejected entirely.
But there is certainly something in terms of the creation of man that is vastly distinct from the creation of the other plants and animals.
Notice also that Genesis 1:27says that “male and female he created them.” (read the verse!)
This statement grounds the fundamental equality between men and women, who equally bear the image of God.
The Scriptures certainly affirm the differences between man and women..
Covenant headship according to Scriptrue in both the home and church are given to men.
However, that in no ways minimizes the importance of women within the relationship, since they too are created in the image of God.
We should never think that this complementarian view flows out of an inferior view of females. Certainly not!
We must also understand image of God in terms of relationship and communion with God.
10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—
We must note that “true knowledge according to the image of...”
Paul thus indicates that knowing God is intrinsic to man’s creation in God’s image.
This is distinct from the animals. They do not seek / worship / know their maker.
3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
Keep in mind, the biblical idea of knowledge involves more than possessing information, but also communion and fellowship.
Notice how this plays out as God creates the animals, as compared to the creation of man…
22 God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”
Compare that to the similar blessing to mankind…
28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
It’s perhaps a subtle difference, but it is important. God communicates with man in relationship.
All of this is important! Particularly as we consider these covenants, and what we’ve already considered in our introduction, where covenants are very much oriented towards relationship. Keep this in mind as we continue in our series.
Look with me at Genesis 5:1-3...
1 This is the written account of Adam’s line.
When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female and blessed them. And when they were created, he called them “man.”
3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.
We find that this image / likeness continues down through humanity.
We also see that the genealogy in Luke’s Gospel goes all the way back to God…
38 the son of Enosh,
the son of Seth, the son of Adam,
the son of God.
Clearly, there is something of the image of God that continues down from generation to generation.
Taking this a step further, in Genesis 1:26-27. we find that the Scriptures speak of man having been created in the both the image and likeness of God.
Both of these words speak of some kind of resemblance. The word “image” that is used speaks of something that is carved or cut out.
The fact is that man is created in order to represent God.
We are created in order to be those who represent God. The very fact that we are image bearers speaks to the fact that we represent God in the world.
John Calvin explains it with these words…
“...man resembles him and that in him God’s glory is contemplated, as in a mirror.”1
This is the same language is used in Genesis 5:3 when Adam has a son: “he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image.”
There are a number of implications / possible meanings that flow out of this… or flow into this.
Notice some of the implications of this…
The Divine image includes imitating God’s love and justice...
17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. 18 He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. 19 And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt.
48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,
15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
If we understand that we are the image bearers - the represenatives of God in this world, then these injunctions make perfect sense.
As we look further
“We are created to image God, to be his imagers. It is what we are by definition. The image is not an ability we have, but a status. We are God’s representatives on earth. To be human is to image God. This is why Genesis 1: 26– 27 is followed by what theologians call the “dominion mandate” in verse 28. The verse informs us that God intends us to be him on this planet. We are to create more imagers (“ be fruitful and multiply … fill”) in order to oversee the earth by stewarding its resourcesand harnessing them for the benefit of all human imagers (“ subdue … rule over”).” [Michael S. Heiser]
This leads us to our their main point…
3. Man is God’s Kingly Ruler
3. Man is God’s Kingly Ruler
We spoke earlier about man having been created with purpose.
We must now consider that in light of our verses here...
A direct result of man bearing God’s image is the kingly rule into which mankind is called:
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
“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” (Gen. 1:26).
Man’s dominion takes the form of a viceregency, meaning that man exercises the authority of another, namely, God the Creator.
This is essentially what God had created man to do.
In relationship with Him, with a relational knowledge of God, man was called to exercise this dominion over the created order to the glory of God.
Keep in mind that in the original Garden scenario, man lived in communion with God in the Garden.
As God’s royal servants, man is to rule on the earth in keeping with God’s standards and purposes.
For the director of music. According to gittith. A psalm of David.
1 O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
God’s purposes for the earth involve a care that extends his blessing and peace – constituting a call both to nature conservationism and sound social practices – by upholding the just principles of his law.
Man should take God’s goodness and bounty as his example. Bearing God’s image and ruling on God’s behalf, mankind is to do good on the earth.
Application / Conclusion
Application / Conclusion
This fuller definition of man in God’s image has important implications for a Christian worldview.
One of the chief questions that anyone can ask is: “Who am I?” The Bible answers that we are living creatures made by God to bear his own image.
The stamp of God is seen in our moral and spiritual nature, in our shared love within community, in our dominion on God’s behalf, and especially in our calling to communion with God in knowledge and righteousness. There is nothing that could grant a greater dignity, along with humility before God – together with a higher sense of calling and privilege – than to realize that we are creatures designed to know and be known by God and to love and be loved by our Maker. [Richard Philips, Man as the Image of God - The Gospel Coalition]
What a glorious reality!
This is what man was created for. Do you delight yourself in that truth?