Question from a friend of WordTruth Ministries:
>> What does it mean that man was created in God's image?
WordTruth.Com Response:
The important distinction between human beings and all of God's other creatures
that have some form of life -- animals, plants, angels -- is that only
human beings are said to have been created in God's image (Gen. 1:26-27).
We have the picture in Genesis 2:7 of God breathing life into Adam.
So God imparted into man something very unusual.
Let us start to answer this question by answering what it does not mean.
God is spirit by nature, not a physical being confined to one place at
one time. So the physical nature of man is not what is being communicated
here. Rather, it is the inner nature of man called the soul or spirit
in Scripture. Now the animals are said to have a soul or life-force
in them. But they are not made in God's image. So the image
of God cannot simply be the life-force within you. Nor can it mean that
human beings are "little gods" as some teach. The Bible is clear
that there is only one God (Deut. 6:4).
The word used for "image" of God speaks of a reflection. The reflection
of a person is not the person but something that resembles or is like the
person. That which God possesses and communicated uniquely to man,
even in part as a reflection, would be His emotions, His intelligence to
think and reason, His will to choose, His moral compass, and His self-awareness.
Also, God imparted to human beings a consciousness that can respond to
the reality of God. Romans 1:20 makes it clear that the creation
of God bears eloquent testimony to the reality of God and human beings
who reject that revelation bear the burden of their own unbelief.
Each human then has some level of consciousness that there is such a one
as God. Our loving Creator gave that to each human being because
He loves us and wants us to know Him.
In the fall of mankind (Gen. 3), the image of God imparted to man was
irreparably damaged by sin. This means that while what God created
was good, sin has tarnished our thoughts, our decision, and our emotional
responses to just about anything. This is why we see such evil in
the world that God created. The image of God imprinted in every human
soul does not reflect the holiness of God as He intended.
Nevertheless, the image of God imparted to every human being means that
each person is to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter how much
you may dislike that person. God granted them life and a very special
life at that -- one whereby they were made in His image.
The image of God also means that we should do our best to spread the
good news of salvation through Jesus Christ to every human being.
Only through turning from sin and embracing our Savior Jesus Christ can
any human being overcome the sin-damaged image of God. Only through
Christ can a person be regenerated (Titus 3:3-7), declared holy (Eph. 1:3),
made into a new creation (Rom. 6:4; 2 Cor. 5:17), and entering into eternal
life (John 3:16-17), a permanent relationship with God.
May the LORD Jesus Christ bless you with His wisdom and the courage
to follow Him!
Randy Lariscy :-)
Director - WordTruth Ministries
Our Creator God loves you and wants you to know Him! If you would
like to contact this ministry for further information or questions, please
send your e-mail to:
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Web Site: WordTruth.Com
Copyright 5/17/2000, Randy Lariscy.
