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.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
(Genesis 1:26-27)
Introduction
What does it mean to be created in God’s image? Over the past six thousand years or so, this Biblical teaching has been ignored through hardened hearts. Within these two verses are five valuable lessons to reflect upon and make application to our walk with God.
The Godhead’s Involvement
Genesis 1:26 records God using the pronouns “us” and “our”, unlike the rest of the chapter which omits these pronouns. This is no accident. By using the plural pronouns, God reflects His three-fold makeup of the Father, the Word, and the Spirit.[1] Everything was created by God’s Word and for His Word, who the New Testament reveals is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Word made flesh.[2] The emphasis of these pronouns show the importance of Christ and His relation to human beings.
God’s Representatives
The Hebrew word for “image” can mean a representative of something else.[3] Humans were created to represent God in their nature and actions. It’s in God’s nature to feel love, anger, peace, and other emotions. It’s also in God’s nature to always do right. Although humans are imperfect, God wants us to behave as He behaves. God takes care of others; so should we. God hates sin; so should we.[4] Since mankind will eventually be judged before the throne of God for how they responded to being created in the image of God, we should take every opportunity to live a godly life.[5]
Humans Are Special
God commanded humans to have dominion over the animals. He placed them upon a pedestal above all of the rest of creation. The Psalmist praised God for this reason.[6] When we begin to feel unimportant, it’s comforting to know that we are special to God. As foolish as we can be, we are still God’s favorite creation. He showed us just how special we are by giving His only Son up that we may be able to spend forever with Him in Heaven.[7] Jesus was God’s way of saying, “I haven’t forgotten about you, my children.”
Male and Female
In the twenty-first century, Satan has convinced the world that there is more than two genders and that one can change their gender if they so choose. God made male and female and then ended all of His creative work. That’s final. We do not have the authority to pick our gender, and since we are created in God’s image, those who do not accept their God-given gender are telling God that He did a bad job. If you are a male, glorify God as a male. If you are a female, glorify God as a female.[8]
An Imperfect Image
What Genesis 1:26-27 does not mean is that humans will live a sinless life even though they are commanded to represent God.[9] Man was originally created to be a perfect representative of the one true God. Clearly, man did not hold to his end of the bargain.[10] Therefore, God has “recreated” man in Christ[11], the God-man, who lived a sinless life that would aid man in His command to be holy as God is holy.[12]
Conclusion
If we take these things to heart and apply them, we will fulfill God’s purpose in creating us in His image.
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