Genesis 1:26-31: The Image of God
What does it mean to be made in God's image? And why is this so important?
In the image of God can be 1) as duplicate--"mini-me"; 2) baring certain characteristic and likenesses, but not a complete copy.
By definition, a created being cannot be the creator. So, option 1 is out.
Therefore, we are made in some sort of likeness to God Almighty--a truly humbling concept. But in what way are we the image of God? Is it physical? Is it mental? Is it spiritual? Is there another way that we can be in God's image?
For me, the primary way were are made in the image of God is spiritual. We are able to commune with God in a way that no other part of his creation can. This spiritual nature impacts our mental and physical function to a degree. But for me, the spirit separates us from the rest of creation.
Many will disagree. I know that we as humans we are able to reason. Some say that this mental capacity to reason is a part of God's image in us. I don't have a problem with this line of thinking. I just wouldn't separate our mental abilities from our spiritual nature. I think the two go hand in hand.
Some would also argue that our bodies, our physical form, is much like God's form. I think this is much less likely, seeing that God himself needs no physical form to exist (OK, that just blew my own mind). Jesus came in human form, which was totally different from his normal existence. Many people will try to take anthropomorphisms from the Bible (like the Hand of God) and use it to argue that God has a human-like form. I don't think this has to be the case. We use human descriptions to try to capture the essence of God, and they will always fall short of a true description of his majesty and glory. This does not meant that it is wrong to use human descriptions to express our understanding of God. The fact is, it is just the best we can do.
Others say that God is man-like because of the vocabulary of the Bible (God is "he," or "father.") Again, I don't think these vocabulary terms do justice in describing the greatness of God. Think of this: God made us men and women for the purpose of pro-creation. Does God need to pro-create? Absolutely not! He is forever and does not need to increase his dominion by having children. So, he does not need to be male nor female. His is God, Creator of male and female. Male and Female are incomplete without each other. God is complete in and of himself. He needs no helper. So, to say that we are in his image physically is to limit God and exalt humanity (men in particular). God made us limited so we would recognize our need for him. Even in the Garden of Eden, sinless Adam and Eve walked with God and learned from him. We are in his image so that we might know him through our spirits.
So, for me, the image of God in humanity is a spiritual essence that impacts our whole being. Why is this important? So that we might relate to God in a personal relationship, recognizing our need for him and then coming to him for blessings and his glory.
Many people miss out on the point of life because they ignore this inherent need for God in our hearts. We were created to know him and need him. We ignore this need to our peril, especially now that the Garden of Eden is a distant memory and our sinful life pulls us farther and farther from a relationship with the One who created us.
In the image of God can be 1) as duplicate--"mini-me"; 2) baring certain characteristic and likenesses, but not a complete copy.
By definition, a created being cannot be the creator. So, option 1 is out.
Therefore, we are made in some sort of likeness to God Almighty--a truly humbling concept. But in what way are we the image of God? Is it physical? Is it mental? Is it spiritual? Is there another way that we can be in God's image?
For me, the primary way were are made in the image of God is spiritual. We are able to commune with God in a way that no other part of his creation can. This spiritual nature impacts our mental and physical function to a degree. But for me, the spirit separates us from the rest of creation.
Many will disagree. I know that we as humans we are able to reason. Some say that this mental capacity to reason is a part of God's image in us. I don't have a problem with this line of thinking. I just wouldn't separate our mental abilities from our spiritual nature. I think the two go hand in hand.
Some would also argue that our bodies, our physical form, is much like God's form. I think this is much less likely, seeing that God himself needs no physical form to exist (OK, that just blew my own mind). Jesus came in human form, which was totally different from his normal existence. Many people will try to take anthropomorphisms from the Bible (like the Hand of God) and use it to argue that God has a human-like form. I don't think this has to be the case. We use human descriptions to try to capture the essence of God, and they will always fall short of a true description of his majesty and glory. This does not meant that it is wrong to use human descriptions to express our understanding of God. The fact is, it is just the best we can do.
Others say that God is man-like because of the vocabulary of the Bible (God is "he," or "father.") Again, I don't think these vocabulary terms do justice in describing the greatness of God. Think of this: God made us men and women for the purpose of pro-creation. Does God need to pro-create? Absolutely not! He is forever and does not need to increase his dominion by having children. So, he does not need to be male nor female. His is God, Creator of male and female. Male and Female are incomplete without each other. God is complete in and of himself. He needs no helper. So, to say that we are in his image physically is to limit God and exalt humanity (men in particular). God made us limited so we would recognize our need for him. Even in the Garden of Eden, sinless Adam and Eve walked with God and learned from him. We are in his image so that we might know him through our spirits.
So, for me, the image of God in humanity is a spiritual essence that impacts our whole being. Why is this important? So that we might relate to God in a personal relationship, recognizing our need for him and then coming to him for blessings and his glory.
Many people miss out on the point of life because they ignore this inherent need for God in our hearts. We were created to know him and need him. We ignore this need to our peril, especially now that the Garden of Eden is a distant memory and our sinful life pulls us farther and farther from a relationship with the One who created us.
posted by Randy Rogers at
10:04 PM
3 Comments:
Whatever God's image is, I generally encounter Him in a way that moves me toward the where and what He wants for me. If I am in such a state as to not perceive God, then I generally become more and more miserable until I realize that I am not focusing upon that image of God which saved me from the misery of my life, and so I begin to heal, not that I earned it by repenting, but that God is encouraging me in an edificacious way!
RobeFRe
The image of God is a vaery mysterious and majestic thing. To realize that he has given each one of us a portion of the divine is amazing.
Is it like a magnet that draws to God? Or a homing beacon in reverse--something that radiates from within us and causes us to yearn to know God? Whatever the best analogy, it is amazing that God would give us something so personal, and place it in us as a part of our innermost being. To ignore it is impossible--yet some try.
Randy,
I like that imagery, a reverse homing signal, I remember you speaking early on at SHBC on where God has been and who has heard Him. Something about many roads lead to 'the gates', but only One lets you enter. Maybe in the same Light God has made himself known to all through this image thing and our job as sevice people is to act and speak so that people are able to then recognize and confess that Imagery fertive but hidden away in themselves...!
But maybe I am just too independent minded<8~)
Rober-tRe
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