Made in God’s Image
Genesis 1.26-28
Why is it that we swat flies without a second thought and yet if we knocked down a pedestrian we would not be able to sleep? What is it about human life that makes it so valuable or precious? Why do doctors, midwives etc fight to save the life of a child? Why do we have A&E departments at hospitals? What is there about human life that sets us apart, above, the rest of created life on this planet? This morning I want to share with you from Scripture why we matter and why we treat human life as sacred? I want, as best as I can, from God’s Word to share with you what it means to be made in the image of God.
Turn with me to Genesis chapter 1 verses 26-28. Here is the first account of the creation of man. The account in Genesis 2 is not an alternative account to Genesis 1 but a bringing of man into the centre of the created order. It focuses the spotlight on man, who is seen as God’s masterpiece in the created order.
Verse 26 - The first thing we should note is that the creation of man is set apart from all previous acts of creation. The previous acts of creation are impersonal ‘Let there be…’ whereas the creation of man (v26) is more personal (first person) “Let us make.” Second, in the previous acts of creation each creature is describes as “according to its kind” whereas the creation of man and woman are made “in our (God’s) image.” Man’s image is not simply of himself; he also shares a likeness to his Creator. Third, the creation of man is specifically noted as “male and female.” For the rest of creation gender was not important but for mankind it is. Fourth, only man has been given dominion of God’s creation and it is over all other living creatures. These things point to the fact that man is distinct, marked off and special from the rest of God’s created works. The point is also to show how man is like God which again sets him apart from the rest of creation.
Verse 27 – we read here of the plurality of God: “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness” and we read that man is made in his plurality – man was created in the image of God… man was created male and female. We see the same pattern in Genesis 5.1-2. The singular man (Adam) is created as a plurality (male and female), in a similar way the one God created man through and expression of his plurality (make man in our image). Therefore the human relationship, between a man and a woman, is a reflection of the image of God’s own personal relationship within the Godhead (the Trinity).
Verse 28 – the image of God in human beings, male and female, is linked to the blessing of fruitfulness. God gives fruitfulness to human beings, which is in stark contrast of the pagan fertility gods where the people prayed for the gods to be fruitful. Procreation strictly means creation ‘on behalf of another’ – in this case him who is Love, God himself. So human creativity, and procreativity, is part of the outworking in our lives (our histories) of the creative love of God in us as his image.
So what do these three verses teach us about being made in the image of God? We know from Scripture that God is spirit and therefore to be made in the image of God is not a matter of the physical only. That is not to lessen the physical but we must be clear that the image of God is not primarily physical. Why is that important? Because in a world where the physical is often portrayed as all important, and where value is measured by subjective things like image and beauty, we as Christians need to challenge the idea that the value of another person is measured in their physical attributes and or abilities. Yet we are not to lessen the physical because Christ took on flesh and dwelt amongst us. When God came amongst us He took on physical flesh and became a man. So there is something of the divine image reflected in the physical but it is not primarily reflected in the physical.
Some people have attempted to define ‘the image of God’ in terms of the capacity of man. They talk of man being a moral being, a social being, a creative being and a rational being. These are all true and important and they are all reflected in Genesis 2 but may I suggest to you that from a correct reading of Genesis 1.26-27 they do not primarily define what it means for man to be made in the image of God. They certainly reflect something of that image and they certainly mark man as distinct from the rest of the created order. We should not dismiss any of these things lightly.
So what does primarily define, or mark, being made in the image of God? I want to suggest to you this morning that upon a careful reading of Genesis 1.26.27 that what primarily marks us out as being made in the image of God is that we are made for relationship with God, and consequently with one another. Let me explain, as best I can, that to you. Westermann in his commentary on Genesis 1-11 said this: “human beings are created in such a way that their very existence is intended to be their relationship to God.” To be made in the image of God is therefore not about the quality of human beings but that we are made as God’s counterpart on earth and that we can have a history with God. Being made in the image of God is therefore not about something we have or something we do but it is about a relationship.
I want to explore this understanding by looking at Christ Jesus of whom the NT says “He is the image of the invisible God” (Col.1.15). St Paul writes “the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God” (2 Cor.4.4). Jesus truly reflects the image of God made man because He is in a perfect relationship with God the Father. He is God’s image and glory on earth. To be made in the image of God is therefore not about our capacity to be or do anything. It is about the relationship God has towards us and in a derivative way our sonship to the Father because of Christ. It is not about some characteristic we possess but about our whole existence. True humanness is found in a relationship with God and is in such a personal relationship that His glory is reflected and His image is seen. This means that personal communion in love between persons is what the image of God is primarily about. Jesus is the image of God in the world because he is in a relationship of loving communion with his Father. And we reflect God’s image to the extent that we are growing in personal communion with him and therefore with one another.
Such a relationship takes place over time. To have a relationship with God is as Westermann put it – to have a history with God. Therefore we see the image of God in us not only as a gift from God as he calls us into a relationship with himself, but also as a task to be undertaken, a destiny to be followed.
A German theologian called Moltmann put it this way: “To be made in the image of God means that we represent God on earth. This is to be lived in three fundamental relationships – they are to rule over other earthly creatures as God’s representatives and in his name; they are to be God’s counterparts on earth, the counterpart to whom he wants to talk, and who is intended to respond to him; and they are the appearance of God’s splendour, and his glory on earth.”
Only human beings are given this status in creation – not the angels and no other created beings are made in the image of God. This is an affirmation of the fact that we are created in the image of God.
Conclusion
I think this has probably been a difficult sermon to follow because it is not the normal sermon that I would preach here – it is much more about an understanding than a practical outworking of something. But as I conclude let me put some practical points on to these bones of being made in the image of God. Being made in the image of God is primarily seen and reflected in our relationships. God’s image is seen in the following relationships:
To Him – when we enter into a personal intimate relationship with God we become fully human and reflect his image. We were created for a relationship with him and we are less than fully human when we do not have a relationship with God.
To others – the image of God is reflected in the complementariness of all human relationships and especially in the male/female relationship. As I said a few weeks back in the sermon on human sexuality – it is a created ordinance that the God ordained partner for man is woman and for woman is man. A marriage of one man to one woman should be a fuller expression of the image of God in humanity. When we know that someone is made in the image of God it should, surely, dictate how we view them and relate to them. Do I relate to other people as those who are made in the image of God? When I destroy them with my words and my actions what am I saying about the image of God I see in them?
To ourselves – by enjoying our unique dignity in who we are – made in the image of God. Can I say, humbly, to you all, especially those of you who struggle with any sense of self-worth or self-esteem, this is the very basic building block of a healthy self-image and self-awareness – that you are made in the image of God. Maybe, the very practical thing for us all is to remind ourselves of this basic teaching of our faith everyday – I am made in the image of God. When I look in the mirror (both the physical mirror and the self-knowing mirror) do I see the image of God? When I look at my relationships do I see the image of God truly reflected? If not, why not? What do I need to change and work on?
We are made in the image of God. That image is primarily reflected and seen in relationship. The image of God will never be fully seen unless we are in a relationship with God through Christ. The image of God should, and must, be seen in our relationships one with another. Knowing that I am made in the image of God must be the bedrock of my understanding of self and my self-worth.
Amen.
