Intro:
1. Sailhamer, "The creation of humanity is set apart from the previous acts of creation...whereas throughout the previous account the making of each creature is described as "according to its own kind," the account of humankind’s creation specifies that the man and the woman were made according to the likeness of God, not merely according to its kind...[Human beings are portrayed] as special creatures, marked off from the rest of God’s works...not merely as different from the rest of creation but also to show that they are like God.
Human beings are creatures, but they are [exceptional] creatures, made in the image and likeness of God."
2. We cannot begin to appreciate just how precious it is to be a human being, created in the image of God.
3. The most Exceptional creatures God ever made.
Trans: This is the Explanation of everything that God has done so far - why create this planet; why turn on the light; why the perfect environment; why the abundant food supply; why the ability to tell time; why there are fish, birds, and mammals - all for the capstone of God’s creation...mankind.
F.B. Meyers said it well, "Man was placed in the world like a king in a palace stored with all to please him...The sun to labor for him like a very Hercules; the moon to light his nights...elements of nature to be his slaves and messengers: flowers to scent his pathway; fruit to please his taste; birds to sing for him; beasts to toil for him and carry him; and man himself, amidst all the luxury, God’s representative, His vice-regent. This is as God made him."
I. FIRST, THEY ARE LIKE THE LORD.
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. Genesis 1:26-27
A. Definition.
Ryrie, "There is no sharp distinction between [image and likeness] linguistically. Image means a fashioned image, a shaped and representative figure, an image in some concrete sense. Likeness refers also to the idea of similarity but more in the abstract or ideal...Man is in some way the concrete reflection of God, but at the same time he wants to spiritualize this toward abstraction."
"Human beings are unique among all creatures in that they were created to be like God. Genesis 1:26-27 teaches that God determined to create man and woman in His own "image" and "likeness" and that they would have dominion over the animal creation.
Both male and female shared this "likeness" to God, which is expressed as eikôn in Greek (Gen. 1:27). While the fall of mankind damaged this “image,” it was not damaged completely. There is still enough in our make-up to hint at what we once were like and what we can become again through the work of Christ.
"When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth." Genesis 5:3 (NASB)
"5 "Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man’s brother I will require the life of man. 6 "Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man. Genesis 9:5-6 (NASB)
"With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;" James 3:9 (NASB)
Yet, Jesus Christ is preeminently the image of God, "in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NASB)
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." Colossians 1:15 (NASB)
"And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," Hebrews 1:3 (NASB)
Frequently, this is understood exclusively as a reference to the deity of Christ. To see Christ is to see the Father (John 14:9). However, in the passages cited, Jesus is the incarnate God—the last ‘Adam’ who is all that God intended the first Adam to be. Incarnation means that Jesus is truly a man; and because He is truly a man, He shows us what being made in the image of God should mean.
Jesus Christ is also the prototype for all God’s children. Believers need to be recreated into the image of Christ to regain the image they lost in the Fall.
Salvation describes the recreation of the believers in the likeness of God—in righteousness, holiness of the truth, and true knowledge.
"and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." Ephesians 4:24 (NASB)
"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—" Colossians 3:10
In other words, Paul declares that the redeemed are recreated into the image of God as they are transformed into the image of Christ. Just as Adam’s fall affected the image of God in mankind, so also redemption from sin affects mankind.
Jesus brings His people into conformity with His own image—that is, the image of the Son of God:
"For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;" Romans 8:29 (NASB)
Believers are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, by the Spirit of the Lord,
"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NASB)
Conformity to the image of Jesus Christ is achieved through the process of sanctification, which was ultimately completed at the resurrection. Thus, as we grow in our relationship with God, we begin to reflect the “image” of Christ more and more.
And, when Jesus returns, our bodies will be changed to be like His glorious body (Phil. 3:21). Restoration to the image of Christ moves us beyond the sinful body. All believers will be transformed—the “image” of the earthly will then be exchanged for the “image” of the heavenly (1 Cor. 15:49)."
"45 So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. 47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly." 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 (NASB)
Without being Divine, man was created with qualities which enabled him to be and to do, in a finite way, what God is and does in an infinite way. Man was not created with the image of God [as if this were something tacked on], but in the image of God - to put it as simple as possible, man was a visible replica of God, in a limited sense.
Tozer gives a good warning, "When the Scripture states that man was made in the image of God, we dare not add to that statement an idea from our own head and make it mean, "in the exact image."
To do so is...to break down the wall, infinitely high, that separates that-which-is-God from that which-is-not-God. To think of creatures and Creator as alike in essential being is to rob God of most of His attributes and reduce Him to the status of a creature."
But Mankind was originally created in the image of God - what a honor!
In 1990 when Andre Agassi was at the start of a career that lifted tennis’ popularity to new heights, advertising execs for Canon cameras invested millions in an ad campaign with Agassi delivering the now famous line, "Image is everything!"
B. Description.
1. Physically?
"This is a profound and mysterious truth, impossible to fully comprehend; therefore it is not surprising there has been much difference of opinion about its meaning...In any case, there can be little doubt that the "image of God" in which man was created must entail those aspects of human nature which are not shared by animals—attributes such as (1) a moral consciousness, (2) the ability to think abstractly, (3) an understanding of beauty and emotion, and, above all, the capacity for worshiping and loving God... However, this does not exhaust the meaning.
We must also deal with the fact that man was made in God’s image as well. That component of man which was "made" was his body and soul. In some sense, therefore, even man’s body is in God’s image in a way not true of animals.
God in His omnipresence is not corporeal, however, but is Spirit (John 4:24); so how could man’s body be made in God’s image?
We can only say that, although God Himself may have no physical body, He designed and formed man’s body to enable it to function physically in ways in which He Himself could function even without a body.
God can see, Hagar understood this, "Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "You are a God who sees"; for she said, "Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?" Genesis 16:13 (NASB);
God can hear, "He who planted the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see?" Psalm 94:9 (NASB)
God can smell, "20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, "I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.Genesis 8:20-21 (NASB)
God can speak "17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased"— 18 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. 2 Peter 1:17-18 (NASB)
Furthermore, whenever He has designed to appear visibly to men, He has done so in the form of a human body (Genesis 18:1, 2);
There is something about the human body, therefore, which is uniquely appropriate to God’s manifestation of Himself, and (since God knows all His works from the beginning of the world—Acts 15:18), He must have designed man’s body with this in mind.
Accordingly, He designed it, not like the animals, but with an (1) erect posture, (2) with an upward gazing countenance, (3) capable of facial expressions corresponding to emotional feelings, (4) and with a brain and tongue capable of articulate, symbolic speech.
He knew, of course, that in the fullness of time even He would become a man. In that day, He would prepare a human body for His Son (Hebrews 10:5; Luke 1:35); and it would be "made in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:7), just as man had been made in the likeness of God.
It does not seem too much to infer that God made man in the image of that body which He would Himself one day assume. In this sense, at least, it is true that, physically as well as spiritually, man was both made and created in the image and likeness of God the Son." The Genesis Record.
2. Spiritually.
The spirit is the immaterial part of a human being. While distinguished from the soul, it is often used interchangeably with the soul.
"46 And Mary said: "My soul exalts the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior." Luke 1:46-47 (NASB)
The body is dead without the spirit, "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead." James 2:26 (NASB)
At Jesus death he "bowed his head and gave up His spirit." Jn.19:30
Boice, "The third element involved in man’s being made in God’s image is spirituality, meaning that man is made for communion with God, who is Spirit (John 4:24), and that this communion is intended to be eternal as God is eternal...Here lies our true worth. We are made in God’s image and are therefore valuable to God and others.
God loves men and women, as he does not and cannot love the animals, plants, or inanimate matter. Moreover, he feels for them, identifies with them in Christ, grieves for them, and even intervenes in history to make individual men and women into all that he has determined they should be. In support of this we need only think of the Bible’s teaching concerning Christ as the bridegroom and the church as his bride."
In our spirit we have consciousness of ourselves and of God.
Blanchard, "Man is not a chemical fluke or an atomic accident. Nor is he an educated ape; he is as different from other animals; as animals are from vegetables; and vegetables from minerals.
All other living creatures are conscious; man is self-conscious. If a giraffe could say, "I am a giraffe" it would cease to be a giraffe."
Lockyer, "We now come to the deepest, eternal part of man. God is spoken of as "the Father of spirits" (Heb.12:9). Within the spirit, there are the faculties for worship, communion, adoration and praise. Fellowship with God is possible through the spirit and can stand for God-consciousness...The spirit is immaterial being, eluding the test of biologist or chemist. Imponderable - it cannot be weighed; intangible - cannot be handled; invisible - it cannot be seen."
3. Trinity.
Just as God is a Trinity, seen in the "Let us..." - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, so man is a trinity of Body, Soul, and Spirit.
4. Morality.
a. Mankind was created innocent, good.
(1) God is Perfect and therefore His creation must be perfect.
"The Rock! His work is perfect..." Deuteronomy 32:4 (NASB)
(2) The temptation of "being like God, knowing good and evil"
implies that they did not know evil before the Fall.
(3) It was only by their disobedience to God that they became
sinful. Rom.5:12/1 Tim.2:14
"God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very
good. And there was evening and there was morning, the
sixth day. Genesis 1:31 (NASB)
"Behold, I have found only this, that God made men
upright..." Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NASB)
Martin Luther, "The image of God in which Adam was made was something most beautiful and noble. The leprosy of sin adhered neither to his reason nor to his will, but, within and without, all his senses were pure. His intellect was very clear, his memory very good, and his will very sincere. His conscious was clean and secure, without any fear of death and without care."
b. Man has a sense of right and wrong - moral awareness.
A man wrote to Dear Abby, "Dear Abby, I am in love and I am having an affair with two different women. I can’t marry them both. Please tell me what to do, but don’t give me any of that morality stuff."
Her reply, "Dear sir, the only difference between humans and animals is morality. Please write to a veterinarian."
5. Personality.
Man was created with a soul - an oversimplification but helpful to think of man as having mind, emotion, and will that understands others, self, and God.
Adam had a mind so that he mind Know God; and emotions to Love and be Loved by God; and a will that he might Obey God.
This is what gives man meaning and purpose.
Macbeth says it all:
"To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life ’s but a walking shadow; a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."
Sproul, "To signify nothing is to be utterly and completely insignificant. To be insignificant is to be meaningless. To be without value or worth. My significance and your is tied to the questions who are we? and what are we? It is a question of identify. My identity is ultimately connected with my relationship to God. I cannot understand who or what I am without understand who or what God is...The crisis of modern humanity is found in the rupture between the study of human beings and the study of God. When our story is told in isolation or divorced from the [truth of being created in the image of God] it indeed becomes "a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing...If we are not creatures made by God and related to God, we are cosmic accidents. Our origin is insignificant and our destiny is equally insignificant.
If we emerge from the slime by accident and finally disintegrate into a void or abyss of nothingness, then we live our lives between two poles of absolute meaninglessness...without God we are nothing."
Con:
1. Man is still Exceptional - because though marred, man still retains the imagine of God.
2. Alan G. Artner writes in the Chicago Tribune that in 1995 the Art Institute of Chicago owned a treasure that they knew nothing about. In the institute’s permanent collection was a chalk drawing of an upraised hand in a position of blessing (or as we might view it today, in a position of waving hello). The drawing appeared to have suffered serious damage: highlights in lead white chalk had oxidized and turned black.
The drawing came into the institute’s permanent collection in 1943, when the widow of a University of Chicago paleontologist donated two thousand drawings. At that time scholars noticed nothing unusual about the drawing, and the appearance of damage deterred further interest. It went into storage with thousands of other drawings and copies by lesser artists.
But then in 1987 the Art Institute decided to reexamine and catalog every work in its permanent collection. Again, institute scholars first assumed the drawing of the hand was a copy done by an assistant of the Renaissance master Raphael. When they showed it to Raphael scholar Konrad Oberhuber, however, they were in for the surprise of a lifetime. He believed the drawing came from Raphael himself.
So institute scholars flew the drawing to England to show to more experts and to compare it with other Raphael originals. The verdict: the chalk drawing was a bona fide work of the master Raphael, one of the greatest figures in art history.
The prized work needed restoration, however. The oxidized paint was chemically converted into a light grey. When the cardboard mount was removed, the institute found further evidence of authenticity: a watermark in the paper similar to ones used in Florence around the time of Raphael’s death in 1520.
The chalk drawing became an invaluable part of the Art Institute’s collection, the only original Raphael they owned and one of only twelve Raphael originals in North America.
That’s what God does with the new birth, He restores we back into the unmarred image of God.
Johnny Palmer Jr.
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Dream to be able to make a living putting sermons on the internet
