In God’s Image: The Dignity and Destiny of Humanity”
Doctrinal Focus: Humanity – “We believe in the inherent dignity and value of every person, as created in God’s image and likeness, male and female, to be in fellowship with God and serve God’s purposes in creation. Yet on account of the universal sinfulness of all people due to the Fall, humanity is subject to God’s righteous wrath and condemnation.”
Introduction: “What It Means to Be Truly Human”
How do we define a human being in the 21st century? Is it our intelligence, our achievements, our relationships? The world around us often measures human value by productivity, success, or influence. But the Bible presents a far deeper, richer, and infinitely more dignified vision: every person—male or female—is created in the image of God.
Genesis 1:27 says it plainly: “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (NLT)
From the very beginning, humanity carries divine worth. But Scripture also reminds us that because of sin, all people are under God’s righteous judgment. So, the question is: How do we live in the light of this truth? How does recognising our dignity—and our fallenness—shape our discipleship, our relationship with Jesus, and our mission in the world? That’s what we will explore today.
1. Created in God’s Image: Humanity’s Divine Worth
Genesis 1:26–27 (NLT): “Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.’ So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
Verse 26: God speaks in plural (“Let us make”)—reflecting the Trinitarian nature of God, a conversation within the Godhead before humanity’s creation.
“In our image, to be like us” — The Hebrew word tselem (“image”) implies representation. Humanity is meant to reflect God’s character, moral nature, creativity, and relational capacity.
Verse 27: Male and female were created equally in dignity, highlighting that human worth is not based on gender, ability, or status.
In a world dominated by slavery, oppression, and rigid class structures, this declaration was radical: every person has inherent value.
Greek/Hebrew Word Study:
Tselem = “image” — not merely physical, but moral, spiritual, and relational resemblance to God.
Demut = “likeness” — carries the sense of purposeful reflection, implying responsibility to live as God’s representatives.
Imagine a priceless work of art, copied in perfect detail. Every brushstroke matters, every detail reflects the original. That is humanity: each person carries God’s image—irreplaceable, unique, and valuable.
Tim Keller observes: “Human dignity is rooted in God, not in achievement, not in social rank, not in how we feel about ourselves. We are valuable because we bear God’s image.”
Keller reminds us that worth is intrinsic, not earned, and discipleship begins with recognising that God’s value in us is non-negotiable.
Application for Today:
Treat all people with dignity and respect, reflecting God’s image.
Affirm human worth in your workplace, home, and community.
Reject cultural standards that demean or objectify others.
2. Fallen Humanity: The Universal Need for Redemption
Romans 3:23–24 (NLT): “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.”
Verse 23: “Everyone has sinned” — the Greek word hamartano (“to miss the mark”) conveys that sin is universal, affecting all aspects of our being: moral, relational, and spiritual.
Verse 24: God’s grace is substitutionary; Christ pays the penalty humanity owes.
Paul wrote to a diverse audience in Rome, reminding both Jews and Gentiles that no one can claim righteousness by heritage or effort.
Consider a courtroom where every person has broken the law. No one can escape the verdict. But a substitute steps forward, pays the penalty, and sets the guilty free. That is Christ for us.
John Piper: “Grace is God’s unmerited favour in action—God treating the guilty as if they were innocent, through the death and resurrection of Christ.”
Piper’s truth drives home that discipleship is not about moral perfection but dependence on Christ’s perfect righteousness.
Application for Today:
Repentance is a daily posture, acknowledging our sin and turning to Christ.
Recognise that moral effort alone cannot restore your relationship with God.
3. The Righteous Wrath of God and the Call to Repentance
Romans 1:18 (NLT): “God’s anger is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness.”
God’s wrath is not arbitrary; it is a response to persistent rebellion.
The Greek word “orge” conveys active, settled anger, a righteous response to sin.
Humanity’s suppression of truth is a rejection of the light they were created to reflect.
Picture a glass window exposed to sunlight. The glass reflects light; if it is dirty, the reflection is distorted. Humanity, created to reflect God, distorts His glory when sin clouds the soul.
R.T. Kendall: “God’s wrath is the weight of His holiness against sin; it is not capricious but a loving warning of the danger of rebellion.”
Kendall highlights that recognising God’s wrath is not fear-mongering; it awakens urgent awareness and repentance.
Application for Today:
Take sin seriously in personal life and community.
Use God’s Word as a mirror to examine your heart daily.
Lead others toward Christ, the only safe refuge.
4. The Gospel Solution: Christ, the Image Restorer
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT): “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
Christ, the sinless Son, became the substitute for humanity.
Salvation is not our achievement; it is a transfer of righteousness from Christ to the believer.
Paul addresses a community struggling with internal conflict, showing that reconciliation with God is both legal and relational.
A child in debt cannot pay, but the parent steps in and settles the account. Christ does this for all who repent and believe.
Charles Stanley: “Jesus paid a debt He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay. That is the heart of the Gospel.”
Stanley’s metaphor underscores discipleship’s foundation: trusting Jesus fully, living under His grace, and reflecting His image daily.
Application for Today:
Embrace Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice fully.
Live out the restored image through obedience, humility, and service.
Engage in intentional discipleship, mentoring others in God’s truth.
5. Practical Discipleship: Living in God’s Image Today
Ephesians 4:24 – “Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”
Micah 6:8 – “Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”
Colossians 3:10 – “Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.”
Treat every person as a reflection of God.
Daily examine your heart for sin, confess, and repent.
Seek growth in Christlike character—holiness, humility, compassion.
Serve in your workplace, family, and community as God’s ambassador.
A sculptor chisels a block of marble, gradually revealing the beauty hidden within. God is chiselling our lives to restore His image. Discipleship is the ongoing process of letting God shape us.
Gospel Invitation: Responding to Christ
Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose bodily to give you eternal life.
He calls you to repent—turn from sin—and trust Him as your Saviour and Lord.
Salvation is not about earning favour; it is about receiving Christ’s finished work.
Call to Action:
Pray: “Lord Jesus, I acknowledge my sin. I believe You died for me, rose for me, and I receive You as my Lord and Saviour.”
Commit to discipleship: Read Scripture daily, pray, join a community, and serve others reflecting God’s image.
Conclusion & Benediction
Beloved, remember: you are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. Sin has marred that reflection, but Christ has restored it. Walk boldly in your identity as God’s image-bearer, living in obedience, reflecting His glory, and proclaiming His grace.
May the God of all grace strengthen you, restore your soul, and empower you to live as His beloved image-bearer, to the glory of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen.
