The Image Of God Series

It has been almost 150 years since Charles Darwin published his book on the origin of species. In those 143 years, Darwin’s theory of evolution has come to be the dominant scientific view of the origin of life on planet earth. Now again this week I am not going to spend a great deal of time poking holes in evolution. There are many better qualified to do that than I am. Instead I want to ask you a question. What is the greatest negative impact of this theory in the last 143 years?

Well, clearly, the most significant impact relates to what we looked at last Sunday from Genesis 1. Darwin’s completely materialistic view of origins has allowed mankind to remove God from the picture. If things just happened by chance over time then there is no Creator to worry about. If there is no Creator then I am accountable to no one and I can do pretty much whatever I please without any worry of consequences.

In my opinion there has been another negative consequence to the widespread acceptance of the theory of evolution. Not only has it lowered man’s view of God, but it has also lowered mankind’s view of man. You see, if we all just evolved from lower life forms then we really are no better than any of those life forms.

Hitler used evolution to first destroy the mentally handicapped and then the "racially inferior" Jews.

Since man is considered just another animal, our society teaches that when we violate moral standards we are just giving in to our animal instincts.

PETA can say a dog=a pig=a boy

We have been told for so long that we are animals, that we are very quickly learning to live like animals.

In contrast to this picture, Genesis 1 stands out in stark contrast.

Last week we looked at the most important theme in the chapter. Undoubtedly, God is the hero of the chapter. The main purpose of the chapter is to introduce us to this mighty Creator God and to show us how we are accountable to His Sovereignty.

However, we cannot pass from this chapter without also seeing the second most important theme - the creation of man.

Read Genesis 1:24-31

1. Man is the pinnacle of creation

all of the days of creation find their culmination in the creation of man

2. Man is given dominion over the creation

1:26, 28

3. Man is uniquely blessed and provided for

1:28-29

4. Man is made in the image of God

1:26-27

What does it mean when it says that we are made in the image of God?

1. Our being is in some sense the same as God’s

eternal life, spirit, consciousness, mind, moral qualities

In some way we as the creation resemble the Creator

2. We are God’s representatives here on earth.

Babylonian kings would send a governor or a sub-ruler as their image - literally to rule in their place.

- context does have the sense of ruling over creation.

3. God has chosen to show what he is like by means of man.

What does an image do - it shows what the original is like.

Queen’s image on a coin

God chooses man to image himself in this world.

KJV Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

NIV 2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

NIV Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

NIV Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.