“In His Image”
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles
My Bible class has been reviewing the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), regarding God preparing the world for the advent of the Messiah. In Genesis 1:27, we are told that “God created man in His [own] image; in the image of God created He him; male and female He created them.”
What does the above Scripture mean to you and me as His special creation?
Some have said, “God gave us a soul.” Yes, of course God gave man a soul. But God doesn’t have a soul. He gave a soul to man and all living creatures, although He Himself, being the Creator, certainly doesn’t need a soul. Our soul was given at the time when God “breathed” into man (Genesis 2:6-8).
Perhaps the image of God could be of a physical nature. But man was forbidden to make any graven image….that is, anything that represented God. The Jews were fearful of anyone or anything taking the form of God as they were warned (Exodus 20:1-5).
Philip, one of the twelve apostles, asked the Lord in John 14:8-9, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us. Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”
Although Philip saw the Lord’s healing and heard Hi teaching, the idea of God becoming a man was a difficult concept for him. Only Jesus Himself could declare to Philip, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him” (John 14:7). Does Jesus mean physically? No. Jesus tells his followers that He demonstrates the attributes of God, not his physical image. So, being created in the image of God, is not a physical representation.
So certainly, man wasn’t given the “likeness” of God physically. God doesn’t look like a man. However, the Lord was given that likeness. He did not come as an angel or a special being….but He came in the “form” of a human. He could therefore relate to us in that “form.”
Therefore, perhaps it is God’s Spirit which is His image. But God’s Spirit is a holy manifestation of God and is given as a gift. David wrote in Psalm 51:11 ASV, “Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” God gave His Holy Spirit to the faithful, but not to all.
On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38), the Apostle Peter stated, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Therefore, not everyone receives that gift until they have rendered obedience to Christ as Savior.
If God’s image isn’t the soul, or the spirit, or the physical likeness….then God’s image must be something else.
I firmly believe that God’s image refers to man’s ability to reason, to discern and to make conscience decisions….especially our ability to choose (Joshua 24:14-15). Man is held accountable for his actions. God expects “His image” to fulfill His instructions. Man also has the capacity of love and forgiveness. Our “image” should reflect the very attributes of the Father and of the Son.
However, we have failed.
All mankind is endowed with God’s image. The most horrific and heinous of men: Hitler, Stalin, Mao Tse Tung, are also stamped with God’s image. God gave His image to man at creation. Therefore, the best and the worst of us have been given His image.
Paul told those early Christians in Romans 8:29 KJV, “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among the brethren.”
We, as Adam, are created with the image of God. However, man has corrupted the image that was given to him. We determine to make our own choices based not on God’s instructions, but upon the mistaken belief that man has been given the authority of self-determination. To obey is optional. God is left out of the equation.
Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as I am known.”
We come face to face with God’s image in Jesus. The perfected image….the perfect second Adam….the fully obedient Adam. The first Adam failed as ourselves fail. But Perfection has come and we too will be transformed….”even as I am known.”
—Barbara Hyland, guest writer