Monday: In the Image of the Maker
Gen: 1:27
The Bible states that God created humankind — male and female — “in His own image” (Gen: 1:27). Based on this idea, answer the following questions:
1. What does it mean that God created us in His own image? In what ways are we “in His own image” (NKJV)?
2. According to the Genesis account, did the Lord make anything else “in His own image” (NKJV) other than humankind? If not, what does that tell us about our unique status, in contrast to the rest of the earthly creation? What lessons can we draw from this contrast?
3. What else can be found in the account of the creation of humankind that sets the race apart from anything else the Lord had created? See Gen: 2:7, Genesis 2:18-25.
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
Although we must speak of God in human terminology, we must not forget that He is a spiritual Being (John 4:24), possessing divine characteristics. All we can say is that in our physical, mental, and spiritual natures, we reflect in some way our divine Creator, however much there remains about Him that is still, at least for us, shrouded in mystery. The Bible emphasizes, however, the spiritual and mental aspects of our mind. These aspects we can develop and improve. It is the uniqueness of the human mind that makes possible a nourishing relationship with God, something the rest of anything in God’s earthly creation seem unable to do.
Notice, too, the unique account of how God made woman. Both men and women share the incredible privilege of being made in the image of God. In their creation, there is no hint of inferiority of one to the other. God Himself made them both from the same material. God made both equal from the start and placed them together in a special relationship with Him. Both had the same opportunity to develop their God-given characters in a way that would bring glory to Him.
“God Himself gave Adam a companion. He provided ‘an help meet for him’ — a helper corresponding to him — one who was fitted to be his companion, and who could be one with him in love and sympathy. Eve was created from a rib taken from the side of Adam, signifying that she was not to control him as the head, nor to be trampled under his feet as an inferior, but to stand by his side as an equal, to be loved and protected by him.” — Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 46.
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Created in the image of God; not in statue but likeness. Do I look like God? Is God like human beings?
God is a spirit. But He formed man in His likeness of love and splendor.
Cheelo
God is more than spirit. We are like Him in that we ( a human being ) are Body, Mind and Spirit ( Breath of Life ). Without any one of the three, we are not a human. The Bible presents the Godhead in this same manor, God the Father, mind, Christ the Body we can see and touch and the Spirit who can be anywhere and everywhere touching His creation. I have used this likeness when discussing with folks on the state of the dead. It has helped them gain a picture that a human is not human, a living soul, without any one of the 3. The soul without the body and the mind is simply the breath of life God breathed into Adam to bring him to life and this is what returns to God in death. Nothing more.
We do not understand, nor may we ever, the workings of the Godhead. Are they 3 distinct entities acting in unison as one or all in one body but able perform tasks in 3 distinct manors? This will be something that will be revealed to us over the mellinnia of time. One would have to conclude that we do look like Him because we see Christ ( the body ) who became flesh and lived like a man. More importantly, it is His character ( Mercy, Justice, Order and Benevolence to our created family ) that God gave us in His likeness and it is this part of His creation that became so flawed at the fall and He is restoring in us ( through His Spirit ) by means of salvation through Christ.
Interesting to consider why a "spirit" would create a completely physical universe. I think the words Jesus spoke in John 4:24 seem to say something different than how most read it in an English translation. The original language is more like "Spirit, the God is"(pneuma ho Theos). If we follow what Jesus tells the woman, we are to worship God "in spirit and in truth".
This could make for some interesting study/discussion.
Thanks, Robert. I think the emphasis is also on living God, as compared to all other "gods." Newer translations translate John 4:24 as "God is Spirit," rather than "God is "a spirit." That makes a world of difference - the difference between emphasis on a living God and some sort of ethereal being.
Yes Inge, and as we understand how the leaders in Jesus' day understood God, He was little more than a theory to them, a subject of debate, rather than a living, breathing Being with whom they would have a practical relationship. This is why their great focus on law without the true understanding of its living principles written in the heart. The true "spirit" of worship is holiness(Ps 29:2), revealed in love for God and our neighbor. Lifeless forms are void of that vital "spirit" God desires.
Another text, tells me I am not so concerned of the Spirit or that Spirit, rather I like that He, the Lord taketh away the veil which is upon our hearts and we see clearly... 2 Corinthians 3:16-18.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Cor 5:17
In the Image of the Maker
Human were created in the image of his Creator, but what is the 'Image of God?'
What is not the image of God? The image of God has nothing to do with the outward looks in terms of skin color of a person, his height, or the way he walks or looks. When humans were created in the image of God, humans bore the character of God. Humans were created perfect, holy and righteous just like our Creator in his present perfection. At that time humans held open face to face communion with their heavenly Father. When open communion with his maker and creator was in place everything was good and without no trace of sin, all was good. When sin entered the world, humans became imperfect, unholy and unrighteous and hid from the Holy Father. Their image of pre-sin ceased to exist. Presently Christ is doing a great work of restoring/reproducing his image in humans and making us new creation. He is writing his laws once again in our minds, and we are learning to trust in his with all of our hearts, soul and mind.
We were told about Moses wanted to see the Lord so 'badly', the Lord told him he cant see his face. Exod 33:20. Sinners in our sinful state cant see the face of our Creator.
What does it mean that God created us in His own image? In what ways are we in His own image"? this question has been around ever since the existence of man, and rightly so the answers varies. Is the question suggesting that God has a physical stature, that we would look like him or even act like him? So for starters like myself I would want to lean on the part that would suggest that the quote "In His Image" does not have anything to do with an physical appearance. as far as we know The Man that God created was the only being that he had a one on one communication with.
We look at a child and pronounce him the ‘splitting image’ of a parent; meaning, they have features similar to the parent. But when a parent lives with that child, it becomes clear that the child does look like the parent and also behaves like the parent.
Being made in God’s image we have characteristics that are similar to His appearance but we also have inner traits which reflect His great creative mind. Adam named the creatures, an activity which distinguished him from all other created beings and further established his likeness to the Creator.
The image of God is considered a topic of much discussion. I think that we must understand it starting from the conception of man. In other words, understand man in an integral way as a unit. In that sense, if God created man in his image, then we must understand him in the integral sense of man.
On the other hand, in relation to the particular creation that God had with man, he places man on a unique level in relation to the rest of creation, this aspect includes woman. For both man and woman were created and formed by their own hands. That implies a great responsibility.
We learn from many texts in the Word that Jesus Christ, our LORD, said let Us, make humans in our image, they created Adam and then gave him a "human helper". Even more importantly after Jesus' ascension He sent "another divine helper", the Holy Spirit, to guide us into all truth.
So one of the aspects of the image of God, I believe, is that we are not left alone to figure out everything. We have the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the Word of the LORD and in the wisdom & knowledge of our community of faith.
We are encouraged to submit any new ideas to the brethren for “in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”
I have found the Counsels to Writers by EG White very helpful and would recommend it to all who feel inspired to share truths that they discover with others.
Below are a few extracts.
God's beautiful character of peace, unconditional love, forgiveness and genuine love for humanity is the image of God, in which we were created.
As a child of God, there are great things that are complex to my mind, I can only imagine what the unconverted are struggling with. Lord Help me to be a student in your school of life.
Gods character, is manifested in the image by which man kind was created for, kindness ,unconditional love and the power of choice are some of the few things that reflect the unique imagine of the creator in us compared to other created creatures.
Created in the Image of God
A solemn thought is we are made in the image of God.
On a beautiful spring day in Canada, i took the Children's Sabbath School class outside. As part of an interactive activity i asked them to look around and point out all the things God made.They said the obvious (flowers, birds, sky) and conventional (people, soil, rocks) and then this little girl who was thinking deeply said "words". I smiled at her 6-7 year old wisdom. God made words since He spoke to the nothingness and made all things. He also brought the animals to Adam for Adam to "name" them, so Adam could understand and use words too. God and Adam communicated using "words". We are like God and made in His image in this way. He is a communicative God and so are we.
We are created in the image of God.
Genesis 1:26 explains the being created in the image of God
✝ Genesis 1:26
"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."
1. Like God we make decisions. *Let us make* God decides to! In us he put the free will of choice to make decisions in life; for him or for the world.
2.The social aspect. *Let us* The 'us' God the father, son and Holy Spirit. The godhead decided in that unity us. Mankind is created social. This is what makes us relate and even come together for fellowship.
3. After being created, man is asked to have dominion. God is sovereign and he has extended this aspect of dominion to us. We are to rule over the rest of the creation. In fact this is the root of stewardship in our spiritual life.
Blessed Sabbath