Humans Are Made in the Image and Likeness of God

MAIN TEXT: GENESIS 1:26-28

HIGHLIGHT VERSE: GENESIS 1:26
“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’” (NIV)

TOPIC POINTS:

Mental Likeness – Genesis 1:26
Moral Image – Genesis 1:27
Social Likeness – Genesis 1:28

INTRODUCTION:

Scripture teaches that humans are created in the image and likeness of God. What does it mean to be in the image of God? Are we made to physically resemble God? Isn’t God Spirit? How does it fit into the creation narrative in Genesis?

All these and more we will consider in today’s lesson.

MENTAL LIKENESS

– GENESIS 1:26, PSALM 8:3-9

One major purpose in creating mankind in God’s image is to have them rule over certain aspects of creation. They are told to cultivate and keep the garden (Genesis 2:15). The reason mankind is well-suited for this task is because they are made with the mental capacity to image God, to think God’s thoughts after Him.

Due to this, mankind is able to reason, think logically, self-reflect and come to know God. In areas of creativity and invention, we see this same truth at play. Just as God created the world in order and pattern, we as image-bearers imitate the same in art, music, literature, science, technology, etc.

MORAL IMAGE

– GENESIS 1:27, EPHESIANS 4:22-24, COLOSSIANS 3:9-10, ISAIAH 48:17

An image is a copy of the original. God being righteous and holy, created mankind righteous and holy. Because of this standard, mankind was able to commune with God. Mankind eventually fell short of this standard and God in His salvific grace, restores us to that standard in regeneration and sanctification.

It is because we are made in God’s image that we are expected to be righteous and holy in how we live. It is what makes us accountable to God through our conscience. We show ourselves to be unlike God when we sin and live in it.

SOCIAL LIKENESS

– GENESIS 1:28, GENESIS 5:1-3, GENESIS 9:6

God’s command to mankind to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth carries within it a social dimension. God Himself as triune is social by nature and made mankind to desire communion, first and foremost with God and then with other humans. We manifest this in family relations, marriage, friendships, and communities.

This social nature is what enables us to praise God, pray to Him, seek Him and hear from Him. We can relate to Him and have something in common to relate to Him with, because we are personal beings as He is.

CONCLUSION:

God in His infinite wisdom made all humans, male and female, in His image and likeness, irrespective of age, size, stage of development, ethnic group, social status, intelligence level, etc.

We are made to be like Him, to think His thoughts after Him, and imitate His character. We are thus separated from every other category of creation and called to a higher purpose, to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Give a summary of our main text
Recite our highlight verse
Human beings are made in the image and likeness of God, true or false?
‘Made in God’s image’ means we look like God physically, true or false?
What does it mean?
Mankind was made to rule over the earth and everything in it, true or false?
What in our nature makes us suitable for this task?
What does it mean to think God’s thoughts after Him?
God created mankind righteous and holy, true or false?
Mankind eventually fell from this glorious standard, true or false?
Everyone everywhere is accountable to God to be holy, true or false?
How come we are able to commune and communicate with God, unlike other created things?
How does our social nature manifest itself?
Not all humans are valuable, true or false?
Some humans are more valuable than others, true or false?
There some qualifications and requirements to attain to become fully human, true or false?
Your age, size, ethnic group, background, etc matters in your value as a human being, true or false?