Our world is filled with millions of different types
of creatures, yet only one is said to be made “in the image of God.” The image
of God makes us very special in comparison with the rest of creation. This is
not about mankind looking at themselves as superior, rather it is our Creator
who has placed this honor on us, and as we will see in a future article, we
have a great purpose and responsibilities that go along with the honor that God
gives to us.
In the meantime, let’s ponder the question: what
does the image of God refer to? Wayne Grudem said, “The fact that man is in the
image of God means that man is like God in the following ways: intellectual
ability, moral purity, spiritual nature, dominion over the earth, creativity,
ability to make ethic choices, and immortality” (Systematic Theology, p.
443).
Resemblances[i]
|
God
|
Man
|
1. Spiritual nature
|
John 4:24
|
1 Thess. 5:23
|
2. Moral nature (conscience)
|
Ex. 34:6-7
|
Eccl. 7:29; Gen.
1:27, 31
|
3.
Eternal
existence
|
Ps. 90:1-2
|
Dan. 12:2; Matt.
25:46
|
4.
Ability
to reason
|
Ps. 104:2-4; Rom.
16:27
|
Pro. 14:22; Mark
2:6, 8
|
5.
Rule
over the earth
|
Ps. 24:1-2; 50:12
|
Gen. 1:26; Heb.
2:7-8
|
6.
Freedom
of choice
|
Ps. 115:3; 135:6
|
Ps. 119:30; Pro.
1:29
|
7.
Relationship
capacity
|
Ex. 19:4-6; Mal.
3:17
|
Ps. 133:1; 1 John
1:7
|
From these lists, let’s consider 3 in more detail.
First, morally, we are made in God’s image. “God made men upright, but they
have sought out many devices” (Ecc.7:29). It is very rare to find even the
worst of criminals who will not agree that we have a moral nature. If you asked
a murder if it is alright to kill a defenseless baby, most of them would state that
it is wrong, even if they have done it.
This is actually proof of God’s existence for He has given us a
conscience to know right and wrong.
Second, mentally, we are made in God’s image. We
have the ability to reason, think logically, and make freewill choices. And as
Enrique pointed out, we recognize and search for wisdom. Grudem said, “Animals sometimes exhibit
remarkable behavior in solving mazes or working out problems in the physical
world, but they certainly do not engage in abstract reasoning—there is no such
thing as the ‘history of canine philosophy,’ for example, nor have any animals
since creation developed at all in their understanding of ethical problems or
use of philosophical concepts… Even in developing physical and technical skills
we are far different from animals… We continue to develop greater skill and
complexity in technology, agriculture, science, and in nearly every field of
endeavor” (p. 446).
Lastly, and most significantly, we are similar to
God spiritually. God is defined as a spirit,
and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24).
“Because man is spirit, he can have fellowship with God and love Him. Herein
lies our true worth. We are valuable to God and others. God loves men and women
far beyond His love for animals, plants or inanimate matter. Moreover, He feels
for men and women, identifies with them in Christ, grieves for them and
intervenes in history to make each of us into all He has determined we should
be” (Boice, Foundations of the Christian Faith, p. 153).
In His service,
Matt
[i] Wilbur Fields, Old Testament History: An Overview of Sacred
History & Truth (Joplin, MO: College Press Publishing, 2005), 27.
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