Genesis 1:26-27 In His Own Image

(Gen 1:26-27)  “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’  God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (NASB)

Among the other details of the creation, Genesis records the creation of man.  This brief two verse account provides some meaningful truth of which we should be aware.

First, God made a plan.  Another glimpse into the Trinity provides a dialogue during the period of creation.  God speaks to God saying, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness”.  Now this is significant.  It is significant because this isn’t true of any other created thing.  Only man is created in the image of God.  Many today lump man into the category of all other animals, nothing special at all in their view.  Scripture is clear; man is made in the image of God.

Okay, just what does that mean?  We look like God looks?  Well, yes perhaps but I believe the image of God goes further.  The image of God after which man was modeled goes further than appearance, much further.  We are clearly NOT God or gods at all but as a part of creation we are unique.  There are characteristics of God that are also imputed to man.  These then encompass the image of God as it pertains to man.

So some of the qualities of man that are unique in all creation involve our ability to reason, our ability to love, and our ability to comprehend life and death.  We also have the ability to develop relationships.  Perhaps most importantly, our being made in the image of God allows God to have a relationship with us.

The most important relationship we as believers can have is one with Jesus.  Remember that opening dialogue?  “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness”.  We said that conversation was God speaking with God right?  Well it was.  Jesus was part of that conversation and in fact it is Jesus who then did the creating.  Jesus Himself created man in His image.  ”For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him.” (Col 1:16)  It is worth reading all of the first chapter of Colossians to gain the full context.

Much later, after man fell and Moses recorded the Law to point to the need for a savior, God provided one.  Our Savior came to us as a baby human with a human mother.  So then was Jesus born in the image of man?  Not exactly.  Scripture says He, “… emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Php 2:7-8)  Jesus took on “The form of a bond-servant and the likeness of men”.

This helps prove to us that appearance isn’t the full meaning of, “in Our image, according to Our likeness”.  It isn’t possible for us to be made in His image and then have Him be made in our image.  Where is the original?  Well, it isn’t man – it is Jesus.  His image is more than, “Likeness” and “Appearance”.

So the relationship of man to God is by design from the beginning.  It goes beyond the way we have a pet that we care for, even love.  Pets don’t share God’s image.  The relationship God has with us is first based on our ability to have that relationship and that is based on the fact that we ARE made in His image.  When we blew it, He provided a way to bring us back into relationship with Him.  Even that is predicated on being made in His image because it provides the foundation for our reconciliation, for our redemption.  AMEN!