We Are God’s Image
Introduction
Who are we? What are we here for? How should we live as God’s people in God’s world? These are the questions we are seeking to answer in this sermon series. We have learned that God’s people are a people who know the story they are part of. And that is the story the Bible tells us, beginning with creation and ending with the new creation. To understand who we are and what our mission is as God’s people we must begin at creation. Creation is one of the major themes of the Bible story. We tend to focus on Genesis 1 and 2, but there are many other passages dealing with creation, especially in the Psalms, the Prophets, and the Wisdom literature. And do not forget the New Testament. Please see your sermon handout for some of these passages. Today we will look at what it means for us to be the image of God. Next week, we will look at God’s people as a people who care for creation. These two go hand in hand. Because of who we are, God’s people in God’s image, our mission is to care for God’s creation.
1. We are human beings created in God's image
All of us were created as human beings in God’s own image. To be human is to be in a proper, right relationship with God, with other people, ourselves, and the world. But sin destroyed and distorted these relationships. We were removed from God’s presence. We became self-centered exploiting other people and God’s creation for our own benefits. In Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the perfect human, these relationships are restored. As we abide in Christ, and grow in the image of Christ, the more human we become. Living the Christian life is our journey to recover our humanity, to be human as God originally intended it to be. This means we don’t stop being human beings when we become Christians. In Christ we are now God’s people. We are already part of the new, redeemed humanity. As such we are called to fulfill and live by the original mission God gave the human race. That commission was never rescinded, retracted, and we as Christians are not exempt from that command. God’s people are a people with a mission to care for creation.
Let’s read
Genesis 1:26-28
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.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
To explore the full meaning of the image of God will take a whole sermon, perhaps even a few sermons. I want to focus on what this means for our identity and mission as God’s people. The image of God describes how God made us. It tells us who we are in essence. To be human is to be the image of God. Humans are in a special relationship to God, and they represent God in God’s creation. The Bible teaches us four important truths about humanity, about being created in the image of God.
(1) God speaks to human beings. All human beings have a fundamental awareness of and openness to God. Even if they try to reject or avoid God, they cannot escape this seed, this eternity that God has placed in their hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). All human beings are capable of hearing God’s voice.
(2) Therefore, all human beings are accountable to God. We must respond to God when he speaks to us. Every human being on this planet is known by God, considered and evaluated by God, called to account by God. Ps 33:13-15 — From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth— he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.
(3) All human beings have dignity and equality. God’s image gives unique dignity and sanctity to human life. All humans, not only some, but we, and all other human beings, are created in God’s image. This is the basis for the radical equality of all human beings. All have equal value and worth before God regardless of gender, ethnicity or race. Culture, religion, society, economics, or politics may create and assign to people all kinds of classes, groups, or status, but before God we are all radically equal.
Thus, we, as God’s people, are called to treat all human beings with dignity, equality and respect. We no longer look at people from a worldly point of view (2 Cor 5:16), but through the eyes of Christ. When we look at the other person we see, we must see, the image of God, and not the label which the world gives them — Muslim, Hindu, American, Mexican, white, black, gay, atheist, poor, rich. We see someone created by God, spoken to by God, accountable to God, loved by God, valued, evaluated, and judged by God. God’s image in humans is the basis for the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself. Anything that denies other human beings their dignity, or fails to show respect, interest, and informed understanding for what they hold precious is actually a failure of love. This does not mean that we agree and accept everything our neighbors believe or do. We cannot be silent when there are sins, falsehoods, injustice. We must still speak truth in love (Eph 4:15). We must defend our faith and truth in our conversations with unbelievers. But as God’s people we are called to do so “with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” (1 Pet 3:15-16) And with bold humility. Boldness—authority of God’s Word. Humility—not perfect.
(4) We are also all sinners and rebels against our Creator God. Because of sin God’s image in us is spoiled and distorted. Sin permeates all cultures, and all cultures, all human beings are in need of salvation. God’s mission is the restoration of that true image of God in people. Jesus is the perfect model of that image. The gospel of Christ is the power of God for the salvation to all who believe!
God created humanity and put us on earth with a mission — to take care of his creation for the glory of God. Being made in the image of God enables and entitles us to to rule over, and to care for creation.
2. We are kings of creation
Therefore, we are kings of creation. God gave humans the mission not only to fill the earth, but also to subdue the earth, and to rule over the rest of the creatures. Although these are strong words with a sense of imposing your will upon another, they do not imply violence and abuse.
Subdue the earth — this means to utilize creation for life and survival like all other species are doing. This refers to the works of agriculture, and in today’s context, it includes the other products we produce through human ingenuity and human effort, using the resources of creation which God gave us. Using our human creativity, something we have because we are created in the image of the Creator God, we develop tools and technology to pursue various forms of utilizing creation, that is, subduing the earth.
Rule over, have dominion over — This is a function and a responsibility that is given to no other species. God passes on, delegates, to human beings his own kingly authority of the whole of creation. God installs the human species as his image within creation, and God authorizes humans to exercise authority. But this authority finally belongs to God, the Creator and the Owner of the earth.
If we are to function as kings within creation representing God, the King, then we should rule in God’s way. Our kingship, rule, should reflect Gods own kingship, his rule. What kind of a king is God? How does God exercise his kingship within creation? The answers will guide us in how we, as God’s image, must act as kings within creation.
Although Genesis does not use the word king, it celebrates the Creator as King. It describes God’s creation work in regal, kingly, royal terms. God’s work shows wisdom in planning, power in execution, order, and goodness in completion.
Ps 145 especially tells us how God rules as King over all his creation.
Let’s look at Psalm 145 This psalm addresses God as “my God the King.” The rule of God in creation is described as a rule of wisdom, power, goodness, grace, compassion, faithfulness, generosity, provision, protection, justice and love — to all he has made, not only humankind. God’s kingly rule is to bless. God’s constant care ensures that the cattle, the lions, and even the birds are fed and watered (Ps 104; Mt 6:26). See also Psalms 93, 95-100, which celebrate the divine King as Creator.
We are created in God’s image. He entrusted the rule over his creation to us. Thus, our mission is to rule over creation. And our rule should be modeled after the character and values of God’s own kingship. We are called to be imitators of God (Eph 5:11) in the way we exercise this rule. This is not a license for arrogant abuse. We do not have a free hand. The image of God in us guides us. We are called to be kings — not tyrants, dictators, abusers, exploiters — if we become that, we deny and destroy God’s image in us.
3. We are servants of creation
Let’s read
Genesis 2:15
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
To work it, also translated to till it, cultivate it — the Hebrew word means doing hard work in the process of serving. In its essence this word means to serve. We are servants of creation. Service is the way in which we are to exercise our rule over creation.
Take care of it — this means to keep something safe with protection, care, and watchfulness — to treat something or someone seriously as worthy of attention. We are placed into God’s creation as stewards, to serve and look after creation. Next week we will look in more detail at what it means as God’s people to care for creation.
Conclusion
Why are we here on earth for? What is our main purpose? Of course, it is to worship and serve God, to glorify God in all we do, and all we do, to do it for the Lord. The very first element of that worship and service, the first way of worshipping and serving is to fulfill the first great commission God gave us, and that is to care for God’s creation.
What does this mean for us in our daily living? Bible knowledge alone is not enough. God’s people must obey, apply, practice, live that knowledge. I want to leave you with some questions. Pray about these and think about how to apply these truths in your life.
When you look at people, how do you view them? What do you see? During this coming week, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you to look at every person you meet or interact with, no matter who they are, to look at them not from a worldly point of view, but do see them as the image of God, to see them through the eyes of Christ, with love and compassion.
When you look at the nonhuman creation, the trees, the rivers, the mountains, the animals, the birds, yes even the snakes and those bothersome insects, what do you see? Do you see creatures made by God for the glory of God? Do you see things and creatures that belong to God? During this week try to see the world around you from this perspective. ILLUSTRATION
This week pray about and think — What does it mean for me personally, and for my life, to be the image of God, to be a king and servant of God’s creation? What do I need to change in my attitude, in my heart, in my views, in my actions, in my way of living so that I will reflect God’s image in this world? So that I will be a king and a servant of God’s creation, and so worship, serve, and glorify God.