You Were Made in the Image of God!
Then God said, “Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth.
That is foundational for all of us.
What does it mean to be made in the image and likeness of God?
God created human beings in His image, making them (among creation) the most like Him. Jesus Christ is the perfect image of God. Jesus, Himself, is the perfect image of God because he never sinned and was a reflection of God. We, as Christians, are in the process of becoming like Christ. It’s progressive – as we work out our salvation day by day. As we allow the Lord to refine us through the Scriptures, prayer, and relationships, we become a purer reflection of God. The apostle Paul said, it is no longer I that lives, but Christ who lives in me. In reality, we all see our hearts and thoughts and know there is room to grow. We are a work in progress. Therefore, it is important that we cultivate the soil of our lives to allow God to work on and in us.
Creation in the image of God is the foundation of the doctrine of humanity. Human beings reflect Him and are to be more like Him. We exist as either male or female image-bearers. You were chosen to be one or the other.
ALL human beings are created in His image. But sin brought corruption to humanity, and the only way back to God and His original intent is through Jesus’ redeeming grace. Being made in His image demands that we treat every human life with respect, dignity, and significance. Because everyone is made in His image and is significant, we must see people through Christ’s eyes. We need to live according to this; if we are truly reflectors and image-bearers, then we are responsible for honoring, respecting, and blessing others.
Let’s consider this all again. God created us to be most like Him among all of creation. We exist as male or female image-bearers. This means that ALL people have dignity and significance, and as Christians, we are progressively being renewed into His likeness. He is the one we pattern our lives after.
We have yet to be wholly there. But God desires that we become more like Him.
As we get this revelation and understand being made in the image of God, we must help others understand and move into a relationship with the living God – towards living in His likeness. The harvest is plentiful!