Created in God's Image -- 3/16/08

Sunday, March 16, 2008

CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE
Gen. 1:26-27

Surely we have established that creation, though marred by the sin of mankind, is a marvelous thing. And why is creation so marvelous and in places absolutely breathtaking? Because behind creation stands a wonderfully creative Creator. He is none other than the holy and righteous God revealed in the Bible. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” It is no wonder we read again and again, “And God saw that it was good” (Gen. 1:4,10,12,18,21,25). But then we read these words in Gen. 1:31, “And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.”

Think about that – very good. Of each successive part of creation, God saw that it was good, but after He had finished it all, it was very good. After verse 25, we still read that it was good, but in 31 we read that it was very good. What was the difference? What was created between verse 25 and verse 31? Check it out. The only thing left to create after verse 25 was man. After the creation of man and woman, God saw that it was very good.

This morning we are going to consider man, the crown of creation. Now when I say “man,” I am referring to mankind, for God created them male and female. We often speak of saving the best for last. That’s what God did; He saved the best for last. All of creation was good, but after the creation of mankind, God said that it was very good. Someone may say, “It wasn’t because of the creation of man; it was because everything had been finished. It was the cumulative effect that caused God to say it was very good.” Perhaps there is some truth in that, but it is no accident that mankind was created last. The creation of the first five and a half days set the stage for the last element, the creation of man. The creation could never be complete until God set man upon the earth.

Even in the narration of these events, there is some fundamentally different about the creation of man. Notice the statement “Let there be…” You can find it in verses 3,6, and 14. Twice we read “Let the earth bring forth” (11,24) and once “Let the waters bring forth” (20). But when it comes to the creation of man, the language is suddenly different. Verse 26, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Now the language is personal. It is no longer, “Let there be,” but “Let us make…” We are being prepared to understand that there is something special about this last part of creation.

Let’s look at four aspects of the creation of man. This is not original with me. I got the basic idea from John MacArthur. These four aspects of man’s creation set man apart from the rest of creation. I will try to set these forth in a way that we can remember them easily. We will not give equal attention to these four, as the first is in my opinion the most important. And for that reason, we will devote our time this morning to the first of these ideas, that man is created in the image of God.

Let’s begin by reading our text carefully. Read Gen. 1:25-31
And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 26. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. 31. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

The first thing that confronts us about the creation of man is that he is to be in the image of God. “Let us make man in our image… So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Gen. 1:26-27). Of which animal, fish, or bird did God say, “Let us make it in our image”? None. Only with respect to man did God speak of His image.

I. Exploring the Image of God in Man

But what is meant by being created in God’s image? Look again at verse 26, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” The Lord is not saying two separate things – Let us make him in our image and in our likeness. Rather, the second phrase gives definition to the first. “Image” and “likeness” refer to the same thing, as is often the case in Hebrew parallelism. To be created in God’s image is to be like Him. The question becomes: So how is man like God? And since no other part of creation was made in God’s image, we can sharpen our question, “How is man like God in a way that no other creature is like God?”

First of all, we can rule out the idea that man was made to look like God. What does God look like? There is a sense in which we can say, “No one knows, for no one has ever seen God.” On the other hand, some might conclude that we do look like God, for we read in the scriptures about God’s hands, face, eyes, ears, nose, tongue, neck, arms, finger, heart, etc. [see page 158 in Grudem]. But as Lee explained three weeks ago, this is an example of anthropomorphic language in the Bible. In other words, the Bible gives us these explanations as a way of helping us to understand God, but the writers do not mean to say that God actually has a nose, tongue, and ears. If we were to press such language, we would have to conclude that God also has feathers and wings. In fact, Jesus tells us in no uncertain terms that “God is [a] Spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:24).

But wait a minute. What about that conversation between Jesus and Philip in John 14? Let’s read it again. Jn. 14:7-9…
If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8. Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

Jesus simply said that when they saw Him, they saw the Father. So if to see Jesus is to see the Father and since Jesus had a physical body, doesn’t that mean that God the Father has a physical body too? Doesn’t this mean to be created in the image of God is to have a physical body like Him? What we must remember is why Jesus has a physical body? This is not part of His likeness to the Father. Let’s go back and read John 1:1-3,14…
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. The same was in the beginning with God. 3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made… And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The Son of God, the living Word, was not always in a physical body. In the beginning when the Father was creating all things through Him, He had no physical body. "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons" (Gal. 4:4-5). The reason for Jesus taking on a physical body is more fully explained in Heb. 2:14-17…
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15. And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

So if the image of God is not speaking of a physical body, then to what does it refer? If God has no physical body, then how are we like God? How do we differ from the rest of creation? Remember that only man is created in the image of God. John Cross, in his book Stranger on the Road to Emmaus, points to the fact that man, like God, has mind, emotions, and a will. That is, man can think. And man’s ability to think is sometimes staggering. Like God, man also has feelings. No one can deny that fact. And finally, like God, man has a will. Does he ever! Perhaps some of us could be termed “strong-willed adults.” So John Cross finds these three elements as the keys to understanding man being created in the image of God.

I agree that these factors are involved in the image of God. However, all three of these elements are also found in animals, especially the higher animals. Of course, in humans they are present in a much greater degree. Obviously, man has more brain power than a dog. His feelings run deeper than those of the family pet. And his will is stronger than that of an animal, though in some cases that might be questionable. Nevertheless, I emphasize that the difference is only in degree. After all, chimpanzees and dolphins are pretty smart.

II. Coming to the Heart of the Issue

Is there something about man that is totally different from the rest of creation? Is there some difference that is more than a matter of degree. Yes, there certainly is. While we may not find it spelled out in Genesis 1, the rest of the Bible makes it absolutely clear. Here it is: God created man to relate. Man is a relational being. And our text does begin to bring this out, for we are told that God created them male and female.

You may say, “So what? God created all the animals male and female.” While that is true, the first mention of male and female is here in verse 27, “male and female created he them.” While animals are composed of males and females, there is a relational aspect that is not present in animals. While animals can reproduce, they do not relate in the way that human beings do.

So again, is this not just a matter of degree? No, it is more than that. As some have put it, human beings are self-conscious. Animals differ from trees in that they have consciousness. Perhaps that is why the Bible never refers to plants as living. As you go back through chapter 1, you will find that there is no reference to the plants as living. The first mention of life is in verse 20, “Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life…” And again in verse 24, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping things, and beast of the earth after his kind…” Unlike plants, animals have consciousness. But unlike the animals, humans are self-conscious. While animals are conscious and can react to their environment, they don’t know who they are. Human beings not only react to their environment, but they are self-conscious. We know who we are (at least, most of us do!).

But let’s go beyond this difference and come to right to the heart of the matter. Not only is man a relational being, but man has the capacity for a relationship with God. This is where the difference is not a matter of degree. Man has what no other creature has – the capacity to relate to God in a meaningful way. Surely this is the key element concerning the image of God.

So man is a relational being. Cut a man off from all relations to other people, and he will not thrive. Man was made to relate to other people and especially to God, for God created man in His own image. God Himself is a relational being and has always been a relational being. We find this truth in the text itself. Though the details are not spelled out, the truth is here. Verse 26, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” We have talked about this before. It is no accident that we find the words “us” and “our” in this text.

Consider the word “God” itself. In the Hebrew it is “elohim.” I know very little about the Hebrew language, but I do know that “-im” is the plural ending. The same word is often translated “gods” in the Old Testament, meaning the pagan gods of the nation. The context determines to what it refers. Here’s the point: the Hebrew word for “God” (or “gods”) is plural. We read in Deut. 6:4, “Hear, O Israel; the LORD our God is one LORD.” It’s kind of ironic – “Our gods is one.” His name is plural, and yet He is one.

We have talked about this before. Because we know the clear teaching of the New Testament, we can see the Trinity in Genesis 1. “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” Then at the end of verse 2, “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Now in 1:26, “And God said, Let us make man in our image…” We see the Father, the Spirit, and the Son right here in Genesis 1.

I repeat – God is a relational being. God has always been in relationship. It didn’t begin with the creation of the universe. No, before He created anything, there was God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. And within the godhead we see relationship. The first place we see it is right here in 1:26, “Let us make man in our image.” In Ps. 2:7, we find God the Father saying to the Son, “Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Or consider the words of David in Ps. 110:1, “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, he confirmed that this was indeed God the Father speaking to the Son (see Acts 2:33-35).

Again, we can see this relationship in the creation. Who created the universe? God the Father, for we read, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” But don’t forget that it was the Spirit of God that moved upon the face of the waters. But what about the Son? We read it earlier in John 1:1-3, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. The same was in the beginning with God. 3. All things were made by [literally “through”] him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." Jesus was the agent of all creation. The Father did it, but He did it through the Son. We can find the same thing in Colossians 1. Let’s begin in verse 14 to make sure we understand that Paul is talking about Jesus, the Son of God. Col. 1:14-17…
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15. Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16. For by him [or “in him”] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Do you see? There was relationship in the godhead before the creation of the world. Who was it that decided the Son would be made flesh and dwell among us? Surely it was decided in the council of the Trinity. As Jesus was praying to the Father that last night, He spoke these words: “Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2. As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him" (Jn. 17:1a-2). And when did the Father give these to Jesus? Paul tells us that we who are the children of God were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. We could go on and on, but the simple point is that there has always been relationship in the godhead. God, who is trinity, is a relational being. And when He created man in His own image, He created him as a relational being. We see it all around us, as human beings relate to one another. But we see it even more in man’s capacity to relate to God Himself.

Now the most marvelous and intimate of all human relationships is that found in marriage. While it is true that all males and females do not marry, it seems clear that the creation of mankind as male and female is the foundation for marriage. When Jesus was confronted by the Pharisees concerning the issue of marriage and divorce, Jesus responded by quoting from the scripture: “Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female…?” (Matt. 19:4). As we know from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, the male-female relationship in marriage is a picture of Christ and His church. The creation of mankind as male and female is all about relationship, because we are created in the image of a relational God.

III. Is Man the Crown of Creation?

We obviously aren’t going to deal with the four aspects of man’s creation; we have only dealt with the first. We could go on, but I want us to linger on this idea that God made man in His image, that God made man to relate. Let’s also go back to what I said at the beginning about man being the pinnacle of God’s creation. God saved the best for last. Yes, man is the crown of God’s creation.

Would it be proper to say that everything else set the stage for the creation of man? What do you think? It sounds good, but maybe there is a problem there. It could sound like I am saying that man is the measure of all things, that everything in the universe revolves around man. You probably know me well enough to know that I wouldn’t want to say that, for I believe one of the greatest problems in our world is man-centeredness. Nevertheless, it is difficult to escape the idea that God did indeed save the best for last, that everything else prepared the stage for the creation of mankind. After all, who was it that named the animals? Who was it that would rule over the animals?

Before we go any further, we have to come back to that question that we talk about from time to time: Why did God create man in the first place? Some say that God created man so that He would have someone to fellowship with. The idea is that God was lonely and needed someone to whom He could relate. That is heresy. While it is true that God is a relational being, as we have seen, we must never think of God as needing anything or anyone outside Himself. God didn’t need anyone to whom He could relate, because He had Himself in His trinitarian form. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit related to one another and they were perfectly content to do so. Go back to Jesus’ prayer in John 17. Let’s read Jn. 17:4-5, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was” (NKJV). Now does it sound like Jesus was lonely before He came to this earth?

If God didn’t create man because He needed someone, then why did He create him? Again, let’s be clear that man is indeed the pinnacle of all creation. Man is not on a par with animals. Let's illustrate it. I need three volunteers...

[Have the three volunteers come to the front and explain as you go. On one side have the person hold up his fist, representing a one-celled organism. In the middle, have another volunteer represent a chimpanzee. Tell him to look like one! Then on the opposite side have the third volunteer represent a human being.]

Now let me ask you this question: Is there a greater difference between the one-celled organism and the chimpanzee or between the chimpanzee and the human being? (Give some time to think). Yes, the greater difference is between the chimpanzee and the human being. The difference between a one-celled organism and the chimpanzee is nothing compared with the difference between that chimpanzee and the human being. We live in a society that is increasingly accepting the concept that the life of an animal is almost as sacred as the life of a man or woman. That is one of the consequences of evolutionary thought. That kind of thinking makes man little more than an animal. No, that is wrong; man and man alone is created in the image of God.

BUT, and let emphasize that “but”… But, though man is at the top of God’s creation, let us not misunderstand the purposes of God. Why did God create man? Let me put it in terms of Genesis 24. Does Genesis 24 ring any bells for you? Abraham had a very precious son whose name was Isaac. Isaac had the love of his father. Materially, he had everything anyone could want, because his father was very rich. Nevertheless, Abraham loved his son Isaac and wanted him to be blessed with a wife. Not just any wife would do. Abraham would not take a bride for his son from among the surrounding Canaanites. No, he would send his servant back to his own people. That servant would travel over 500 miles (maybe a good bit farther) to find a bride for Isaac.

And who would that bride be? Yes, Rebekah. Rebekah was minding her own business when a man from afar comes and tells her and her family that she is the one for his master’s son Isaac. Was Rebekah blessed? Indeed she was. Though she would have to leave her family and everything she had known, she would be the wife of one of the great patriarchs. She would give birth to Jacob, who would become Israel. All the riches of Abraham and Isaac would be hers. Now let me ask you a question: Was Abraham acting primarily on behalf of Rebekah? NO. He was acting on behalf of the son whom he loved so dearly.

Are you following me? I am using Genesis 24 as a picture of something far greater. In the same way that Abraham desired and sought a bride for his son, so God the Father desires and is providing a bride for His Son Jesus. Ultimately, this is why He created man. Does He love the people who will make up the bride? Absolutely. Nevertheless, His primary motive is to honor and bless His Son. I am suggesting to you that when God said, “Let us make man in our image,” He was already thinking of a bride for His Son.

And what evidence do we have for such thinking? How can we have any inkling about God’s plan before the creation of mankind? Because of the Word of God. 1 Pet. 1:18-2…
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20. Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Jesus Christ was foreordained before the foundation of the world. Foreordained to what? Rev. 13:8 speaks of “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Before creation, God had already planned the crucifixion of His Son. Let’s read II Tim. 1:8-10…
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9. Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10. But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Paul says that God’s own purpose and grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began. No wonder Paul writes these words to the Ephesians in Eph. 1:3-6…
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

We who are God’s children were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. Brothers and sisters, I am simply saying that God already knew what He was going to do before He created mankind, and the plan was centered in Jesus Christ.

You may say, “That makes it seem that man is only a means to an end, that man was created only to bring honor and glory to the Son.” That is exactly what I’m saying. But isn’t that degrading to man? Let me answer that in two ways. First of all, go back to Isaac and Rebekah. Was it degrading for Rebekah to leave her home and family and become the wife of a man who was one of the great names of the Old Testament, to leave paganism and come to a place where she could know the true God? And now for a more direct answer, come back to Eph. 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ.” Blessed be God, but also blessed be us who are His children, for we have been given every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Salvation is a wonderful thing. There is no glory greater than being a Son of God, but it’s all a part of the bigger picture. Our glory and blessing is in Christ. As those who have been espoused to Christ, our glory is in the preparation to be His bride for all eternity. Our focus is not upon ourselves, but upon Him who gave Himself for us.

“But I thought God loved us.” God does indeed love us. He loves us enough to strip our self-focus and self-glorification and set our minds on Him who is worthy of all glory, the Lord Jesus Christ. And this fits in perfectly with the concept of the image of God. Man has marred that image, primarily by focusing on self, by looking in the mirror. But praise God that He has undertaken to restore His image in man. But how can He do that? 2 Cor. 3:18, "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." As we behold the glory of our Lord, we are changed into His image from one degree of glory to another. God began His work in man at the creation in Gen. 1. He continued the work when He made us a new creation, as Paul spoke of in Eph. 2:10. He continues to restore the image in us and will finally complete the work when we are glorified with Him. 1 John 3:2, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

Yes, God loves us enough to turn our world upside down, so that we understand that man is not the center of the universe. When Paul tells us to stop being conformed to this world, surely one of the central aspects of the world's thinking is the concept that everything must revolve around man. God loves us enough to open our eyes and see that in reality everything revolves around His glory.

Conclusion

Yes, man is the crown of God’s creation, but it isn’t because of anything we have done or would do. Man is the crown of God’s creation because out of man God will take a bride for His Son. And that was His plan from before the foundation of the world. God has given man an elevated place in the creation, as we will discuss later. But over all of it is the Creator. We give all reverence and glory to Him, who is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.