Created In His Image
Two Meanings of Being Made Like God
Aaron Lee | January 10, 2025 | AWANA | Genesis 1:26-27
Discussion
What makes humans different from animals and nature?
Introduction
We image God:
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. (Genesis 1:26)
You can talk about imaging God in terms of rationality and morality – the ability to think about what is right and wrong. I like to think about imaging in terms of we are to project an image of God to the world.
When you read a book, you can see something. When someone reads you, as a person, they should be able to see God. Being made in the image of God does not mean looking like God physically, – it’s about knowing who he is.
Big Idea
Being made in the image of God means that people are given a particular likeness to God.
In Genesis 1:26-27, we see how we are like God and we also see what it means.
1. Superiority → Accountability
And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. (Genesis 1:26)
We were created to rule over. It is apparent that there is a certain superiority that we have over the animals, and this is due to our uniqueness of being human.
Just by being human, there is inherent dignity and worth. Sometimes children will say that they are better than others. You might be more skilled or smarter, but on a level of inherent human value – the Bible says that that is not true.
Because we are to rule and be superior over things, this means that we are accountable to God to do it well. This is not just for ruling over animals, but for how we live our lives. When sin enters the world, we live as if we are not accountable to God and we just do whatever we want.
2. Community → Relationships
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27)
We were created to live in community with others. God created the first family, Adam and Eve, as male and female living together. God did not just make one, but he made two.
There was a fire recently here in Los Angeles. Homes were destroyed. Communities were broken. Even if you are not directly affected, those of us who live close feel a certain sort of loss as well. Because these are our communities.
This verse also implies that we are to live in community with God as our creator. You have to understand that the relationship between God and man was good.
Because we are to live in community with others, this means that we are to have relationships. When sin enters the world, our communities and relationships are torn. They are stained.
Applications
We are to have respect for human dignity
We are to live ethical and moral lives
We are to be compassionate and empathetic
We are to forgive and reconcile with each other
Conclusion and Gospel
The concept of the image of God takes on new life when we look at Christ:
…and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:24)
References
https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-does-it-mean-to-be-made-in-gods-image
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/man-as-the-image-of-god/