Gospel Moments (10): Made in the Image of God (Part Four)

Genesis 1:27 ESV

So God created man

in his own image,

in the image of God

he created him;

male and female

he created them.

What does it mean to be created

in the image of God?

This has challenged theologians

for centuries. Many commentators

have much to say regarding

specific metaphysical

questions about the nature of the

soul and the relationship of the

image of God to

our personalities, etc.

However, I don’t believe we need

to sort through all these complexities

to have a biblical understanding

of what it means to be

created in God’s image.

“The main things are the plain

things and the plain things are

the main things,” as Alistair Begg

has frequently said.

What is important and

essential is what is plainly

stated in God’s Word.

Simply,

God has created man

to be in relationship with Him,

to resemble and represent Him,

and to rule and reign under His

authority.

“An example from the Ancient

Near East which Peter Gentry uses

in his book Kingdom through Covenant

is a powerful visual of this concept.

A ruler would place his statue in

a certain land and that statue would

indicate that he was the Lord of

that land. Humanity, as God’s

image, has a similar function.”

Man was created to distinctively

glorify and enjoy his Maker.

It is because we resemble God

that we are able to be in relationship

with Him and represent Him

in creation and

rule and reign under Him.

From the Westminister

Shorter Catechism:

Q: What is the chief end of man?

A: Man’s chief end is to glorify God,

and to enjoy him forever.

We are God’s handiwork,

we are His masterpiece.

We have been created by Him

and for Him.

And not only did He create us

in His image, but He is now

renewing us in His image in Christ.

Colossians 3:9-10

…you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self,

which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Ephesians 4:24

…put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness

and holiness.

So look to your Maker,

fix your eyes upon Him. Ask Him

to meet you right where you are,

to help you see Him, and draw near

to Him in faith. Read through the

following psalm asking Him to glorify himself in you.

Psalm 86

1 Incline your ear,

O Lord, and answer me,

for I am poor and needy.

2 Preserve my life, for I am godly;