Made In God's Image

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”

                (Genesis 1:26a ESV)

Finally, we see the crescendo of God’s work in creation when he makes man in his image. Notice first that God refers to “our image”. This is our first sign of God being a trinity. The very first chapter of the very first book of the Bible shows us the godhead, three persons in one. They are one God but three distinct persons that was present in creation. For earlier in Genesis one we see that God’s spirit hovered over the deep. And we know from the New Testament that Jesus was active in creation.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1-3 ESV)

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:16-17 ESV)

God created man in the image of God and in his likeness. This is how we know without a doubt that we could not have come from animals. For it is clear that we are different from them. We were not made like the animals; we were made like God. Having the capacity to think and reason. We were created with the ability to communicate and feel emotions like love. We are created in the image of God. And because we are created in that way we can share in some of the attributes we will be looking at over the next several months. God has communicable attributes and incommunicable attributes and those that he shares like love, mercy and grace we can also take on these characteristics.

How does this truth of being made in the image of God give you clarity and hope in your daily living?