- Creation: Why are we here?
- Image of God: Who are we?
Can we discover who we are? Are we just another animal on top of the heap of evolution? Or are we something else? Are we something more? What does the Bible say about human beings from a spiritual and philosophical perspective? Genesis 1:26 states:
Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, so they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all creatures that move on the earth." (NET Bible)
God does not say this about anything else in the universe; not any physical thing; not plants or animals. Human beings are somehow unique in creation. Can we discover from the Bible some of the ways in which we are unique?
To rule, have dominion
To rule, have dominion
First, the scripture quoted above says that God, who is the ruler over the universe because he created it, has appointed human beings to be rulers over the earth and the other life forms on he earth. So in some sense we human beings are rulers like God is a ruler. But what does it mean to "rule over" something? Unfortunately, because of our experience through history, we have come to see "rulers" or "kings" as tyrants who are more interested in their own power and wealth than in taking care of the people over whom they have power. From God's perspective, however, the "ruler" is actually a caretaker. God has appointed us caretakers of this earth. Look at Genesis 2:15:
Language, speech, writing
Second, throughout this first section of Genesis we see Adam and Eve in relationship with and communicating with God. He gave human beings intelligence and the capability to comprehend and communicate with himself. Of all life forms, only human beings have language, speech, and writing. Further, we have a sense of beauty and the capability to invent and create new things from the raw materials that God has provided us through his creative acts.
Character traits
Third, even though God had character traits that he does not share with us such as self-existence, omniscience (all-knowing), and omnipotence (all-powerful), he does share some character traits with us. Some of these traits are listed in Colossians 3:12-14: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love. God is the perfection of these character traits while human beings possess them in an imperfect way. Even though human beings have failed to fully live out these character traits (sin), all human beings are still "in the image of God" and exercise some of these traits to some degree whether they believe in God or not; whether they are followers of Jesus or not.
It is only in Jesus Christ that we can begin to realize our true potential to live out the character traits that God has shared with us. In Colossians 3:8-11 Paul describes how the image of God can be renewed in us through Jesus:
The LORD God took the man and placed him in the orchard in Eden to care for it and to maintain it. (NET Bible)That is the role he has toward us, and that is the role he has gives to us regarding the earth.
Language, speech, writing
Second, throughout this first section of Genesis we see Adam and Eve in relationship with and communicating with God. He gave human beings intelligence and the capability to comprehend and communicate with himself. Of all life forms, only human beings have language, speech, and writing. Further, we have a sense of beauty and the capability to invent and create new things from the raw materials that God has provided us through his creative acts.
Character traits
Third, even though God had character traits that he does not share with us such as self-existence, omniscience (all-knowing), and omnipotence (all-powerful), he does share some character traits with us. Some of these traits are listed in Colossians 3:12-14: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love. God is the perfection of these character traits while human beings possess them in an imperfect way. Even though human beings have failed to fully live out these character traits (sin), all human beings are still "in the image of God" and exercise some of these traits to some degree whether they believe in God or not; whether they are followers of Jesus or not.
It is only in Jesus Christ that we can begin to realize our true potential to live out the character traits that God has shared with us. In Colossians 3:8-11 Paul describes how the image of God can be renewed in us through Jesus:
But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all. (NET Bible)---
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET Bible) are from the NET Bible®
copyright ©1996-2016 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
ebook isbn 978-0-525-65326-4
copyright ©1996-2016 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
This post is the result of my studies based on the book by Mark E. Moore, Core 52: A Fifteen-Minute Daily Guide to Building your Bible IQ in a Year, published by WaterBook (Penguin Random House)
Trade Paperback ISBN 978-0-525-65325-7
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