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Pastor Wade Burleson




In the Image of God

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Genesis 1:26-31 (KJV)
  1. 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.
  2. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.

"In the Image of God"

Genesis 1:26-31

The uniqueness of man and his superiority over creation is seen in three different ways:

    The word "create" is used at only three points in the creation account:
    1. When God created matter from nothing (v.1).
    2. When God created conscious life (v.21).
    3. When God created man (v.27). The word create is used three times for man.
      "It is as though God put exclamation points to indicate there is something special about the creation of man" Francis Schaeffer.
  1. Man is given dominion over the fish, birds, animals, and even the earth itself.
  2. Man is created "in God's image." This is not said of any other objects or animals.
    What does it mean to be created in God's image? The uniqueness of man is seen in:

  1. The Image of God Involves Personality -- (Self-Consciousness).
    Fundamentally, this is the reason for the dignity of man. He is able to view himself for who he is. He thinks about himself, he views the world through terms of self, and he acts based upon self. Animals have instinct, but not self-consciousness. You never see an animal concerned that he is overweight, ugly, or depressed about life. Man in the image of God has an innate sense of stewardship and accountability, but sin darkens this image and causes prideful man to act like the beasts (no stewardship). "But Nebuchadnezzar's heart was lifted up; and his mind hardened in pride . . . and he was driven from men; and his heart was made like the beasts" (Daniel 5:20-21).
  2. The Image of God Involves Morality -- (Outward Conduct).
    Personality answers the question "who am I?" and morality answers the question "how do I treat others?" Man is created in the image of God and, like God, has by nature a concern for others. Of course, when this "image" is darkened by sin, then there is no concern for justice, mercy, forgiveness, grace, and righteousness. "The tongue is full of deadly poison. Therewith we bless God . . . and therewith we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be" (James 3:10).
  3. The Image of God Involves Spirituality -- (Divine Communion).
    Man was created for communion with God. This fellowship with the Creator was designed to be daily, personal and enjoyable; to commune with God as "a friend with a friend." You never see a cow, or a dog, or a cat praying, singing, or worshiping. Only man has a sense of communion with God. But again, the soul that has lost this image is in darkness, living a life without thought of God. "Live not like other Gentiles . . . who have their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God . . . because of the blindness of their heart" (Ephesians 4:18). "Put off the former lifestyle of the old man, which is corrupt . . . and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4:22-24). Is God's image seen in you?



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Pastor Wade

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