"Imago Dei"
IMAGE OF GOD
Therefore mankind is also “unique” because we are amazingly described as created “imago dei” or “in the image of God.” Think about that description for a moment, created in the image of God. We could discuss the possible detailed meaning of the phrase for a long time. However, in short, it is obviously “a good thing.” “Created in the image of God” cannot be anything but absolutely stupendous. It would each of us well to pause for a moment and soak in this one description of us in the book of Genesis.
Although we are a part of creation, we are set apart as “special.” In a way, all of the cosmos is a glimpse or mirror of God, but not in the same way as the human race. Psalm 8:5 (NKJV) says “For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.” The word for “angels” here is “elohim” which can also refer to God or gods or a heavenly being. So it either means we were created just below God or just below a heavenly being like the Angels, at least in so called “rank,” which is a high honor indeed.
What exactly does “the image of God” mean?
Jonathan Edwards wrote “As there are two kinds of attributes in God, according to our way of conceiving of him, his moral attributes, which are summed up in his holiness, and his natural attributes, of strength, knowledge, etc. that constitute the greatness of God; so there is a twofold image of God in man, his moral or spiritual image, which is his holiness, that is the image of God’s moral excellency (which image was lost by the Fall); and God’s natural image, consisting in men’s reason and understanding, his natural ability, and dominion over the creatures, which is the image of God’s natural attributes.”
Edwards like many reformers believed “the image of God” consisted of God’s holiness instilled within humans and the ability to reason or understand, specifically to “know” God. The historic Westminster Shorter Catechism proclaims in response to question 10, “God created man male and female, after His own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness.”
Part of the “image of God” is our ability to reason, to think, to apply Godly wisdom. This sets us apart from all of the other (what is often called) inferior creation, inferior in terms of comparison with Mankind.
Now let’s start putting some of these sermons from the series together. We have concluded that God created the world, and He did it do display His glory, particularly through humankind. Now we also know that we were created in the “image of God” which represents God’s supreme morals, holiness, and righteousness within us. We also have been infused with the ability to choose and reason and understand.
So, putting these pieces together, predominantly (if not exclusively) we have been created in “Imago Dei” (the image of God) in order to likewise continuously, openly demonstrate (even to flaunt) the glory of God. So our purpose in life is not actually so complicated after all, is it? I’ll return to more details about this later in the series.
Thus far “imago dei” or our creation “in the image of God” means two things: 1. God originally instilled His righteousness and holiness within us, and 2. We have been given the power to reason and choose and understand. What else might “imago dei” (the image of God) mean for us?
IMAGE OF GOD
Therefore mankind is also “unique” because we are amazingly described as created “imago dei” or “in the image of God.” Think about that description for a moment, created in the image of God. We could discuss the possible detailed meaning of the phrase for a long time. However, in short, it is obviously “a good thing.” “Created in the image of God” cannot be anything but absolutely stupendous. It would each of us well to pause for a moment and soak in this one description of us in the book of Genesis.
Although we are a part of creation, we are set apart as “special.” In a way, all of the cosmos is a glimpse or mirror of God, but not in the same way as the human race. Psalm 8:5 (NKJV) says “For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.” The word for “angels” here is “elohim” which can also refer to God or gods or a heavenly being. So it either means we were created just below God or just below a heavenly being like the Angels, at least in so called “rank,” which is a high honor indeed.
What exactly does “the image of God” mean?
Jonathan Edwards wrote “As there are two kinds of attributes in God, according to our way of conceiving of him, his moral attributes, which are summed up in his holiness, and his natural attributes, of strength, knowledge, etc. that constitute the greatness of God; so there is a twofold image of God in man, his moral or spiritual image, which is his holiness, that is the image of God’s moral excellency (which image was lost by the Fall); and God’s natural image, consisting in men’s reason and understanding, his natural ability, and dominion over the creatures, which is the image of God’s natural attributes.”
Edwards like many reformers believed “the image of God” consisted of God’s holiness instilled within humans and the ability to reason or understand, specifically to “know” God. The historic Westminster Shorter Catechism proclaims in response to question 10, “God created man male and female, after His own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness.”
Part of the “image of God” is our ability to reason, to think, to apply Godly wisdom. This sets us apart from all of the other (what is often called) inferior creation, inferior in terms of comparison with Mankind.
Now let’s start putting some of these sermons from the series together. We have concluded that God created the world, and He did it do display His glory, particularly through humankind. Now we also know that we were created in the “image of God” which represents God’s supreme morals, holiness, and righteousness within us. We also have been infused with the ability to choose and reason and understand.
So, putting these pieces together, predominantly (if not exclusively) we have been created in “Imago Dei” (the image of God) in order to likewise continuously, openly demonstrate (even to flaunt) the glory of God. So our purpose in life is not actually so complicated after all, is it? I’ll return to more details about this later in the series.
Thus far “imago dei” or our creation “in the image of God” means two things: 1. God originally instilled His righteousness and holiness within us, and 2. We have been given the power to reason and choose and understand. What else might “imago dei” (the image of God) mean for us?
