CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE AND LIKENESS
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:26-27)
INTRODUCTION:
The debate between the Theory of Evolution and Intelligent Design continues on to the detriment of our youth who are taught only one side of the debate in our public schools. The same thing can be said about most of the schools of higher education.
Evolution is taught as a scientific fact instead of being an unproven theory, which it’s very title clearly states. Even Charles Darwin pointed out “haunting” weaknesses in his theory. Darwin stated that the lack of “fossil evidence” was the main drawback of the acceptance of his theory. Such evidence was absent when Darwin wrote “Origin of Species” and such evidence is still absent today. This is still the case in spite of the frenzied efforts of the academic community to find even the most minute item of evidence to support Darwin’s theory.
How absurd is the idea that from absolutely nothing...a total void...came something that by some mysterious “natural process” developed life and the myriad multiplicities of species of life. It takes an infinitely greater amount of “faith” to believe that postulation than it takes to believe that “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
We hear it often said: "Well, I’m only human!" We need to think twice before we make such a statement. Satan would like for us to use that statement as an excuse for our failures and, more especially, our sins. If Satan can keep us focused on the weaknesses of the flesh, we will be inclined to justify our misdeeds as being the natural result of being "human".
On the other hand, when we consider that we were made in the image and likeless of God, we are more likely to elevate our expectations of ourselves. When we further consider that in the redemptive experience, we became a new creation in Christ Jesus and, as such, we have both the incentive and, through Christ, the power to live the victorious overcoming life.
I. MAN: CREATED IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD: (text)
God could have paid no higher compliment to the human race than to have created man in His own image and likeness. God the Father, referring to the trinity of the Godhead, employed the term "Our" as to the image and likeness in which He would create man. Thus man, created in the image of God, is triune: body, soul and spirit.
The Scriptures teach that man is a triune being. "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit…" (Hebrews 4:12). This truth is repeated again in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Evolutionists teach that man is dichotomous, composed of only body and spirit. To admit that man has a “soul” is to admit that man has a divine element in his “makeup”. To acknowledge that man is trinitarian validates that he was created in the “image and likeness of God.”
II. MAN: CREATED “A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS.”
“What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels (Elohim), And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet.” Psalm 8:4-6
Recognizing that this passage can be translated "a little lower than God", I find it more comfortable reading it "a little lower than the angels" because of what we read in Isaiah 55:8-9. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
III. MAN: SHALL JUDGE THE WORLD AND ANGELS
“Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters. Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life.” I Corinthians 6:2-3
V. MAN: THE OBJECT OF GOD’S LOVE AND REDEEMING WORK OF CHRIST:
The value that a person places on an object is reflected in the price he is willing to pay to obtain it. God loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son to redeem us back to Himself. We would all agree that our salvation was purchased at the greatest price ever paid for any thing in history. This is the wonderful truth expressed in John 3:16.
Among the many Scriptures that confirm this truth are the following:
Romans 5:8 declares: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
“You know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. I Peter 1:18-19
“(God) has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” 2 Timothy 1:9
CONCLUSION
Having been created in the image and likeness of God; having been redeemed by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ; and having been sanctified through the work of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:11) let us live each day joyously manifesting the Christian life.
