Skip to main content

In the Image

             So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27)

Not long ago, we spent our Sunday School class reviewing the concept of our being made in the image of God. Four different explanations were provided, all of which make at least some sense, but my conclusion was that the explanation was over-simplified. The reality is that all four explanations are likely to be true in varying amounts and that there are probably more than four explanations that are all true. The one I suggest is not true is that our being in the image of God means that God has a physical body that looks like ours. We may refer to God’s eyes or hands, but the references are for our benefit, not His.

This idea, identity as a theme to my next series of books, and references here and there about personhood have drawn my attention and I’m circling, not sure how to approach. Two basic warnings come to mind. The first is that the truth is far vaster and more awesome than we can dare imagine. The second is that the vast and awesome truth is likely to be found in small things and small places. Somehow, that’s not a contradiction.

But one thing is for sure. If we want to understand who we are, what we’re supposed to be, etc., we must come to understand God better because that’s the only way to understand how we are made in His image.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Listen!

  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)            Do you like roller coasters? I don't. You spend forever climbing a hill. You get to the top and have half a second, then you race down to a low point. Sometimes the racing down involves tying your insides into knots. At the bottom, you either have to be dragged up another hill or you get off the ride. Peter's life was a roller coaster from the time he met Jesus. There would be miracles, and then Jesus would teach things that didn't always make sense, and then they'd go out and perform miracles, and return to be taught. Peter was praised for giving the right answer to "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus said that said answer came from God. Peter was at the top of the hill.            ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Prayer Lists

                 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (I Peter 2:2-3)   In connection with what I wrote yesterday about the possibility that I’m wrong, I’m feeling the need to go back to basics - craving spiritual milk because somehow, I missed something. It’s a little embarrassing, craving milk like a newborn, but the truth probably is that we are newborns many times in many ways in our lives. From God’s perspective, we may never be anything more than newborns, forever needing that milk. On the other hand, being a newborn can also be exciting because so much is new. My mind is playing pinball - ricocheting from one idea to the next and through six more before it happens to hit the third again. The main topic is prayer. I have at least seven organizing structures all somewhat influenced by the movie War Room , which I’v...
Post a Comment
Read more