The Imago Dei

And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so.

25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

26 Then 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 birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” —Genesis 1:24–28 (ESV)

GOD’S CREATION WEEK:

In Gen 1, God creates by giving

to what’s formless and

to what’s void. (Form on days 1-3, fullness on days 4-6)

God’s 2nd creative act on day 6 is creating

(Adam) in God’s

.
The “imago dei” is one of the most

concepts in all of Scripture.

THE IMAGO DEI

The image of God = man’s ability and responsibility to image or

the reality of God in this world.

Man is both a

and a

. This is a mysterious tension and a beautiful paradox.

A “GOD-LIKE” GIFT:

Mankind has been given a unique

for…

1.)

:
Our “God-like” ability to reason, reflect, regret, and respond. Intuition over instinct.

2.)

:
Our “God-like” ability to love, serve, sacrifice & protect even if it goes against our interests.

3.)

:
Our “God-like” ability to rule over, cultivate & steward God’s creation for His glory & our joy.

A “GOD-HONORING” RESPONSIBILITY:

The imago dei isn’t just our capacity to do “God-like” things. It’s a

to do those things for “God’s glory.”

How we

relationally (with God, other people & creation) displays God’s truth, goodness, beauty and love.

Tragically, God’s image got

by sin at the Fall. But, what sin corrupted God’s Spirit can

!

NOW WHAT?

Treat every person with

and respect.

See binary gender as God’s design & good

.

Preach

(Gospel) as our hope for real change.