#Branson #ImageOfGod #Genesis
OUR IMAGE
Genesis 1:26 | Up to this point in the story, we’ve been introduced to “God” (a plural word in Hebrew: “Elohim”) and to “The Spirit of God” who was hovering over the waters like a bird. Each of the previous five days of creation, God said, “Let…” and it was. And God saw that it was good. Each time the plural word for God is used with singular verbs and pronouns. Now, on this sixth day, He says, “Let US make man in OUR image, in OUR likeness…” The complexity of the identity of God appears right at the beginning of the story. He is ONE what, comprised of THREE who’s. God is a Community of Love. And WE are made in the image (and the “likeness”!) of that incomprehensible reality. The WHO that we are is directly related to the WHO’s that He is!
Dig Deeper: Matthew 3:16-17, 28:18-20; John 1:1-3, 1:18, 17:1-11; 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 John 4
HIS OWN IMAGE
Genesis 1:27 | The narrative quickly returns to the singular pronoun: HIS! But now arrives with an emphasis that this image (Hebrew: “tselem”) is HIS image, HIS OWN image. Being made in the image of God means that “human” or “man” (Hebrew: “adam”) is not like the other animals. Human is NOT part of the “animal kingdom”. Human was made to be a part of The Kingdom of God. Human is male and female and while being made in His image (His OWN image!) means many things, the most important thing is that it means we are HIS CHILDREN.
Dig Deeper: Matthew 19:4-6; Luke 13:34, 15:11-32, 19:10; Romans 8:15-27; Galatians 3:26-29; Revelation 21:1-4
Genesis 1:28 | FAMILY! This was the plan all along! Children running around, gardens flourishing about, music playing, people singing, a full partnership with all of creation! Words like, “Subdue”, “Dominion” and “Rule”, look very different in a universe where there is no evil, no death, no violence. The plan all along was for humanity to bless creation by filling the earth and SERVING it. And this is the plan for the world to come!
Dig Deeper: Psalm 2, 8; Isaiah 11:1-9; 65:17-25; 1 Peter 1:10-12; 2 Peter 1:3-4, 3:3-13
Galatians 4:4-5 | Since humanity—the image of God—failed to believe His promises and His plan, God Himself chose to come to us as a Human. This Human, “the Image of the Invisible God” and the “Radiance of God’s glory” and the “Exact Representation of His Being” and the “One and Only,” Who has made the Father known CAME DOWN at just the right time, to make all things new.
Dig Deeper: Daniel 7:9-26; John 1:1-18; Romans 5:12-21; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-3
Galatians 4:6-7 | Because you are “Sons”! Don’t miss this language! Go back to Galatians 3:26-29! “Sons” is a legal adoption term (see Galatians 4:5) declaring the full rights as heirs of God Almighty for males and females, even so far as to be called “co-Heirs with Christ” in Romans 8:17! When we read Genesis, we read from the foot of the cross and the empty tomb. We read about a God who had a beautiful plan which was destroyed by the ones He loved, and His response was to rescue them even when, especially when, they were His enemies. Why? Because they are His children and He loves them.