Description
What is the image of God?
God tells every human being that they have been created in His image and likeness in Genesis 1:26-27, “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, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them,” (NKJV). This scripture is the first mention and has clearly stated or affirmed the divine conversation and agreement that took place in the creation of humanity. This affirmation, though real continues to be just as mysterious to scholars, theologians, and even man themselves, as to divine and innate nature of man to be made in ‘the image of God’, as man’s existence has been to scientists and evolutionists.
Kilner (2015), through his book, “Dignity and Destiny: Humanity in the Image of God ?”, has established the many views, reviews, and contradictions, that takes place among men as they tries to understand this reality. He stated, “However, the enduring centrality of the image idea and the scope of the disagreement only serve to underscore the importance of the ongoing effort to gain greater clarity” (p.6). Hobson (2019), corroborated the myriads of views and reasonings, but believes it is the foundational God-given truth and revelation that could be the practical responses to many of the challenges and baffling questions that human beings having been asking until now.
Though its understanding seem so illusive as one read through studies, commentaries, literatures, biblical scriptures, theological viewpoints, Peterson (2016), states unequivocally, it is simply the identity of humanity which is basic to all human beings. He believes the complexity can be resolved by having the full knowledge of God’s identity and character . “We must know who God is and what God is like” (p. 1). Apostle Paul apparently knew and agree this belief when he prayed, “[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly]” (Philippians 3:10, AMPC). This knowledge is a perpetual attainment which is increasingly being renewed until man is made perfect through Jesus Christ (Eph 4:13, 22-24; Colossians 3:9-10).
Many have believed that the divine nature of the ‘image of God’ in humanity speaks to the relationship, fellowship, and community that man was designed to enjoy with each other and most importantly with God, our Creator (Getz & Easley (2007); Grenz & Smith (2015); Ogden (2019); Woodward & Hirsch (2012)).These attributes, according to Grenz & Smith (2015), allow mankind to reflect God’s own character which can only be mirrored by ?humans who love after the manner of the perfect love, which lies at ?the heart of the ?Triune God.? Getz & Easley (2007)?, have also elucidated that the good and positive characters in man is the reflection of the holiness of God, and which helps man to be holy as instructed through Peter shown in 1 Peter 1:15. Vos (2019) commentary have associated, the image concept to man’s dominion, power, and authority given by God. Steinmann (2019) endorse this view in his commentary, and explained that mankind is statues of God who should serve as a witness and reminder of who the real sovereign is. “By analogy, the invisible God has placed human beings in creation so that, upon seeing the human creature, other creatures are reminded of Yahweh’s rule” (pp. 43-44). He pulls support from Psalms 8:4-8, and further explanation from John 14:9, Colossians 1:15.
What affect does sin have on the image of God?
It is widely agreed and accepted that mankind has fallen from God’s glory which causes sin to enter and destroy man’s soul. Paul tells the readers in Romans 3:23 “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, however the state of man after the fall becomes another contentious argument. Pearcey (2008), deduced that because mankind is created in the image of God, they are inherently religious beings, who does not stop being ?religious even if they reject God, but simply find some other ultimate principle upon which to base their lives?.? She argues that the fall has divided the human race into two distinct group: “those who follow God and ?submit their minds to His truth, and those who set up an idol of some kind and then ?organize their thinking to ?rationalize their worship of that idol” (p. 42). Peckham (2019) connotes Eph 1:11 to imply that the image of God may only be restored to those who have obtained an inheritance. McClendon & Lockhart (2020) also shares the view that a complete restoration to the image of God is a continuing sanctification process as demonstrated by Apostle Paul in Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18. ?Dr. Rusty Small instructs that the ‘image of God’ is fundamentally two major concepts: a functional concept denoting the dominion and stewardship functions and relational which is relating to our relationship with God and man. He further theorizes that because the image is a non-physical possession, it cannot be totally lost and so every person has inherent value and worth. This may be true but mot all men still possess the inherent holy and righteous nature that God has. Though everything God created was very good (Genesis 1:31), humans have surrendered that image and now only possess a shadow of it in their estrangement from God (Steinmann, 2019)?. Vos (2019), also agrees that mankind had lost their moral likeness? in the fall.
This writer believes, it is the very essence of human’s existence. It is the beginning of knowing who we are and what we are living for. The grandeur of even the most vulnerable human being can be restored and reclaimed through Jesus redemptive work which reminds us we are capable of beauty from the ashes.? Full restoration to the ‘image of God’ is a choice (Romans 5:12-21).