In the Image of God

Crusader, this has come up on threads dealing with evolution vs creation and quite a few views exist because there are those here who believe that man came from beasts.

I think being made in the image of God means that we were made directly by God (God breathed into Adam's nostrils) and thus were given intelligence, will, and a moral compass. I do not believe animals have intelligence equal to man, nor do I think they have will (or it's very limited and depends on how they are trained - a dog might disobey its master, for example), and animals do not have a sense of moral right and wrong.

Since God is spirit, I don't think our body reflects God but I do believe our body is an integral part of how God created us in his image, because I think that our body interacts in a special way with our mind, will, and emotions in ways that are unlike how animals behave. I think the form of our body is very important and was created especially for man and did not evolve from animals.

 

Let’s let the Bible speak for itself,

Ecclesiastes 7:29. "Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices."

Col. 3:9. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,
10. and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—

Eph. 4:20. But you did not learn Christ in this way,
21. if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,
22. that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
23. and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24. and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

1 Pet. 1:15. but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
16. because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

(All Scriptures NASB, 1995)

 

That crowning touch. What is it in man that wishes to produce one like him, and His wife wishing to participate. Could it be that God had in mind a kingdom of those like Him?

We have a relationship with this universe for we are of the physical substance of the earth. But are we as the other tangible’s we can touch, and/or see? We are not a tree, a mountain or as any flesh on the earth.

“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”, God says in Genesis 1:26. We are a trinity, and we resemble God. Our bodies are needed to house our soul, which is as not as other souls. We cannot say our breath is just breath as that of any other flesh. Our soul is connected to the Spirit of God. We are God breathed, and none other is like us of the flesh. In our seed we bring forth “after our kind”. All other that lives “after their kind”.

Everything was “very good” that God made. Then man fouled it up. It and we will be a great deal better because of God's Love. It is the Father’s purpose to give the kingdom to His little flock - Luke 12:32. This is whom He came for. But is that it? It is until Christ Jesus speaks and makes revelation to Paul. ”Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,” Ephesians 1:5.

We in the Body of Christ are in His kingdom, and Christ gave to His little flock, His Apostles their kingdom. We are of His image, and likeness; so shall we be then for ” Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is,” I John 3:2. We’ll be the “spitting image” of Him, so very similar in nature, character and appearance. Christian faith, ituttut

 

In John 4:24, Jesus tells the woman at the well, "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and truth."

No animal has a spirit. They have bodies. We have bodies. The larger, or more complex animals have nephesh, the breath of life, which is also translated 'heart' and 'soul' in the Bible. We have soul. (This is what expresses individuality, enables us to learn and form relationships with other things than ourselves -- this is expressed through the complex nervous system and brain but is NOT the complex nervous system or brain, just as I am not this computer, but am expressing myself through it...).

But no animal has a spirit. We are the only part of the physical creation which is spiritual. We are the only part of creation created in the image of God. God is spirit.

A number of people think soul and spirit are the same thing. Not according to the Bible:

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12

The result of having a spirit shows up in our ability to, among other things, make decisions based on values.

 

3 parts of man
1 Thessalonians 5:23. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Spirit and soul are not necessarily distinct. They are often used interchangeably in the Bible.

 

I believe that the difference between man and the animals is our ability to have a relationship with God.

Soul or spirit? I don't know, but relationships I do know.
Man was built for a relationship with God.
It distinctly separates us from the animals, which demonstrate intellect, will and emotion.

Rob