...Biblical Worldview Essay: Mankind Created in the image of God How would a Christian Counselor use this belief Caleb S. Mitchell Liberty University December 2014 Introduction God created man in His image and likeness and with this authority came great responsibility. When I graduate from Liberty I will enter the field of Christian Counseling. Having worked with other professionals from the Behavioral Health Sciences it is often easier to depend strictly on science and logic to address most issues. Not taking into account the core of mankind the spirit that God breathe into him in Genesis Chapter 2. Because mankind is made in the image of God means I have a responsibility to treat the spirit as well as the person. The belief that mankind is made in God’s image also means that I have to be ethical in my dealings with humanity. Belief is defined as an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists; or something one accepts as true or real; a firmly held opinion or conviction. Either way a belief is rooted deeply in the heart of the individual or group. I belief that mankind is created in the image of God the creator. Because of this unique position in creation we are special and should be treated as such. As a Christian Counselor my work requires that I evaluate a person’s concern and provide guidance and advice as needed. As with most issue and concerns we face as humans there is always a deeper issue than what appears on the surface. Usually what is...
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...Image of God As we look into the Christian faith we see that people are made in the image of God. Genesis 1:26 says, ”Then God said, Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness” This is a belief that I hold close to my heart as a Pastor. I am of the opinion that the“ image of God” is not that God is human. We see that God is a spirit because he can be everywhere at once. But rather believe that Jesus took on human flesh so that we could identify with Him. It is much easier to understand the trial and temptations that He faced as a man. There are many other reasons He took on flesh but for the sake of this essay we will keep it simple. The image of God also shows our soul and conscious. It is my belief that everyone is born with a conscious (knowledge between right and wrong). That knowledge is a likeness of God. Not that God is bad, rather since God is holy and perfect in every way, we carry with us that same nature of God. The bad comes from the world. It is that conscious that allows us to see our errors and a need for a Savior. Since we have a soul it is very important to understand that just like God it will never die. Our soul will spend eternity in either heaven or hell. Matthew 10:28 says, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” We must have a relationship with Jesus in order to spend eternity with him in heaven. As a Pastor I am...
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...Tippitt III Liberty University With the understanding that God is the creator of mankind and that God created us in his own image, it is expected that every Christian should value life. Such a belief helps me be able to see everyone as special because they bare the image of God Himself. The core values of Christianity is that God is the source of life and also the sustainer of life. It is common for people, even Christians to forget that they bare the image of God and this leads to people living a life that does not please God. The belief that everyone bears God’s image will affect the way I relate with people and in my vocation. The book of Genesis records the account of creation and clearly provides evidence that God created mankind in His own image. Genesis 1:27 records that God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. The word image in the scripture simply means likeness or resemblance (Dunn & Rogerson, 2003, pg. 98). With this belief, I should be able to see God’s own image when I look at other people as a believer. This should therefore automatically affect the way I relate and do things. As a marketer, I should be fair when selling products and should not cheat people for financial benefits. Cheating people is the same as cheating God Himself. In the same manner, being fair and truthful when marketing to everyone is a sign of being faithful to God Himself. According to Psalms 33:6-9, the heavens were made...
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...entirely rooted in God. Christianity affirms that God is infinite, omniscient, and sovereign Creator that is completely independent of all things. There never was a time that God did not exist. Genesis 1:1 tell us that "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth". Romans 11:36: "For from him and through him and to him are all things". He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and has the absolute power to create the universe. He created all things and sustains his creatures. Act 17:25 "And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else". Identity - The scripture clearly teaches that mankind was made in the very image and likeness of God. Because we are created in His image, that alone distinguishes us from all the other aspects of God's creation. Among all of His creatures, only made was created in his image; therefore, it is the highest and richest revelation of God. Genesis 1:26-27 " Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Genesis 5:1-2 "This is the written account of Adam’s family line. When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. 2 He created them...
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...Reflection: Image of God I have often wondered in my Christian walk what it truly means to be created in the image of God. When reading the account of creation in (Genesis 1:26) on the sixth day, God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness”. Thus, He finished His work with a “personal touch.” Then He formed man from the dust and gave him life by sharing His own breath (Genesis 2:7). Consequently, man is unique among all God’s creations, having both a material body and an immaterial soul and spirit. Meaning we have a soul and spirit and live in a body. But what does all this really mean? Having the “image” or “likeness” of God means to me, in the simplest terms that we were made to resemble God in every aspect of our lives. It's interesting to note that the two words used for image and likeness are also used in Genesis 5:3 which talks about how Adam had a son "in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth." Seth was in the image and likeness of Adam, just as Adam was created in the image and likeness of God. The Scripture says that “God is spirit” (John 4:24) and therefore exists without a body. However, Adam’s body did mirror the life of God as it was created in perfect health and was not subject to death. Dominion: When I consider what God says about dominion, my first thought was that God wanted me to be the boss, as in bossing people around, do what I say” but that is not the dominion God was speaking of. He wants us to maintain...
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...DOMINION IN CHRIST A king rules his domain with a word of authority. God created and maintains everything by His Word of power. You who resemble God must rule everything by your word of authority. Your language should be always, “let there be”! Jesus in His earthly Adam was created to rule and have dominion over all other creations (Ge.1:26). This is God’s intention and also His blessing. The purpose of the new creation is to rule and reign in life (Ro.5:17). Sin, satan, sickness and world cannot have dominion over you. God has commanded you to subdue it under your authority. You are born to rule! A king rules his domain with a word of authority. God created and maintains everything by His Word of power. You who resemble God must rule everything by your word of authority. Your language should be always, “let there be”! Jesus in His earthly walk ruled over the demons, diseases, nature and everything by His Word power. You are engrafted in Him. His Words now go through your mouth and rule everything. You are God’s Zion. Out of you should go the scepter of God to subdue all enemies (Ps.110:2). Jesus still rules through you in midst of His enemies. It was not Adam alone who was created in the image of God to dominate. Eve was also included. In Christ, there is no male or female. The gender difference is broken in Christ (Gal.3:28; Col.3:11). Life in Christ knows no barrier of gender or creed or race or color. All human beings come from Adam and Eve. It’s the devil who brought all...
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...1: The Image of God The Bible states that man and woman are created in the image of God. Some may think, if people are as the Bible says, created in the image of God, the state of His image is defiantly marred or damaged as most would say regarding modern Christians, “they do not possess a reflection of God.” God’s image has been questioned throughout history. A generalization is that His image is reflected in man’s character. The image of the first person of the Trinity and creator of everything around us and everyone has left many questions and debate regarding His image. Jesus mentions, “God is Spirit” meaning He is a spiritual being without a body; therefore, the conclusion resides in humanity’s reflection of God in our attributes and character. Historically the image of God has had many views. Akin writes, “Interpretations of the meaning of the image of God in church history have for the most part sought to resolve the riddle posed by biblical teaching that the image is both something all humans and only humans possess and yet is something that has been damaged in the fall and is now being restored or renewed in Christ.” Biblically, we are unable to define the exact meaning that man and woman are made in the image of God. Scripture tells us that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. This is our foundation, God loved the world so much that He sent His son to save it moreover, we are in Christ, and He is in us, that we are one speaks of His image, an image of unselfish...
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...Section Number: THEO 202 – D09 Respecting Employees as the Image of God Most Christians believe that humans were created in the image of God. This belief is foundational to the Christian faith. Being fashioned in God’s image endows even the lowliest of sinners with “intrinsic worth”. Because all humans have intrinsic value, managers have a duty to interact with subordinates and customers in a way that reflects God’s love. All people, including poorly performing workers and unreasonable clients, should be “love[d] because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19 NIV). Many generations of Christians have been taught that humankind was created in the image of God. Scripture describes the creation of man in Genesis 1: 26-28. Most Christians interpret the passage in Genesis 1:27 to mean that humans are created in the physical likeness of God. However, the concept of the image of God goes much deeper than a reference to the simple physical likeness of the Creator. The concept also known as imago Dei includes a purpose of humanity. Specifically, following the creation of humankind, God bestowed upon humanity the charge of flourishing, filling the earth, and exercising dominion over the other creatures. Thus, imago Dei describes humanity’s purpose in life and the sense of self-worth. The concept of imago Dei reappears in Genesis 5. This passage reveals that humankind was created in the image of God and Seth was born in the image of his father, Adam. In all of the following generations, humanity...
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...than men. During the Reformation, views became slightly skewed as religions developed different opinions towards the issue of women in society. 16th and 17th century Europe portrayed different religions such as Lutheranism and Calvinism that changed views on women in society, while the Anabaptist kept previous views. Lutheranism, a branch of Protestant religion showed a shift in view towards women being equal to men. Martin Luther, the founder of Lutheranism, believed that views and rules written in Bible were what life actions should be lived and based off on. “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them,” Genesis 1:27. This passage from the Bible states that both men and women were created in the same image and likeness by God. Being written in the Bible, Luther believed and preached the idea that men and women are equal, based off of the image of their creator, God. “...husband differs from the wife in no other respect than in sex; otherwise the women is altogether [as] man… If the wife is honorable, virtuous, and pious, she shares in all the cares, endeavors,...
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...Made in the Image of God What does it mean to be made in God’s image? There are hundreds of books on the subject matter written, as we know as the “Imago Dei.” To put it differently, the theological term used to denote the metaphoric relation between God and humanity that has its roots in Genesis 1:27. Is this scriptural text based on reason, emotion, walking erect, moral accountability; how is it that human being are like God? This is a profound question, and it is important to realize that an image is made to image. And so, if God made us (human beings) unlike all the other animals in His image, one would suggest that images are created to set forth the reality. That is to say, the reality is God and human beings are the image. God created man to show God. God created little images (humans) to talk, act and feel in a way that reveals the way God is. God did not create humans as the end of self; however humans were created as the means...
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...the color of skin, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, etc. that we are all made by God and for God. Pick up the newspaper and we see that our world is out of control. Many theologians have voiced their views on humanity and the need of grace over the years. Today I can see where we may question that humankind has been created in Imago dei, the image of God. “So God created humankind in his image.”[1] John Wesley stated that the image of God can be summed up in three dimensions; the natural image, the political image and the moral image. [2] I question John Wesley’s summation that the image of God can be summed up in the dimensions of natural, political, and moral image. I will explore through other theologians if this assessment is viable. I will also use those same theologians to assess the idea for humanity to need, want and receive grace from God. “The concept of the imago Dei has been widely recognized as central to a Christian understanding of human beings, yet the paucity of biblical references has left the way open for a wide variety of philosophical and theological interpretations of this notion. “[3] Natural image of God according to Wesley’s sermon, The New Birth, is simply stated as “reason,” “will,” and “freedom.” [4] Some say that the most obvious definition of imago Dei refers to the physical existence of humans. God made humans to look like God.[5]...
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... The Image of God in Man: How Mankind is Unique. THEO 525 LUO (Spring 2012) Systematic Theology I Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary Nathaniel Jones (ID# L21077684) May 12, 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS Thesis…….. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Introduction……………………….. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The Beginning…………………………………………………. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Views ………….……………………… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Original Image……………………… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 God’s Image In Woman…………………………………….. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Conclusion…… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Bibliography……. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 THESIS STATEMENT Instead of dividing the human race into characteristics, one must recognize that the whole essence of the human being is the exact image and likeness...
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...I believe that mankind was created in the image of God. The bible tells us that God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him (Genesis 1:27, NIV). God could have chosen any other creation to make in His image but He choose man. As we look further; 1 Corinthians 11:7, tells us not to cover our heads, since we are the image and the glory of God, we should never try to hide who we are and whose we are; we are the light to this dying world and should let our light shine bright (Matthew 5:14). Our light is forever changing, we are transforming from one degree of glory to another, all in the likeness of God (2 Corinthians 3:18). God made us in his image and he commanded us to multiply; Adam (the first man) had a son, Seth, and Seth was created in Adam’s image, and because Adam was created in God’s image; God’s image was in Seth and it continues to trickle down from generation to generation to generation (Genesis 5:3). We were born in the likeness of our parents, yet we bare the likeness of man from heaven (1 Corinthians 15:49). God’s image cannot be taken away from us, even in our sin. After Adam sinned, we lost our original righteousness with God (a spiritual death), (The Essential Element of Sin). Roman 5:12 states, “sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned”. But we do not lose hope because just as one man caused us a spiritual death; God raised up one man, Jesus Christ to redeem us...
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...Introduction Regardless of what the world think I believe that mankind was created in the image of God. Being created in His image definitely has an effect on my vocation. A vocation can be define as a particular occupation, business, or profession, or your divine call to God’s service or to the Christian life. I’m actually walking in my vocation right now. I was ordained a Minister in December of 2012. I have learned since then that I must be true, live holy, and have faith. Example 1 - I Must Be True Being true in my vocation is the key to helping people know that you are authentic. To walk in trueness one must be real, genuine, sincere, not deceitful, loyal and faithful. I remember as a child always hearing the phrase, “it’s better to hear the ugly truth versus a good lie.” I have learned as a Christian that walking in truth is the having the image of God. Everything about God is true. According to Jeremiah 10:10: But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting King: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. His word is true, His Son Jesus is the truth, and this world was made based upon the truth. As I live out my vocation I understand that I must be true with myself first before I can be true to anybody else. Being made in the image of God makes it so easy to live out the image of God. Because I am made in His image and after His likeness I can operate like He does. No matter how hard it may be I...
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...Humanity in the image of God is indeed foundational to the faith, however, the exact definition is cloudy at best. “Unfortunately, Scripture never says in so many words what is meant by the highly intriguing term ‘the image of God.’ As a result of this lack of clarity, numerous understandings of the imago Dei have developed over the course of church history.” (Hindson, Caner 249) Three main views have surfaced to attempt to define what the image of God means. There is a relational view which states that the image of God is not something one can view or possess, but a dynamic experience of the relationship between God and humans, man and wife, or society as a whole. There is a functional view which lends the idea that the image of God is not who we are, or what relationships we experience, but what we do or the functions we perform. Lastly, there is the substantive view which simply states that the image of God relates to specific characteristics within humanity. (Erickson 170-178) The image of God in humanity was made perfect in Jesus Christ. “He is the image of the invisible God.” (Col. 1:15) If we are to be in God’s image, Jesus’ life and actions are “a perfect example of what human nature is intended to be.” (Erickson 176) Since Jesus was God Himself, then it is logical to conclude that doing one’s best to live out the attributes of God will bring one closer to representing God’s image. Throughout my career in the finance industry, I need to represent the image of God through my...
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