Reflection
- (Gen 1:26 ESV) 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.”
- (Gen 1:27 ESV) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Discussion
We are uniquely made in the image of God. Above all of creation, God granted us a special likeness to Himself. We are creative. We are intuitive. We are intelligent. We are spirit-filled. None of those things can be marked on other aspects of creation. This gives us a unique position in the created order:
Above all creation in our rule yet below all God in our authority.
That role is not hard to see in other areas of life. As we go to work, we might be in charge of this area of the job while under the management of someone else. On a sports team you might be a leader of one team or portion of the team while under the leadership overall of the coach. In the home children are in charge of their rooms, chores, animals yet under the authority of their parents.
Connection
As creatures made in the image and likeness of God, how can we live fully to that gift?
What can we do, as image-bearers of God to remember how He made us?
Why might the fallen world want to redefine us to a lower standard than that which God made us?
What is a proper response of the Christian to the fallen world when the image of God is rundown, redefined, and removed from public view?
Expansion
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the second member of the Trinity. He is co-equal with God the Father and the Holy Spirit in all power, authority, and dominion in the universe. He was co-creator and rules over all creation from heaven. Jesus existed before the world began. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary. Jesus lived a sinless life and is the only sacrifice for our sins, dying on the cross, and defeating death forever. He rose from the grave to return to heaven where He sits today. Because of His perfect sacrifice we have eternal life as heirs of God. He will return to restore His kingdom and judge all people according to the will of God.
Genesis 3:8, Genesis 16:7-13, Ephesians 1:15-23, Revelation, 22:16, Colossians 1:15-19, John 17:5, Matthew 1:23, Hebrews 1:3, John 14:9-10, Matthew 4:1-11, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:21-25, John 3:16-17, John 6:38, Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 1:20-23, Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 24:38-43, Matthew 28:9, Acts 10:41, Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 1:2-3, Revelation 3:21, John 5:22-23, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 2 Timothy 4:7-8