Made In The Image Of God

[MadParrotWoman]

I'm guessing we all interpret this statement in our own way but it is something that has always intreagued me, so what exactly is meant by this?
How can we be made in the image of God if we are born into sin...or is God preferring to his creation before the fall. Indeed was God referring to our physical form at all? Perhaps God is simply a super-powerful version of us or is it our minds, soul or spirit that is created in the image of God?

How do you interpret this statement?

 

[Grace777x70]

I believe when Adam and Eve were created - they were in the likeness of God with a spirit, soul and a body ( although God's body is not flesh until Jesus came ) When Adam sinned - his spirit died in the sense that it was marred by sin entering into them. The spirit of man ( Paul called it the old man that was in Adam ) is still there but affected by sin.

That's when Jesus came and redeemed us back to God and our old man ( spirit which used to be connected to God without sin) in Adam that was dead in trespasses and sins was made alive with Him when He was raised from the dead.

Those are some of my thoughts on the likeness of God.

 

[PilgrimPassingThru]

Ecc 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

There is one

 

[reneweddaybyday]

I believe when Adam and Eve were created - they were in the likeness of God with a spirit, soul and a body ( although God's body is not flesh until Jesus came ) When Adam sinned - his spirit died in the sense that it was marred by sin entering into them. The spirit of man ( Paul called it the old man that was in Adam ) is still there but affected by sin.

That's when Jesus came and redeemed us back to God and our old man ( spirit which used to be connected to God without sin) in Adam that was dead in trespasses and sins was made alive with Him when He was raised from the dead.

Those are some of my thoughts on the likeness of God.

According to Genesis 5, descendants of Adam were begotten in his [Adam's] own likeness, after his [Adam's] image:

Genesis 5:3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth

 

[Magenta]

One way I interpret it is as an artist holds an image in their mind as to how they wish their creation to look/be... then, when the artist produces that creation, they have made it according to their image. God certainly knows how He desires us to be and how far we are from that due to our sin nature, and how Jesus is required to bring us up to par, so to speak. And praise God, one day we shall all be there!

My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.

 

[Magenta]

. . . .

 

[Grace777x70]

According to Genesis 5, descendants of Adam were begotten in his [Adam's] own likeness, after his [Adam's] image:

Genesis 5:3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth

Yes....happened after the fall when Adam and Eve had kids and that's where the iniquity gets into us when we are born in this world. We can see it in our own kids..some are a "spitting image" of us...lol

 

[reneweddaybyday]

Yes....happened after the fall when Adam and Eve had kids and that's where the iniquity gets into us when we are born in this world. We can see it in our own kids..some are a "spitting image" of us...lol

In more ways than one. When I was raising my children, I would call my mom to whine about the latest issue I was dealing with when whichever one of them was acting up. She'd just snicker and tell me they took after me! I have a son who was a climber. Now he has a daughter who is a climber. All too funny!!!

 

[reneweddaybyday]

One way I interpret it is as an artist holds an image in their mind as to how they wish their creation to look/be... then, when the artist produces that creation, they have made it according to their image. God certainly knows how He desires us to be and how far we are from that due to our sin nature, and how Jesus is required to bring us up to par, so to speak. And praise God, one day we shall all be there!

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Workmanship = poiéma. Love, love, love that we are God's poiéma.

 

[oldethennew]

AMEN!

may the gates of our lives swing wide in His image...

 

[FlSnookman7]

I believe this verse offers us a clue...Gen 1:26 And 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 fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

See how it uses the plural "us" and "our"? I believe it refers to the fact that like God we are also triune (3 part) beings. God is God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit and we are flesh, soul and spirit.

 

[FreeNChrist]

I'm guessing we all interpret this statement in our own way but it is something that has always intreagued me, so what exactly is meant by this?
How can we be made in the image of God if we are born into sin...or is God preferring to his creation before the fall. Indeed was God referring to our physical form at all? Perhaps God is simply a super-powerful version of us or is it our minds, soul or spirit that is created in the image of God?

How do you interpret this statement?

That man was created in Gods image means man was created to be the impression or expression of God. It is a derived image. Which is why it takes God in man for man to be man as God created man to be.

 

[proverbs35]

Who is God? What is God like? God is agape love (1 John 4:8). What is agape love?

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV)

God is agape love. Therefore, God is and/or does everything listed in 1 Cor 13: 4-8.

As creations made in God's image (likeness), we also have the capacity to agape love others with patience, kindness, truthfulness, protection, hopefulness and long-suffering. In other words, as creations of God who are made in his image, we also have the capacity to be and do everything listed in 1 Cor 13:4-8.

God is a spirit (John 4:24). But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22).

As creations of God who are made in his image, we have the capacity to do everything listed in Gal 5:22.
Unfortunately, we don't always walk in the fruit of the spirit because we are sinful, fallible beings with free will. As a result, people very often choose (use their free will for) hate and the works of the flesh rather than love and the fruit of the spirit. Nevertheless, as creations made in the image of God, we still have the capacity to love and walk in the fruit of the spirit. That's what it means to be made in God's image.

 

[mpaper345]

I'm guessing we all interpret this statement in our own way but it is something that has always intreagued me, so what exactly is meant by this?
How can we be made in the image of God if we are born into sin...or is God preferring to his creation before the fall. Indeed was God referring to our physical form at all? Perhaps God is simply a super-powerful version of us or is it our minds, soul or spirit that is created in the image of God?

How do you interpret this statement?

The image of God has to be a bodily manifestation with an innocent nature,for God is a Spirit,and only a bodily manifestation can be an image.

The Bible says that God calls things that have not happened yet,as though they already happened,for if it is a plan of God to happen in the future,it is the same as if it happened in the beginning,for it will surely come to pass with no hindrances.

Which the Bible says the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world,and the prophets blood shed from the foundation of the world,and all the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

The Old Testament says Adam was created in the image of God,and in the New Testament it says Adam was created in the figure of Jesus.

The image of God,is the image of Christ.

God had the plan to come in the future in flesh before He created Adam,and created Adam in the image that He would show up in the future,and that is an innocent nature in flesh,Jesus.

Adam was created in flesh with an innocent nature,and I do not believe that Adam or Eve would of sinned if there was not an outside source to tempt them,so God allowed Satan to tempt them,which means God gave them a choice,for without the temptation,they would not have a choice,and it would not be true love.

Adam sinned and fell out of the image of God,for he no longer had an innocent nature,and the image was not restored until Jesus came,and then all who receive the Spirit is in the image of God.

The image of God is an innocent nature in flesh,which the world is not in the image of God,except for the physical part.

According to God who calls things that have not happened yet,as though they already happened,He is the first human,for He had the plan to come in the future in flesh,before He created Adam,and created Adam in that image.

The Word was in the beginning,the plan of God to come in flesh in the future.

The angels always behold the face of the Father for the little ones,and although we are born in to sin,it does not apply in our life until we are at the age of accountability,so babies when born are actually innocent in flesh,for they do not know anything yet,and do not sin.

 

[WebersHome]

-
Christ testified that God is spirit; viz: non physical (John 4:24) so we can
rule out the theory that God is a human being. In point to fact, people who
insist that God resembles a human being are fools. (Rom 1:20-23)

Now, in order for Adam to be in the image and likeness of God like Seth was
in the image and likeness of Adam, he would have to be God's paternal
offspring. But Adam wasn't born in the image and likeness of God, he was
created. Therefore, we can rule out the theory that Adam's image and
likeness of God was genetic.

Probably the safest explanation of Adam's image and likeness of God is that
it's an appointment; sort of like knighthood. It's a pretty serious
appointment because it's not just on paper. Along with the image and
likeness of God came some heavy responsibilities.

● Gen 1:27-28 . . So God created man in his own image, in the image of
God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed
them, and God said unto them: Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the
earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over
the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

● Ps 8:4-6 . .What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man,
that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels,
and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have
dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his
feet:

Though Man is not a true god, he is nevertheless categorized as one; no
doubt due to his status.

● Ps 82:6 . . I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the Most
High.

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[pottersclay]

I believe when Adam and Eve were created - they were in the likeness of God with a spirit, soul and a body ( although God's body is not flesh until Jesus came ) When Adam sinned - his spirit died in the sense that it was marred by sin entering into them. The spirit of man ( Paul called it the old man that was in Adam ) is still there but affected by sin.

That's when Jesus came and redeemed us back to God and our old man ( spirit which used to be connected to God without sin) in Adam that was dead in trespasses and sins was made alive with Him when He was raised from the dead.

Those are some of my thoughts on the likeness of God.

Not to derail this thread but why does everyone seem to think Adams spirit died when he sinned? Am I missing something is there scriptures about it.....We seem to take the physical death as a natural thing to happen. What if it wasn't? I guess I have a hard time believing God would create the couple to return to the dust from which they came at some point. Isn't the physical death the last thing Jesus conquers to end in the end? Don't scripture suggest that this is why there is a physical death? Every person has eternal life it's just where you will spend it that the saving grace of Jesus enters in. What's your thoughts on this.

 

[know1]

To me it is simple, but different than most.
First, we men look like Him.
Second, we are made like God, in that God is a triune being, which mean, so are we.
Even as God is three beings that make up God, we also are three being that make us who we are. We just haven't recognized the voices and works of the other two beings. We are so into our oneness, that most of us don't even know there are two others in there.
The other thing I would like to point out is that God said man was made in His image, not women.

Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them [men] have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.


1Co 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

I'm not sure on this, but it looks like it's just the man who is made in the image of God.
As far as I can tell, women are not mentioned as being made in the image of God, just the man.
That might be referring to God looking like a man and not a woman, I don't know. Like I said, it just looks that way.

 

[MadParrotWoman]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts, they have certainly made me ponder more on this subject and what no arguments in the BDF??? What's that all about? LOL. Actually there are some really good points made - those I particularly liked got repped so you know who you are but tbh I'm still unsure - The Bible isn't that clear but all great posts so thanks again everyone.

 

[Magenta]

As a seeker, I would also use an analogy from my artistic background to describe my understanding of God as though looking through a rain splattered windshield... sometimes it would be as an impressionistic painting, not very clear, mere suggestions of things in places, quite blurry and indistinct, and then WHOOSH a moment of clarity as the windshield wiper swooshed across the windshield.

 

[Depleted]

I'm guessing we all interpret this statement in our own way but it is something that has always intreagued me, so what exactly is meant by this?
How can we be made in the image of God if we are born into sin...or is God preferring to his creation before the fall. Indeed was God referring to our physical form at all? Perhaps God is simply a super-powerful version of us or is it our minds, soul or spirit that is created in the image of God?

How do you interpret this statement?

25 years ago, we bought a grill for our backyard. It was in "the images of" a grill, but it wasn't perfect. (It was very good though.) 5-7 years later, it was rusty enough that it wasn't used as a grill anymore. I repurposed it into a basil garden. Two years ago, it caved in, so it stopped being a basil garden too. Last year, hubby ripped it up so I could throw it into the trash. Much to my surprise, the metal-scrapper, (a guy who drives around neighborhoods before trash night to pick up metal out of people's trash), took it away before I could put it at the curb.

What do you think it looks like now? I wonder if it's still in a heap of metal or if someone metaled it down to repurpose it again.

I think we are old grills -- never made perfect, made "very good," but have rusted away by generations of sin and then by our own sin. But to try to imagine what we looked like (internally or externally) when we were in God's image is beyond my imagination. Considering I turned an old grill into a basil garden and wrote a book about sentient stuffed animals, I can't say I lack imagination. I'm just not very good at seeing something this far removed from original purpose looking like it did at real purpose. I even have trouble seeing what the Coliseum looked like in its heyday even when architects super-impose what they think it looked like.

I wonder. I just don't have the skill to come up with it.