What does it mean to be made in the image of God?

The Imago Dei and you. Every human being has value because they are the handiwork of God. 

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

What does it mean to be made in the image of God? When you come to the book of Genesis, as God is creating the heavens, the earth, the seas, and all that dwells in them, we come to Genesis chapter 1, beginning at verse 26, and it says, 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 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 them, male and female. He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply it, fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth. So we see several things from this passage, and I think they relate to our lives today in that they help us to understand who we are, who we are in relation to God and his created order specifically. So it says that God made us in his image, and it clarifies male and female. And then he blessed them and he gave them a command as people made in his image. He said, Now go do this. And the command is to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth, subdue it and have dominion. And again in verse 26, it says, Let them have dominion. So what I believe this text is teaching is that at least a part of what it means to be made in the image of God is that God is ruling and reigning over his creation. And that as a part of us being made in his image, is that we are given a sense of rule or dominion in this earth. We are, in a sense, God's ambassadors, and we are to have dominion on this earth. That was at least the original plan. Then we know that man sinned, rebelled against God, handed over essentially his authority to Satan. When we refuse to believe God's word and we believe Satan's word, we're coming under his power, under his authority. And so man forfeited his right to rule, so to say, where God had placed man here as his ambassador. Man handed that over, and sin came into the world. And now we live in a fallen world. And Christ came, he broke into this world, and he showed his authority as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. In his public ministry, he opened blind eyes. He caused the lame to walk, he raised the dead. And then in his greatest miracle, he not only died for our sins on the cross, he rose again from the grave. He ascended to the right hand of the Father, and he gives the promise of everlasting life to all who believe, to all who will repent of their sins, turn to him, believe upon him. We will be forgiven of our sins, given a new life in him, filled with his spirit. And there is coming a day when Jesus will return and redeem all things. The curse will be lifted. There will be a new heavens and new earth in which righteousness dwells. And so, sort of, it will be like the Garden of Eden redone, but it will be forever and eternity. And so I think at least part of what it means to be made in the image of God is this sense of dominion and rule, which again, man forfeited, but there is still work that God has for us to do here in His creation. Specifically before Jesus ascended and went to the right hand of the Father, he said, Go into all the world and make disciples. But before that, he said, All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Now you go, you go what? In my authority and make disciples, teaching them to observe all the things I've commanded you, come under my authority, baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and lo, I am with you always. And so Jesus has given us a command. He has sent us out his authority to call people to life through repentance and faith in him, to come once again under the rule of the great King of the universe who made all things. So I think all of this, this concept of dominion, has to do with the image of God. But even beyond that, this is what I want to touch on before I close, every person that exists has an inherent value and that they are a creation of God. Everybody matters. Even the most vile of sinners, if they would repent and turn and believe upon Jesus, they would be saved. Everyone has an inherent value as a work of God's hands. And God desires for all men to repent, to turn to believe in Him, to be restored to that right relationship with Him and to walk in the authority of Jesus as we go, as we make disciples, as we do it not for our own sakes or for our glory, but for His, the God who made all things, who made you, who made you in His image. Thank you for joining me today. I hope this has been an encouragement to you. Make sure that you like, subscribe, hit the notification bell, whatever you need to do, and follow me for more content coming up in the future. Have a great rest of your day.