The Image of God
Introduction. As we consider the multitude of inventions created in the last few centuries, God’s words to Adam and Eve take on a greater significance: “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion ... over all the earth ... and subdue it.” (Gen. 1:26-28). We should stand in awe of the great potential these words revealed. As we have subdued energy like electricity, natural gas, petroleum and nuclear power, we have seen dominion like never before. We now rule over communication, speaking to and even seeing anyone, anywhere in the world with the touch of a button. We have dominion over hot and cold (freezer/microwave/central heat and air), over light and darkness (light from incandescent to LED), over distance (cars, planes and rockets), over pain and disease (surgeries/medications), and over information (TV’s, computers).
What an amazing God we serve! He planned all this and made it possible. He created the basis for these things and gave us both the intellect and the capacity to create them. This is a fundamental part of being in His image and likeness and the foundation of all dominion. As we subdued energy, we also explored all of the elements God created for our use. Think of the amazing things we have done with minerals, metals, plastics, silicon and glass. The includes the chemicals we have used to create life-saving drugs and the research that has enhanced our lives in multitudes of ways.
Many of the things we imagine today we will create and use tomorrow. Living in such an amazing time and witnessing all that God has made possible should create an awe and reverence we can hardly express. What David saw with only his eyes can now be witnessed with powerful telescopes. We are small in the vastness of our universe which expands ever further with each new telescope we create. Yet in this creation, God made us supreme with all things under our feet.
It is sad to see those so enamored with this technology that they lose sight of God. They forget it was God who made it possible. Like Israel before us, pride can lead some to think they are self-made and self-sufficient. If “you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.' 18 "And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth,” (Deut. 8:17-18).
It is wise to assess ourselves in this area. It is so easy to take all these amazing things God has made possible for granted. To have all of this and not to give thanks for it is a terrible indictment of our faith. This includes not just what we have, but what God has made us to be. God’s image and likeness is clearly seen in all that God has given us to do and accomplish.
Truly this material creation is a gift of grace. God created these things with man in mind. It was all made for us. God did what we could not do - all the great and impossible things done in the creation. This should lead us to be mindful of him each time we turn on a light; open a fridge, microwave, oven, dishwasher; or get into our heated and air-conditioned car. Likewise, when we turn on a television, use a computer, or talk and see someone we love through our cell phone. A life-saving surgery, a flight across the county on a plane, or the technology that eases the burdens of our life should lead us to “remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get” all these things. Truly “How excellent is YOUR name in all the earth!” (Ps. 8:1).
Every new invention and the ease it brings is another testimony to God’s desire that we take dominion, and utilize His image and likeness. But this brings up an interesting consideration. Why did it take so long? These things have always existed, yet they lay dormant because man did not seek to unlock them. God made it possible, but left it to us to take the initiative and make it happen.
But all of this simply introduces a very powerful and important consideration. Did Jesus pattern His gospel after His material creation? Did the same Word who created the heaven and the earth at God’s direction to give man dominion, also pattern God’s scheme of redemption to bring salvation in the same way? Does the power of the gospel need the same efforts on the part of those who obey it to bring about a dominion similar to that in the material creation?
Since God created us in His image and after His likeness to take dominion over the material creation, why wouldn’t God, after He made us alive in Christ “create us in Christ Jesus to do the good works God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them?” (Eph. 2:1-10) Why wouldn’t the same grace working in the material creation giving us dominion through our own efforts also give us dominion in the gospel by our own efforts? How does it lessen God’s grace, love and mercy to see that He wanted us to work with Him and through Him?
The parallels are obvious. As we had to master the power sources and materials in this creation, we must also master those in the spiritual realm. Jesus’ death on the cross created a source of power to remove all sin, but we must learn to take dominion with it. The means to use this power is found in our faith, our prayers, and our accurate and careful use of the gospel and word of Christ. With all these things God has made it possible to exert our own efforts and take dominion again.
This helps answer the great debate that has come down through the centuries. Some have proclaimed that in order to give God all the glory, man can do nothing. His work and toil is neither needed or wanted. They misread “it is not of works that no man should boast.” (Eph. 2:9) Many simply want to allow God to save them and then wait for God to bring salvation. Yet this is contrary to everything else God has done. If man waited for God to take dominion for him, he would never have dominion. God told him to take dominion and by his own efforts that dominion has been gained.
Why would it be different in the spiritual creation? The same glory that God receives when man takes dominion and praises God is the same glory that God will receive when we take the gospel and take dominion over sin and ignorance and praise God. Yes, He wants us to be completely dependent upon Him, but also to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” This is all the while knowing “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:12-13)
Peter’s second letter begins with the same potential as the first chapter of Genesis. “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, ... by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, ...” (2Pet. 1:3-4). God first used His divine power to give us everything for life and godliness. It is all a gift of grace, and just as in the beginning by offering dominion and salvation, the Spirit offers these precious and exceeding great promises.
Like the dominion in the material creation, by our own diligence we again partake (return into fellowship) with the divine nature. The clear parallel is revealed in the words: “for this very cause adding on your part all diligence.” (2Pet. 1:5) God demands action! For the very reason that God gave the means and the motivation, we MUST act with DILIGENCE. God did His part in both creations. We must “subdue and take dominion” in the material and spiritual realm of our life. We must “add on our part” or nothing will happen.
The Holy Spirit then revealed the outcome for those who add and those who do not. Those who are diligent in using the tools and materials God has given are “not idle nor unfruitful,” while “those who lack them are blind, seeing only what is near.” (2 Pet. 1:8-9) Then comes five exhortations and conclusions based on the effort we put forth.
Conclusion.: All inventions and power sources surrounding us today exist for two reasons. First, because in His abundant love and grace, God made it possible and second because man put forth the efforts to take the dominion God offered by His grace. All spiritual growth and maturity of each Christian today has the same source. God’s abundant love and grace gave His Son to die for our sins and sent the Holy Spirit to reveal all truth in the NT Scriptures. If we will work diligently with these gifts, we will see a similar dominion over sin and spiritual growth.
How much clearer can God make it? We did not take dominion in the material creation until we gave diligence and used the tools God gave. We will not take dominion over sin until we give diligence and use the tools God gives. This is exactly what the grace of God teaches us:
What an amazing God we serve! He planned all this and made it possible. He created the basis for these things and gave us both the intellect and the capacity to create them. This is a fundamental part of being in His image and likeness and the foundation of all dominion. As we subdued energy, we also explored all of the elements God created for our use. Think of the amazing things we have done with minerals, metals, plastics, silicon and glass. The includes the chemicals we have used to create life-saving drugs and the research that has enhanced our lives in multitudes of ways.
Many of the things we imagine today we will create and use tomorrow. Living in such an amazing time and witnessing all that God has made possible should create an awe and reverence we can hardly express. What David saw with only his eyes can now be witnessed with powerful telescopes. We are small in the vastness of our universe which expands ever further with each new telescope we create. Yet in this creation, God made us supreme with all things under our feet.
- When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? 5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet (Ps. 8:3-6)
It is sad to see those so enamored with this technology that they lose sight of God. They forget it was God who made it possible. Like Israel before us, pride can lead some to think they are self-made and self-sufficient. If “you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.' 18 "And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth,” (Deut. 8:17-18).
It is wise to assess ourselves in this area. It is so easy to take all these amazing things God has made possible for granted. To have all of this and not to give thanks for it is a terrible indictment of our faith. This includes not just what we have, but what God has made us to be. God’s image and likeness is clearly seen in all that God has given us to do and accomplish.
- I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. (Ps. 139:14)
Truly this material creation is a gift of grace. God created these things with man in mind. It was all made for us. God did what we could not do - all the great and impossible things done in the creation. This should lead us to be mindful of him each time we turn on a light; open a fridge, microwave, oven, dishwasher; or get into our heated and air-conditioned car. Likewise, when we turn on a television, use a computer, or talk and see someone we love through our cell phone. A life-saving surgery, a flight across the county on a plane, or the technology that eases the burdens of our life should lead us to “remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get” all these things. Truly “How excellent is YOUR name in all the earth!” (Ps. 8:1).
Every new invention and the ease it brings is another testimony to God’s desire that we take dominion, and utilize His image and likeness. But this brings up an interesting consideration. Why did it take so long? These things have always existed, yet they lay dormant because man did not seek to unlock them. God made it possible, but left it to us to take the initiative and make it happen.
But all of this simply introduces a very powerful and important consideration. Did Jesus pattern His gospel after His material creation? Did the same Word who created the heaven and the earth at God’s direction to give man dominion, also pattern God’s scheme of redemption to bring salvation in the same way? Does the power of the gospel need the same efforts on the part of those who obey it to bring about a dominion similar to that in the material creation?
Since God created us in His image and after His likeness to take dominion over the material creation, why wouldn’t God, after He made us alive in Christ “create us in Christ Jesus to do the good works God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them?” (Eph. 2:1-10) Why wouldn’t the same grace working in the material creation giving us dominion through our own efforts also give us dominion in the gospel by our own efforts? How does it lessen God’s grace, love and mercy to see that He wanted us to work with Him and through Him?
The parallels are obvious. As we had to master the power sources and materials in this creation, we must also master those in the spiritual realm. Jesus’ death on the cross created a source of power to remove all sin, but we must learn to take dominion with it. The means to use this power is found in our faith, our prayers, and our accurate and careful use of the gospel and word of Christ. With all these things God has made it possible to exert our own efforts and take dominion again.
This helps answer the great debate that has come down through the centuries. Some have proclaimed that in order to give God all the glory, man can do nothing. His work and toil is neither needed or wanted. They misread “it is not of works that no man should boast.” (Eph. 2:9) Many simply want to allow God to save them and then wait for God to bring salvation. Yet this is contrary to everything else God has done. If man waited for God to take dominion for him, he would never have dominion. God told him to take dominion and by his own efforts that dominion has been gained.
Why would it be different in the spiritual creation? The same glory that God receives when man takes dominion and praises God is the same glory that God will receive when we take the gospel and take dominion over sin and ignorance and praise God. Yes, He wants us to be completely dependent upon Him, but also to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” This is all the while knowing “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:12-13)
Peter’s second letter begins with the same potential as the first chapter of Genesis. “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, ... by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, ...” (2Pet. 1:3-4). God first used His divine power to give us everything for life and godliness. It is all a gift of grace, and just as in the beginning by offering dominion and salvation, the Spirit offers these precious and exceeding great promises.
Like the dominion in the material creation, by our own diligence we again partake (return into fellowship) with the divine nature. The clear parallel is revealed in the words: “for this very cause adding on your part all diligence.” (2Pet. 1:5) God demands action! For the very reason that God gave the means and the motivation, we MUST act with DILIGENCE. God did His part in both creations. We must “subdue and take dominion” in the material and spiritual realm of our life. We must “add on our part” or nothing will happen.
The Holy Spirit then revealed the outcome for those who add and those who do not. Those who are diligent in using the tools and materials God has given are “not idle nor unfruitful,” while “those who lack them are blind, seeing only what is near.” (2 Pet. 1:8-9) Then comes five exhortations and conclusions based on the effort we put forth.
- Wherefore, brethren, (1) give the more diligence to (2) make your calling and election sure: (3) for if ye do these things, (4) you shall never stumble: (5) for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (2Pet. 1:10-11)
Conclusion.: All inventions and power sources surrounding us today exist for two reasons. First, because in His abundant love and grace, God made it possible and second because man put forth the efforts to take the dominion God offered by His grace. All spiritual growth and maturity of each Christian today has the same source. God’s abundant love and grace gave His Son to die for our sins and sent the Holy Spirit to reveal all truth in the NT Scriptures. If we will work diligently with these gifts, we will see a similar dominion over sin and spiritual growth.
How much clearer can God make it? We did not take dominion in the material creation until we gave diligence and used the tools God gave. We will not take dominion over sin until we give diligence and use the tools God gives. This is exactly what the grace of God teaches us:
- “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12).