Imago Dei (Made in the Image of God)
In Genesis 1:26 the Triune God said “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”. In chapter 5:1 we are again told that man was made in the likeness of God. This we believe because we trust in “Scripture alone” Sola Scriptura.
For the reason of how man was created, God viewed murder very seriously saying that man’s blood will be shed if he sheds blood.
In the New Testament, Paul writes in first Corinthians 15:49 that believers will bear the image of the heavenly Man, being Jesus. Being formed in the image of the Creator is supported again in Colossians 3:10.
Human Life and Responsibility
John Calvin emphasizes that when God stated that he made us in his image, no further explanation is necessary.[1] James reminds us of the responsibility we have towards each other being made in this image. Herman Bavinck emphasizes that this is applicable to all human beings, a very humbling thought in terms of how we treat fellow man.[2] Man, of his own accord, is nothing, but “all glory to God alone” Soli Deo Goria, who has made us in this image. Man was made perfect, there was no sin and man was to live without death.
- Man cannot blame God for the brokenness in the world.[3] Though we inherit sin, this was never God’s original design. Our responsibility remains: to glorify him in all thoughts, words and deeds.
- Absolute respect and dignity for human life, knowing that we will need to answer for everything.
The Creator and Scientific Opportunities
Jesus is called the author of life in Acts 3:15. The creation of life is a miracle beyond human mastery, for we are not sovereign. This reminds us of our creaturely status and calls us to tread carefully, honoring life as God’s gift. We are weak and powerless and cannot even create the very tiniest beginnings of life, so are too called in humility for what is not ours to take.
Being grateful for Scientific opportunities to conceive, we are still called to engage with life to the glory of the Creator. We have no authority to take and act flippantly and disregard what we cannot create. Jesus alone is Author, not man.
Psalm 139: Wonderfully Made
The psalmist ministers to us with these wonderful words from verses 14 to 16:
“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”
Encouragement to Honor Life
Fellow man, made in the image of the great, good, holy, perfect God, let us honor life. Respect life. Treasure miracles and know that we don’t author the chance to breathe and move. When circumstances seem impossible, we are called to live rightly and faithfully in the One who is greater than all the world. Living right and being able to answer with integrity is more important on Judgement Day than difficulties that may present us in these days. Preserve life.
Repentance and Hope in Christ
We are people and we stumble! The blood of Jesus is restorative because we are his handiwork, called to honor life and love others in his name. Let us give him all our trespasses and ask for his gracious wisdom to turn from them and walk a different way. We are saved by “Christ alone” Solus Christus through “faith alone” Sola Fide by “grace alone” Sola Gratia.
End Notes
[1] John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, trans. Robert White (Edinburgh, UK: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2020), 38.
2 Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics, Vol. 4, ed. John Bolt, trans. John Vriend (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008), 24, https://www.perlego.com/book/2051292.
3 Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 31.
