In His Image - Imago Dei - part 2

God created humankind uniquely in His image

What does it mean for humankind to be created in God's image? I. We were created to resemble and represent God.

1. We were created resemble to God We have the ability to think and act morally Our bodies have physical abilities that mirror God's abilities Social organizations can reflect an even greater abilities to act as God's agent Our gender mirrors God's creativity Marriage images the relationship between Jesus Christ and his church.

Genesis 1:28-31 - the Dominion Mandate

1. We were created to represent God Humankind was created to be God's representative, his viceroy or vassal lord on earth. Adam was to spread God's authority over the earth.

Humankind was created to spread the glory of God as His image bearer. - his creativity, organization, building, knowledge, wisdom, relationship, goodness

Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭7‬ everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

II. Sin corrupted mankind including the relationship between men and women.

In Genesis 3. We see the effects of sin: 1. They felt shame and covered themselves 2. They hid from God 3. They blamed someone else for their sin - man blamed the woman (and indirectly God) and woman blamed the serpent

Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬b Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.

The result of sin was conflict between the sexes. I didn't have to tell you that. You already knew there is conflict between sexes. You already knew of abuse, violence, and belittling between the genders - and this far more often men abusing women whom God created in his own image.

Apart from Jesus Christ, man is unable to fulfill God's mandate. Sin has corrupted the relationship between men and women. It has kept us from spreading the glory of God - instead, we have spread corruption.

III. In Jesus Christ, God is restoring his image in his people. 1 Peter 3:7, Peter writes that a Christian husband and wife are "fellow heirs of the grace of life." What does that mean? In Christ men and women recover what was meant by being created male and female in God's image. Together, they are to image the glory of God. Together as fellow heirs, they are to inherit the glory of God.

Application How we live matters greatly to God. He created us and redeemed us that we would fulfill God's calling on mankind to resemble and represent him on earth..

Men, love and serve your wife well, sacrificially, selflessly as you follow the example of Jesus Christ, and so bear the image of your Creator.

Women, respect your husband, she reflects the submission of the church to Jesus Christ, her Redeemer.

When families care for poor, sick, elderly, they reflect the kindness and goodness of God and the grace they received by Jesus Christ.

When churches love each other deeply, serve their community, and communicate the gospel, they act as the body of Christ on earth, imaging God to a lost world.