In His Image - Imago Dei Last week: 1. We see God's kindness and intention for human flourishing in creation. 2. God created mankind uniquely in His image & capable of relationship with Him. 3. God created gender as a reflection of the beauty of His nature.

Genesis 1:26-27

The doctrine of "Imago Dei" in Latin. Meaning, man is made in the image of God, and therefore life has intrinsic value.

Affects on society: abolishment of slavery, equality between genders and races, creation of democracy, protection of the weak in all its forms, justice systems and laws that protect people from harm and punish people who commit harm.

1. Resemblance A. Moral excellence - displaying God's goodness. Righteousness, purity, love, forgiveness, humility, holiness, knowledge. Lost in the fall, but renewed in the image of Jesus Christ. Romans 5:19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

B. Moral agency - deciding to do what is good and right Ability to reason, make moral choices, make moral distinctions. Sin has corrupted our decision-making, we choose wrong instead of right. Romans 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

C. The human body God has no body. He is spirit. But he perceives, he reasons, he speaks, hears, sees Our ears and eyes image God's ability to hear and see. God created us with physical abilities that image his own abilities. Psalm 94:9 He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see?

D. Social organizations Individuals are in the image of God, organizations reflect God's image in more depth. God calls individuals to himself, but also families, cities, nations, and especially churches. 1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭27‬ Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

E. Sexual differentiation A. Mirrors God's creativity by which He brings forth sons and daughters. Men are born physically, biologically through the genders God created. God redeems the children of man and woman and in Christ he adopts them as his own. John‬ ‭1‬:‭12-13‬

B. The love of a husband for his wife picture's God's love for his people. Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭25‬

C. A woman's respect for her husband images the church's respect for Christ. Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭22-24‬

We are all called to submit to God, submit to Christ, submit to human authorities, human bosses, government, leaders, and within the church to each other. Just as Jesus submitted to God the Father.

Genesis 1:28-31

1. Representation Man was created as God's representative, his viceroy or vassal lord on earth. Adam was to spread God's authority over the earth. (Isaiah 6:3)

As God's image-bearer, mankind is to spread the glory of God (Isa 43:7) - his creativity, organization, building, knowledge, wisdom, relationship, goodness

But man sinned and sin corrupted mankind and all creation. Apart from Jesus Christ, man is unable to fulfill God's mandate. In Jesus Christ, God is recovering his image through his people.

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 demonstrate and communicate the gospel, they act as the body of Christ on earth, imaging God to a lost world.