This starts a new series that will focus on the doctrine that covers what we believe about people. Throughout Christian history we have had to defend our beliefs. Different time periods have focused more on a specific doctrine to attack. Now it is the doctrine of man that seems to be under attack more than others.
To be created in the image of God means:
We relate to God.
We reflect God’s glory.
We rule over God’s creation.
Genesis 1:26
This verse tells us that we are made in God’s image, all of us. Because of that, we can relate to God in a way no other beings can. We reflect His glory like a mirror reflecting an image. God put humans over all other creation, and one way we reflect God’s glory is to rule over the Earth.
Psalm 8:1-8
Psalm 139:13-14
All humans are valuable. … We are all created in the Image of God and are equal. We have intrinsic worth because we reflect God’s glory and are created in His image.
All races are valuable. … Race does not matter. Color does not matter. “Red, brown, yellow, black, or white, they are precious in His sight!”
Unborn children are valuable. … We can use scientific instruments to see that the fetus in the womb is not simply a clump of cells, but a very small human. The argument in support of allowing abortion used to be that they weren’t human, but now it has shifted to “they aren’t a person.” That’s a slippery slope to get on. At what point do we decide disabled or elderly people aren’t “persons” and take away their rights based on the same reasoning that a fetus isn’t a “person”?
Disabled and elderly people are valuable. … Even people who might not be able to be productive are valuable.
Genesis 9:1-6
Some people advocate for animals to have equal rights to humans. Some even say that humans who have mental diffencisies should have some of their rights taken away, putting them below these animals. The Bible clearly tells us that Humans have been put over all other inhabitants of the Earth and this is not something to be changed. … Some say that because we value life so much that we should always be against war. However, the Bible makes it clear that life is so valuable, sometimes life must be taken to protect it.
James 3:9
We praise God with our mouths and sometimes we slip and curse humans who were made in God’s image. That’s something we can work on. We shouldn’t be cursing other humans. No matter what they’ve done, they are valuable and need to be respected because they were created in God’s image.
If we really want to know what it means to be made in the image of God, we must look at Jesus (Colossians 1:15).
He perfectly relates to God.
He perfectly reflects God’s glory.
He will completely rule God’s creation.
2 Corinthians 3:18
Even though we were made in God’s image, it is still possible to grow and become more like Him.