Results 1 - 7 of 7
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Is God still creating man in His image? | Gen 5:3 | Bill Mc | 16122 | ||
Granted, man, as a species was made (past tense, at creation) in the image of God. I am not questioning that. But is God still creating man in His image everytime someone is born? The reference verse above does not say that Seth was born in the image of God. It says that Seth was born in Adam's image. I believe that, after the fall, man was no longer the exact representation of God's image. He became, through Adam's sin, a fallen creature. When Christ came, He showed us man as man was designed to be - totally dependant upon God. God was His life source. Christ said, 'I don't do or say anything unless the Father tells Me to do or say it. Why? Because My Father and I are one.' And scripture says that He (Christ) was the exact representation of God's nature. Philip said to Jesus, 'Show us the Father.' Jesus replied, 'If you've seen Me, you've seen the Father.' Now, with Christ in us, we, too, can reflect the image of God as we let Him live through us. We, as believers, are one spirit with Him. But, my question is, is man, in his fallen natural state (born dead in trespasses and sin) still being created in the image of God? On a personal note, I don't understand how the terrorist who have attacked the US could be considered 'created in the image of God.' Or someone like Adolf Hitler, who tried to exterminate the Jews, how is he the iamge of God. I see the opposite. Or someone like Bill Mc, who left to his own devices, before he was saved, could have, but for the grace of God, committed any crime I could think of. I have hated, I have lusted - in my heart I was guilty of murder and adultery. I cannot look at my life and say that it was always the image of God. People will say that we have no right to execute criminals for their crimes because man is the image of God. I think we forfeited that attribute when Adam sinned. Is God still, present tense, creating man in His image? If He is, I believe it is only at new birth - Rom 6:4, 2 Cor 5:17, Gal 6:16, Eph 2:10. What do you think? |
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2 | Is God still creating man in His image? | Gen 5:3 | kalos | 16168 | ||
"People will say that we have no right to execute criminals for their crimes because man is the image of God." To say that "we have no right to execute criminals for their crimes because man is the image of God" is one of the worst cases of Scripture twisting I have ever seen. To say this is to REVERSE the meaning of Genesis 9:6. Genesis 9:6 "Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man." NKJV "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." NIV Whoever sheds the blood of a human, by a human shall that person's blood be shed; for in his own image God made humankind. NRSV |
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3 | Is God still creating man in His image? | Gen 5:3 | Bill Mc | 16175 | ||
kalos, I agree. It's just that many others don't know much of what scripture says. All they know is what they 'think' Christianity is about. They hear that all life is sacred and then, you're right, they twist scripture to validate their views. And then they say that Jesus says to forgive our enemies (which He did, of course) and that they shouldn't be punished for their crimes. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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4 | Is God still creating man in His image? | Gen 5:3 | Sir Pent | 16179 | ||
I thought this thread was about man's being created in the image of God. Now it seems to be getting onto the subject of the death penalty. There is another thread currently going, which is dealing with that issue, but I would like to just respond briefly to this post. People who are against the death penalty DO NOT BELIEVE that criminals "shouldn't be punished for their crimes". They just believe that this punishment should not be killing the criminal. |
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5 | Sorry about the digression. | Gen 5:3 | Bill Mc | 16185 | ||
Hi Sir Pent, Yes, this thread is supposed to be about man being created in the image of God. I had posted it because the subject came up that all men were created in God's image. And I was asked what right we had to kill something in God's image. My premise is that I don't believe that men are still created in God's image. I think man forfeited that specific attribute when Adam sinned. I DON'T feel that, if it's true that unregenrated man is no longer 'in God's image', that AUTOMATICALLY gives us a right to kill mankind. I think there are other scriptures that substantiate capital punishment. But ALL life ultimately proceeds from God. God is life. I believe that He has created three 'levels' (for lack of a better word) of life: 1) Physiological Life (purely physical life - plants) 2) Soul Life(mind, will, emotions - animals) and 3) Spiritually Life (the highest form of life that is eternal by which we relate to God and He relates to us). So my question was whether God is still 'creating man in His own image' every time someone is born. Unfortunately, I have never resolved exactly what 'made in His image' means. Any thoughts? In Him, Bill MC |
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6 | Sorry about the digression. | Gen 5:3 | Sir Pent | 16202 | ||
Dear Bill MC, I wish that I had a better answer for you, but this is one subject that I have not thought deeply about in the past. I do beieve that God does actually create each individual "spirit" (to use your word, others might call it "soul"). However, as for whether this is still in God's image or not, I don't know. I can't think of any biblical passages, other than the ones already listed in this thread, that are related. I did have one idea which came to mind. You have probably heard of the idea that "there is a God-shaped hole inside each of us". Have you ever made paper machette? As a kid, we took a balloon, covered it with the paper machette, let it dry, and then popped the balloon and removed the pieces. This left a balloon shaped hole in the middle. However, the outside was also in the same shape (image) as the balloon had been. Perhaps this is what being made in the image of God is. C.S.Lewis writes in his book "Mere Christianity" about how humans are born with a innate knowledge that the world (and themselves personally) is/are supposed to be better. Perhaps it is this ability to realize that there is something higher and better than the reality around us (which no other living thing seems to posess). If so then I think that the answer to the original question is "yes". P.S. I would just like to beat everyone to the punch by saying that this could all be meaningless dribble. I have no biblical support for this theory, and don't even know for sure if I believe it. However, like I said, I haven't thought through this very much at all, and this just came to me. |
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7 | Sorry about the digression. | Gen 5:3 | Bill Mc | 16208 | ||
Sir Pent, thanks for your response. 'Meaningless dribble' - you made me smile :) Yes, the quote of the God-shaped vacuum is from Pascal. And Mere Christianity is one of my favorite books. Thanks for your input and honesty. I enjoy challenging others (and being challenged) concerning preconceived notions that we have about our faith and what scripture actually teaches. It's amazing how many people think "God helps those who help themselves" is in the Bible. So I am not always trying to settle an issue as such. But it is good for us as believers to verify is what we believe and have been taught stands up to the truth of God's Word. Blessings to you. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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