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NASB | Genesis 5:3 ¶ When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 5:3 ¶ When Adam had lived a hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth. |
Bible Question:
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 |
Bible Answer: 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. |