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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:
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? |
Bible Answer: Dear Bill, Is God still creating man in His image? Part One I understand your question even though your wording isn’t quite right. If I were to answer your question as it is written, I would say no, God’s work of creation ended on the sixth day. But your question is, is fallen man still the image of God? Man, though fallen, is the image of God. Granted, the image is thoroughly corrupt, but it is still the image. Again I emphasize that what defines man as man, what distinguishes him from the animals and the rest of creation is that he is the image of God. No matter how tainted, man is the image of God. He has lost his holiness and righteousness in the Fall, but he did not cease to be what he is. He became a sinner; he did not become non-man. God defines man, even after the fall, as his image, “Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God he made man.” (Genesis 9:6) Let me put it another way. The image of God is not something that is part of man, something that man houses in his being. The image of God is WHAT MAN IS. It’s not part of man; it’s what man IS. I Corinthians 11:7 says that man “is the image and glory of God…” It is dangerous to deny to any man the image of God, no matter how evil he is or heinous his crimes. It is on the basis of the denial of the image of God that American slavery, worldwide abortion and stem cell research are justified. If man is a species of animal, it IS justified! But he’s not. He is not a species; he is not an animal; he is not a machine; he is the image of his creator, though the image is spoiled. The value of man, the only basis for the real value of man, is that he is the image of God. And the image of God is not only the basis for the value of man, but it is also the basis of justice (Genesis 9:6). And, most crucial, it is the basis for our redemption in Christ Jesus. At the Fall, man did not cease to be man; he ceased to be holy. At the Fall, man sought to satisfy his desire for knowledge and wisdom illegitimately. It plunged our race into sin and darkness. Our redemption in Christ restores that image to its original holiness, righteous and truth. Col. 3:10, 11 says, “…and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him-- a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.” Eph. 4:24 says, “…and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” continued in part two. |