1.3 Essay – Who Am I?
After reading my thoughts on Job 28, Pepper asked me –Who am I, what does it mean to be created in the image of God? In essence she was asking, If I had never been here, would it matter to God, WHO am I that he would make me similar to him? As you might guess I started praying. Then I reached for paper and a pencil. I knew this was going to take a while to sort out.
Let us focus on — Who am I, what does it mean to be created in the image of God?
We can say the image of God is a characteristic or capacity unique to humanity, such as reason or will, the image may also be found in humanity’s capacity to have a relationship with God
In the first chapter of Genesis, from Day 1 to Day 5, God spoke the universe into existence. But on the sixth day, he took a different path, He reached down into the clay and formed a man. He then “breathed into man’s nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). I think we can say Adam and Eve were more like Him than anything else He had created (Genesis 1:27).
Genesis 1:27 says — “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him.” The Hebrew phrase B’tzelem Elohim means ‘the image of God’. It speaks of the psychological and spiritual structure of humans. I find it useful to start the image discussion from the concept of “God is Spirit” (John 4:24). Within the concept that God is a Spirit (John 4:24), the image of God defines man’s rationality and spirituality, plus the capacity to know and worship God. However, the sightings of God by Moses (see Exodus 3:13-15, Exodus 24:9-11, Exodus 33:11, Exodus 33:20) suggest God is willing and able to be any form needed for the occasion. It also suggests we are created similar to the form he chose when it was appropriate to appear on earth.
We all know this image includes both the male and female form; I will discuss this specific topic another day. Suffice for now, I am comfortable with the idea men and women equally bear the image of God.
God thought our world into existence and then, as the corner stone of this incredible work,
he built us in his image so we can experience his overflowing love, grace, and
goodness defined within the relationships with the Trinity.
John Piper teaches our current image of God is a rational soul that imperfectly mirrors God. Following this notion of mirroring, our humanity is emotionally and morally shaped like a sculpture or painting created by an artist doing a self-portrait or self-sculpture of their inner being. Therefore, we can say the image of God is a characteristic or capacity unique to humanity, such as reason or will, the image may also be found in humanity’s capacity to have a relationship with God. This view resonates with me.
Augustine taught the image of God includes the capacities of our memory, intellect, and will. Augustine thought humanity reflects the nature of God in a diminished capability but not any less perfect. If we add in self-awareness, rational behavior, and personality into the formula, I think we have defined what it means to be created in the image of God. Augustine thought anomalies in our humanness are caused by sin (degrading our capabilities) not during the imagery creation. I respect his thoughts on this issue.
Ephesians 4:24 says “And to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 says “we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” John 4:24 says “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Philippians 3:21 says God “will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. 1 John 3:2 says “Beloved, … it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” Who are we? The image of God. I choose Jesus.