Who Are You and Where Are You Going? Genesis 1:26-28 – “Made in the Image of God”

6/28/20 – Pastor Tim Meendering

Questions for family/small group discussions:

a. Why would we be deeply influenced, impacted, and changed by understanding the biblical answers to the questions, who are you and where are you going?

b. What do Psalm 112:7 and Proverbs 1:33 reveal about what is so vital during times of bad news and dread of disaster? How should this change the balance of your diet between the news and absorbing God’s Word?

Three ways that we are the image of God:

1. Personality a. What does Colossians 3:10 say about the aspect of God’s image that is being renewed in us?

b. What does Genesis 1:28 reveal about how we reflect the image of God?

2. Spiritual being a. What is the great significance and privilege that we gain by being spiritual beings (see John 17:26)? How

does this make us radically different than any other creature?

3. Moral nature – righteousness, holiness a. What does it mean that we are created with the ability to make moral choices that reflect the

righteousness and holiness of God (see Ephesians 4:24)?

b. How do you see that sin has distorted the image of God in us? What do you think that C.S. Lewis meant when he wrote that “There are no ordinary people. You have never met a mere mortal.”?

Three implications of being made in the image of God:

1. You are his representative a. How would you describe your role and mission when you consider Genesis 1:28, Matthew 28:18-19, and

Jesus’ teaching that we are to pray “your kingdom come, your will be done…”? How might this change the way that you pray and engage with others every day?

2. You are overwhelmingly sacred/valuable a. What does Psalm 8:5-6 and Zephaniah 3:17 say about who you are? How can this truth dripping like an

I.V. into your heart and mind impact how you absorb and deal with the ugly, demeaning words that come your way? Do you have this kind of Teflon non-stick coating on your heart and mind? Why or why not?

3. Every other human is overwhelmingly sacred/valuable a. What do Genesis 9:6 and James 3:9-10 say about the vital importance of recognizing the image of God in

others? Do you see how an attack against anyone is also an attack against God?

b. Why are we so tempted to de-humanize or de-value people who are not like us? Can you remember times when you have done this? Or recall when you have laughed at someone rather than with them? Take time to confess and repent of these times.

c. How can you take a step this week to acknowledge and love people who are often overlooked or unloved?

d. What is one step you could take to work for the protection of the unborn? Ask God to guide you in this.

e. How has Jesus made it possible for us to supremely value, accept, and lead others to the life we have in him? What do we need to see in who Jesus is and what he has done so that we will reflect his beautiful image and love his image in others wherever we find it?

1

“I just don’t watch the news anymore—because it’s all bad…”

Psalm 112:7 - “He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.”

Proverbs 1:33 - “…whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

God’s Word needs to be an intravenous drip of truth into our hearts and minds every day.

3

You are made in the image of God. You are unique—made in God’s likeness.

Herman Bavinck: “…among all creatures only man is the image of God, the highest and richest revelation of God, and therefore the head and crown of the entire creation.”

Humankind is a representation of God who is like God.

1. Personality Make choices Ability to rule over the world Intellect - we can think and have knowledge

Col. 3:10 – “…put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”

2. Spiritual being God is a Spirit, the human soul is a spirit…

Man is thereby distinguished from all other inhabitants of this world, and raised immeasurably above them. He belongs to the same order of being as God Himself, and is therefore capable of communion with his Maker.…it is also the necessary condition of our capacity to know God, and therefore the foundation of our religious nature. If we were not like God, we could not know Him. We should be as the beasts which perish.”

3. Moral nature - righteousnessMake moral choices that reflect the righteousness and holiness of God.

Eph. 4:24 - “…put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Cornelius VanTil – “Take away sin and what you are left with is the image of God.”

C.S. Lewis – “There are no ordinary people. You have never met a mere mortal.”

1. You are his representativeIn God’s kingdom, every one is as important as any president, emperor or prime minister on earth.

We are to pray AND act toward bringing in the coming of his kingdom to the earth.

1. You are his representativeMatthew 28:18–19: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”

You are the image of God—a representative—a co-ruler—a vice president—who rules on behalf of God your king to bring his rule and glory to the ends of the earth.

2. You are sacred/valuablePsalm 8:5-6: Humans are…“a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet.”

I am a little lower than the angels and God crowns me with glory and honor.

2. You are sacred/valuableYou are a little lower than the angels…crowned with glory and honor—and the King—your Father—takes great delight in you—he rejoices over you with singing!

If you get this truth dripping like an I.V. into your heart and mind, you will have a Teflon non-stick coating so that all of the ugly, demeaning words cannot stick to you.

3. Every other human is sacred/valuable

Genesis 9:6 James 3:9-10 We are representatives or ambassadors of God and his kingdom.

When you kill or attack any person with ugly words, it is an act of violence and war against God.

3. Every other human is sacred/valuable

Act with the utmost respect for EVERY person and life.

Our proud and sinful hearts are endlessly tempted to de-humanize and de-value people who are not like us.

It doesn’t matter what kind of messed-up sinners we are, everyone is still made in the image of God.

When you devalue/assault/ignore others, you devalue/assault/ignore God.

3. Every other human is sacred/valuable

You are NOT to take a shot at anyone—in large part, because of the office they hold—every person is an image-bearer of God.

Beware of the times when you laugh AT someone rather than WITH someone.

You are called to acknowledge/kiss the people you meet every day who never otherwise receive a kiss.

John Newton - “I desire to own and honor the image of God wherever I find it.”

We will work for the love, respect, and preservation of all life—including the lives of unborn children.

If human life is not sacred and life revolves around you, you can kill babies and old people who become a burden.

On the other hand, if life is sacred and revolves around God, you will relentlessly preserve the life of unborn children, the elderly, and the handicapped.

Because of the sanctity and value of human life, we are called to represent, honor, protect, and promote the image of God wherever we find it.

How can we do this? How can we make progress toward the sacrifice and love for others that God commands here?

We have to trust, embrace and focus on how our King has sacrificed and loved us.

God is so holy and just—and you are such a sinful mess that he had to come and die for you. But Jesus also loves you so much that he is glad to suffer and die for you.

Jesus was mocked, devalued, rejected and killed so that you could be supremely valued, accepted and live AND so that you will supremely value, accept and lead others to life.

The more we see and absorb this I.V. drip of gospel truth into our veins, the more we will reflect Jesus’ beautiful image and love his image in others wherever we find it.