I’ve mentioned in a couple of past blogposts that I am doing a Bible Study with Wayne Grudem’s book, Christian Beliefs. Last week in the study we took a look at “What Is Man?” That chapter was so very good—I wanted to share some of my takeaways from it.
We know from Genesis 1:27-28 that we were created in God’s image, that we are to multiply by raising families, and that we are to have dominion over all the other living things on the earth. (Side note: Sometimes family might mean church family, or friends that become like family.)
Dominion in the Bible means: the “authority and responsibility given by God to humans to rule, manage, and care for creation as His representatives.” (The Gospel Project.)
We were also created for God’s Glory. (see Isaiah 43:7) So we are created in His image as His representatives and for His Glory.
If you put those two facts together, then everything we do as God’s representatives should show God’s glory. That means not doing things halfway or shoddy. (More on that later.)
“One of the ways we glorify God is by enjoying Him…..Fullness of joy is found in knowing God and delighting in Him….In the midst of this, we find God rejoicing over us ‘with gladness’ and exulting over us ‘with loud singing’” (see Zeph. 3:17.) (Christian Beliefs p. 57)
Created in God’s Image has deep meaning for us. Here are some of the benefits:
- We were made to be like Him.
- “The more we understand about God, the more we understand about ourselves.”
- We are moral creatures.
- We have an innate sense of right and wrong.
- “We are also spiritual creatures.”
- “Our ability to think about and process information is a reflection of God’s knowledge.”
- “Our desire for community, is a reflection of God’s perfect community within the Trinity.” (quotes and paraphrases taken from Christian Beliefs pp. 57-58)
“Because of sin, God’s image in us is partly distorted.” (p. 58)
Here are the changes that sin caused in us:
- “His image is not seen as clearly as it once was.”
- We are still made in God’s likeness but because we are defiled by sin, we no longer look like we are supposed to.
- “Sin distorts our moral judgment, clouds our thinking, and hinders our fellowship with others.” (see p. 58)
But the good news is that “God redeems His children through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus so that they can be ‘Conformed to the image of His Son’ (Rom. 8:29), who is the ‘image of the invisible God’ (Col. 1:15).” (p. 58)
2 Corinthians 3:18, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (NKJV)
“At the end of time, all of God’s children will become like His Son, Jesus Christ.” (p. 58)
So, as representatives of God, what would be our responsibilities?
Here is a look at those responsibilities:
- “God desires that His image ‘fill the earth’ (Gen. 1:28).” “When we fill the earth with God’s image (families), we demonstrate all the places where He reigns and rules and bring Him the glory He desires and deserves.” (p. 59)
- We are called “to take care of His land”. In Genesis 1:28, God was telling Adam that he was God’s representative and was supposed to take care of God’s Kingdom in a way that would give Him glory. (p. 59) “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”(NKJV)
- “As God’s image bearers—as representatives of the King of the universe—we have the awesome responsibility to help restore His people and His land to the way they were meant to be. We get the opportunity to work alongside the King who is ‘making all things new'” (Rev. 21:5). (p. 59)
In our study group, it was pointed out that work is not a result of sin. Adam and Eve were given the job of working to take care of the garden of Eden. We will also have worship and work to do in heaven. Working is a form of worship if you do it, “as unto the Lord.” (see Colossians 3:23) Therefore, our work should be done to the very best of our ability as an act of worship for God and His Kingdom.
Wayne Grudem ends that chapter with an understanding of the “great hope and respect” we should have for all people—”regardless of their state.” “They have the potential to return to the beauty of Jesus Christ, the ‘image of the invisible God’ (Col. 1:15), by turning away from their sin and turning to their Creator.”(p. 60)
And, there is “great hope and respect for the world God has entrusted to us. We long to see it returned to its original state—a world without ‘thorns and thistles’ (Gen.3:18).” (p. 60) It is our responsibility to work along side of God toward that goal—of returning the world to its original state.
This chapter gave me so much hope for myself, my family, my friends, my church and for the world. It will not be like this forever. One day it will be a beautiful world, with no more evil. In the meanwhile, I plan to work on the areas assigned to me—to take care of them for God’s Kingdom—and find joy in making things as beautiful as I can until the LORD returns.
I pray you find hope and joy this week in taking care of the areas God has assigned to you, and have a great week!