In the Image of God
Tim Keller | November 30, 2008
Overview
We’re in a series tracing the single storyline of the whole Bible. So we’re actually looking at the history of the universe.
Today we get to this passage about how God made us in his image and likeness. This immediately brings up a huge and crucial issue or theme of the whole Bible: what it means to be in the image and likeness of God.
We’re going to look at 1) the importance of the image of God, 2) the meaning of the image of God, and 3) the renovation and repair of the image of God in you and me.
Outline
Genesis 1:26–2:3
The idea of being made in God’s image, which first appears in Genesis 1, is a crucial theme throughout the Bible. It’s important to know what it means and how it affects us. We’ll look at how we can renew this image within ourselves, and later, we’ll talk about how it relates to both our gender and our work.
1. Why being in God’s image matters
When we say everyone is made in God’s image, it means that every person has great value, no matter who they are or what they’ve done. This belief, which is central to Christianity, helps us see the importance of every human life. But when our society forgets about this divine image, it becomes hard to defend human rights if people only value abilities like thinking and making ethical decisions.
2. What does it mean to be in God’s image?
Being made in God’s image means we should reflect His goodness, like a mirror reflects light, to promote life and happiness. Our sense of who we are comes from our relationships. As spiritual beings, we can’t make ourselves valuable. If we don’t get our worth from God, we end up worshipping other things. This can either give life or cause harm to others, depending on where we look for our importance.
3. Fixing our image of God
Jesus Christ shows us perfectly what God is like, and through him, we can see God the Father. The good news of the gospel helps us see and appreciate Jesus’ beauty and majesty, which changes us to become more like him. This change not only fixes our own image of God, but it also helps us treat others with love and respect because we recognize that they, too, are made in God’s image.
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