Humans as Image-bearers
Main Passage: Genesis 1:26–27
Other Pertinent Passages:
Genesis 2:5, 7, 18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalm 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6, 12, 19; 6:6; 7:14-25;8:14-18, 29; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31, 15:19, 21-22; Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11
The Big Idea
Humans are the special creation of God, made in His own image. He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation and thus, the gift of gender is part of the goodness of God’s creation. Because humans bear the image and likeness of God, every individual has value and is worthy of dignity and respect.
The WHAT?
• Special Creation: Human beings did not evolve by chance, but are purposefully made by God.
ο You are not an accident. You have:
» A Design (each part of you is crafted by God)
» A Destiny (your future is connected to your design)
» A Dignity (your value comes from God)
ο I see the earth and universe as extremely old, but at the same time, I reject
unguided, Darwinistic-thinking about humans. I also believe in a historical Adam.
» With perfect conditions in the garden and a perfect connection with God,
there was no reason for our first parents to age.
ο Here are a few books to consider on this topic:
» “The Genealogical Adam and Eve: The Surprising Science of Universal
Ancestry” by S. Joshua Swamidass
» “The Adam Project” by Tim Stafford
» “Darwin’s Black Box” by Micheal Behe
• The Divine Image: Every human reflects God’s image, giving them inherent dignity, value and worth.
• Gender and Role: God intentionally created humanity male and female to
complement one another.
• See “The Body God Gives: A Biblical Response to Transgender Theory” by
Robert S. Smith.
SO WHAT
• If humans have real value, then the way we treat them has real consequences.
• Have you met many people who felt there was nothing wrong with the mistreatment
and abuse of human beings? Probably not. We all have some kind of moral law.
This only makes sense if humans have intrinsic, God-given worth.
• If we are created by God, then we are created to worship God.
• For parents, we should see our children as gifts from God, not trophies for our
self-esteem.
• Violence is wrong because it is an attack on God Himself.
• Missing this critical doctrine leads to:
ο Mistreatment of the sick
ο Abortion for the unborn
ο Hatred for the refugee
ο Disdain for the disabled
NOW WHAT?
• Treat every person you meet with absolute respect, regardless of differences.
• Protect vulnerable human life, such as the unborn, the elderly and the needy.
ο Think of how doctors treat patients in the emergency room.
ο It is not based upon merit, passed actions or social status.
WHAT ELSE
Many families have been confronted with questions about sex and gender identity. If so,
then you know that this is bigger than a theological position. This is personal.
One of the best-written documents that helps speak to this from a
theological framework is “The Nashville Statement,” by the Council on
Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW). This document is clear,
pastoral and deeply-rooted in a biblical understanding of this hot
topic. visit https://cbmw.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/The-Nashville-Statement.pdf