Image of God

I recently was asked this question, "Are we are made in God's image or Adam's image?" which is a great question for focusing us on the question of what "image" means in the Bible.


In general, "image" simply means likeness or representation.  I like to kid that my four sons were all born with a genetic defect...they bear my image.  In other words there's something about them that reminds you of me.  Sorry boys ;-)


So with this definition in mind, we know that we are all born with physical bodies and with a nature to sin...so in that sense we're made in Adam's image since we know that God cannot sin and that he is not physical.  Of course there are also other things about us that are in the likeness of Adam so the answer is, yes, we're made in his image.  Some people squirm or even rebel against the teaching that even our cute little children are sinners, but it's true that we all were born this way whether we acknowledge it or not (read Romans 5 if you don't believe me.)


However, we're also made in the image of God.  It is clear from Genesis 1 that God created Man and Women each distinct from each other but each in the image of God.  So there is something that is inherently male and something inherently female that is a representation of who God is.  It's something that is not possessed by animals or anything else God has created.  We are unique in that we (humankind) were created in God's image.  Also male and female are equally made in God's image...there is no inferiority of value!  

The Bible tells us that every person since the beginning is created in God's image in spite of the sin nature.  In other words, we didn't lose God's image because of sin.  Would we be more in the likeness of God if we didn't sin...obviously yes.  But that's irrelevant since we've all sinned (even the Apostles, the Mother of Jesus, Mother Theresa, Joel Osteen, your Pastor, etc. etc.)  

So, what do we possess that correctly and uniquely represents God?  That's an ongoing discussion, but I'll toss out some examples that I see:  We have an eternal spirit; we can commune with God; we are highly creative; we are able to manage and rule creation; we have a conscience and common sense; we think and strategize at a high level; we understand justice; we can choose mercy; we are able to be faithful when it isn't convenient, etc.
    
This discussion is important because it relates to our ethical choices.  This past weekend our church remembered the MLK holiday and we remembered national Sanctity of Life Sunday.  We said that regardless of the developmental state of a person (from pre-birth all the way to hospice care) and regardless of a persons skin color, all people are loved and therefore valued equally by God (John 3:16.)  

There is also a second reason why Christians highly value human life...because we're made in the image of God (Gen 1:26, 27; 9:6; James 3:9.)  


A follow up question to this then is, when does human life begin (and end?)  And the answer can't be "viability" because there are many "people" who are dependent on others for survival.