Image Of God Paper

THE IMAGE OF GOD

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I my assertions, the view of creation which proposes that God took literal twenty four hour days during the creation process is correct. I think so because, according to the bible, God created everything directly. This rejects the view that animals and plants evolved. According to Genesis chapter 1 and 2, there was nothing at the beginning of the earth but God created plants, man and woman and as well as animals to fill earth. He made man from dust and breathed life into him (Enns, 2008). He them gave him custody and dominion over everything he created. Genesis 1: 27 affirm that man and woman were directly made by God and gave them their gender. This implies that they never evolved from any forms of life.

How man is created different from the rest

The creation of man in God’s mage implies that man was created in God’s likeness and in unique nature. It might also imply that the relationship between God and human kind is unique when compared to the other creations (Clines, 1968). And God said” let’s make man in our image” (Genesis, 1:26). This passage provides an insight on the nature of human’s beings and supportably, according to theologians human beings are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps.139:14).

Humans are considered as a special creation purposely made by God for the fulfillment of an inevitable role in the world. They have unique features and qualities which reflect God’s nature and differentiate them from other created beings (Enns, 2008).  The creation of humans is also different because the humans were endowed with spiritual life aspects. God breathed life to man’s nostrils and his body was connected to a living soul (Genesis 2:7). This depicts that humans are made up of both body and soul which distinguishes them from other creations.

Human beings possess unique characteristics and attributes such as creativity, self-consciousness, knowledge and self-will which were acquired from God. This makes the humans different as other creations such as animals and plants do not have such attributes. Relevantly, God made humans in his likeness, making them to be rational, Loving, bodily, moral, responsible and hence different creatures. Such personal uniqueness is depicted in God-awareness and self-awareness. In other works, human beings are separate entities with set values, responsibilities, personalities and inclinations. This also means that they have the power to think, reflect and analyze on matters related to them.

Explaining the image of God

The image of God in humanity is essential in understanding of what makes us human. The book of Genesis provides key scriptures which outlines the image of God. In Genesis 1:26–28, the image of God in mankind reflects humanity as distinct from animals which are mostly referred to as creatures (Enns, 2008). The image of God in humanity does not usually refer to the physical attributes of human beings but rather the God’s glory which is reflected in mankind.

In Ephesians 4:24 and Colossians 3:10, Paul’s discussion of the old and new man provides a greater insight into what it means to be created in the likeness and image of God. By being created in the image of God, man is expected to bear holiness and righteousness of God (Buswell, 1962).

Additionally, the implications of being created in God’s image, man are expected to feature God’s attributes such as love for others. Mankind has numerous attributes which reflects God’s perfect character in holiness and righteousness (Allen, 1984).  The bible highlights that man, created with God’s likeness, and should live in accordance of what God’s instructs through the scripture and in order to receive the eternal life after death.

References

Allen, R. B. (1984). The majesty of man: The dignity of being human. Multnomah.

Buswell, E. J. (1962). A Systematic Theology of the Christian Religion (Grand Rapids: Zondevan, 1: 185-8; Paul Enns. The Moody Handbook of Theology, 162-6.

Clines, D. J. (1968). The image of God in man. Tyndale Bulletin, 19(53), 103.

Enns, P. P. (2008). The Moody handbook of theology. Moody Publishers.