On the basis of Genesis 1:27–31, it say that , So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him ; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground. Then God said, I give you every – bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground – everything that has the breath of life in it – I give every green plant for food. And it was so. God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning – the sixth day. We can see that man too must have been very good just after His creation.
Can we ask in what way was human like God just after he was created? He was made in the image of God? But, what does the Bible really mean when it says that man was created in the image of God? God has many attributes. Has God given all of His attributes and characteristics to man?
If it is true that only some of them belong to man, some like omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent and infinite are not. Being in God’s image does NOT mean that man has all God’s attributes. But, man is capable of – Maintaining personal relationships, Loving, Reasoning, Distinguishing between good and bad, and Making and appreciating beauty. This suggests that these are the qualities which are meant in the verse which says that man has been created in the image of God.
What an irony! In the places where Paul declared God’s love, he was greeted with hatred, where Paul preached the Gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6:15) he suffered in violent riot. Acts of Apostles 14 verses 5 and 19 say, there was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. Then some Jews from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. In the same Acts of Apostles 16:22–23, it says, the crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. This is simple; Satan hates true Christians so fiercely that he stirs the same hatred in darkened mind. Ephesians 4:18–19 says, they are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. John 3:19–20 say, this is the verdict : Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. If you follow Jesus as the apostles did, you too will be misunderstood and mistreated. Jesus warned, « If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also » John 15:20 says, Remember the words I spoke to you : No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obey my teaching, they will obey yours also.
Attack may come from within, through your own weaknesess, wishes and wants. See Luke 22:31–34 say, Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. But he replied, Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death. Jesus answered, I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today; you will deny three times that you know me. See James 1:14–15 say, but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Attack may come through good times or through illness. See Job 2:1–10, On another day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan also came with them to present himself before Him. And the Lord said to Satan, where have you come from? Satan answered the Lord, from roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it. Then the Lord said to Satan, have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason. Skin for skin! Satan replied. A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face. The Lord said to Satan, Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life. So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die! He replied, you are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
It may come through opponents who seek to ruin your good name and influence. See Matthew 5 : 11 says, blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Also see Acts of Apostles 14 : 2, it says, But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. Again, in Galatians 4 : 15, Paul says, what has happened to all your joy ? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
But, we must learn « the tuth that is in Jesus. » See Ephesians 4 : 20 – 24 say, you, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires ; to be made new in the attitude of your minds ; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 6:16 – 18 say, in addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. See James 4:7–8. It says, submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. It is well.
May God bless you.
Can we ask in what way was human like God just after he was created? He was made in the image of God? But, what does the Bible really mean when it says that man was created in the image of God? God has many attributes. Has God given all of His attributes and characteristics to man?
If it is true that only some of them belong to man, some like omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent and infinite are not. Being in God’s image does NOT mean that man has all God’s attributes. But, man is capable of – Maintaining personal relationships, Loving, Reasoning, Distinguishing between good and bad, and Making and appreciating beauty. This suggests that these are the qualities which are meant in the verse which says that man has been created in the image of God.
What an irony! In the places where Paul declared God’s love, he was greeted with hatred, where Paul preached the Gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6:15) he suffered in violent riot. Acts of Apostles 14 verses 5 and 19 say, there was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. Then some Jews from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. In the same Acts of Apostles 16:22–23, it says, the crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. This is simple; Satan hates true Christians so fiercely that he stirs the same hatred in darkened mind. Ephesians 4:18–19 says, they are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. John 3:19–20 say, this is the verdict : Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. If you follow Jesus as the apostles did, you too will be misunderstood and mistreated. Jesus warned, « If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also » John 15:20 says, Remember the words I spoke to you : No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obey my teaching, they will obey yours also.
Attack may come from within, through your own weaknesess, wishes and wants. See Luke 22:31–34 say, Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. But he replied, Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death. Jesus answered, I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today; you will deny three times that you know me. See James 1:14–15 say, but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Attack may come through good times or through illness. See Job 2:1–10, On another day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan also came with them to present himself before Him. And the Lord said to Satan, where have you come from? Satan answered the Lord, from roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it. Then the Lord said to Satan, have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason. Skin for skin! Satan replied. A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face. The Lord said to Satan, Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life. So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die! He replied, you are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
It may come through opponents who seek to ruin your good name and influence. See Matthew 5 : 11 says, blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Also see Acts of Apostles 14 : 2, it says, But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. Again, in Galatians 4 : 15, Paul says, what has happened to all your joy ? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
But, we must learn « the tuth that is in Jesus. » See Ephesians 4 : 20 – 24 say, you, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires ; to be made new in the attitude of your minds ; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 6:16 – 18 say, in addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. See James 4:7–8. It says, submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. It is well.
May God bless you.