6. The Image of God

1. 6. The Image of God Tom DeRosa Creation Studies Institute

2. Topics Covered • What is Man? • Like God we can …, • Man’s Purpose • Man’s Distinctiveness

3. I. In God’s Image

4. What is a Human Being? Human Beings defined in Evolutionary terms • Brain size • Ability to use tools • Dentition • Ability to walk up-right

5. What is a Human? From Wikipedia Humans, or human beings, are bipedal primates belonging to the mammalian species Homo sapiens (Latin: "wise man" or "knowing man") in the family Hominidae (the great apes). Humans have a highly developed brain capable of abstract reasoning, language, and introspection. This mental capability, combined with an erect body carriage that frees their upper limbs for manipulating objects, has allowed humans to make far greater use of tools than any other species. Humans originated in Africa about 200,000 years ago, but they now inhabit every continent, with a total population of over 6.6 billion as of 2007

6. Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection from the start always included monkeys evolving to man near the top of his evolutionary tree.

7. Darwin’s Inner Thoughts “My Descent of Man was published in February 1871. As soon as I had become, in the year 1837 or 1838, convinced that species were mutable productions, I could not avoid to believe that man must come under the same law.”

8. The Descent of Man (1871) Darwin stated that the “negro” and “gorilla” were on the same evolutionary level between man, and the “baboon.”

9. Thomas Huxley “Scientific” Racism introduced “No rationale man, cognizant of the facts, believe that the average negro is equal, still less the superior, of the white man.”Evidence as to Man’s Place in Nature

10. Created in God’s Image Gen 1:26-28 26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 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."

11. Image Bearers • Created in the Image of God, in God’s likeness • Gen 5:3: When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth • Gen 9:5-6 5And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. 6 "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God

12. The Image of God • In Genesis 1:27-28 the words created and image are repeatedly used 3 X. • "Let us make man in our image“ • In Genesis 1.1 the Hebrew word for God is Elohim, the Uni-plural for God(s). three persons in one. In Gen.1:26 the terms “us" and "our“ refer to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. • If man is made in God’s image then he must have been made with the image of the Holy Trinity.

13. Man in Three Dimensions God created us three dimensional so that we could have communion with him. We are created in God’s image – Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Gen 1:27 NIV Body – like Christ Mind – like the Father Soul – like the Spirit

14. The Image of the Invisible God • Col 1:15-17 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

15. Creation Continuum Father – Son – Holy Spirit Continuum Father Jesus Christ Triune God Holy Spirit

16. Monism • One state of being exists and therefore everything must center on one unifying concept. • A unifying concept that everything exists without the interference of the supernatural realm. • Everything can be explained on the basic level of the inherent properties of matter and the natural laws that control this matter. • It is a religious system based upon the above which is termed modern naturalism.

17. Dualism • It is based on two philosophical dimensions of reality – Matter and Soul (Mind) • The mind is defined where the actual neuronal brain connections interpret the sensation from one of the five senses. • This is a independent entity from materialism as Thoughts – Feeling - Memories-Dreams Imaginings - Intentions • The mind also can be termed in this context as the soul of man.

18. Trialism • Introduced the third level of the Spirit Body Soul Spirit • Joining the body and mind in reality can only be executed with the use of the third component – Spirit. • The spirit is given by God and cannot be measured empirically. Genesis 2:7 • The dust of the ground is united with breathe of life (spirit) to make man three dimensional.

19. Man, a Living Being The Plan • Genesis 1:26 “Let us make man… “ The Execution • Genesis 2:7 “ the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, The Result • Genesis 2:7 continued, “and the man became a living being.”

20. The Living Breath of God God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Living soul) Gen. 2:7 Life in Hebrew can be translated for nephesh Breath in Hebrew can be translated ruwach (roo'-akh); a primitive root; properly, to blow, i.e. breathe; only John 3:6-8 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

21. Dust of the Earth • “Aphar” Hebrew word for dust • It used to describe clay, earth or mud. • In the context means the basic materials of life earth crust components – carbon, Hydrogen nitrogen, oxygen and many others. • The curse of man will return to dust “for dust you are and to dust you will return.” Gen. 3:19

24. Man’s created to have a relationship with God.

25. II.Like God we can …,

26. 1. Like God, we can “Think” Example : (Isaiah 55:8-9) “8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, ‘declares the LORD.’ 9 As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Note: God has given man the ability to think, but God’s thoughts are so much higher .Example: John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. NIV Note: Jesus Christ is the Word, and the word in Greek is “logos” – the rationale (logical thinking) of the universe.

27. 2. Like God, we can “Communicate” Genesis 1:28 : Let us make man in our image and …, Note: God is a council of three Ex 31:18: When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God. Note: Lord spoke and wrote the ten commandments on stone with his finger

28. Communicate - Speaking : “And God said…”(Genesis speaks 10 X) 1. Gen 1:3-4 2. Gen 1:6 3. Gen 1:9 4. Gen 1:11 5. Gen 1:14 6. Gen 1:20 7. Gen 1:21-22 8. Gen 1:24 9. Gen 1:26 10. Gen 1:29

29. 3. Like God, we can “Create” Create/Form (Genesis 1:1,21,27) 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 1:21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 1:27 – create used three times

30. 4. Like God we can appreciate “Beauty” • Appreciate (Matthew 6:28-230) Matt 6:28-30 “28And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31. 5. Like God, we move in His Spirit • Ps 31:55 Into your hands I commit my spirit ;redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth. • Job 33:4 The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life. • Matt 12:18 "Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

32. 6. Like God, we can “Evaluate”/judge • Ps 9:8 “He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice.” • Ps 96:13 “he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth.” • Matt 7:1-2 “1Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

33. 7. Like God, we can “Love” Ps 13:55 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. Ps 36:55 Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Matt 22:37-3937 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

34. In Summary like God we can 1. Like God, we can “Think” 2. Like God, we can “Communicate” 3. Like God, we can “Create” 4. Like God we can appreciate “beauty” 5. Like God, we move in “His Spirit” 6. Like God, we can “Evaluate”/judge 7. Like God, we can “Love”

35. III. Man’s Purpose

36. Rule Over Gen 1:26-28 26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them ruleover the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Ruleover the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

37. God gave Man a Purpose A. Man is to obey God’s command. B. Man’s purpose is to subdue (study). C. Man is to increase in number. D. Man is to rule

38. Man’s position in Creation God Man Creation

39. Man’s position in Creation Man’s Position : Crowned with glory and honor When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. Ps 8:3-5 NIV

40. Man’s purpose and plan Man’s Role : Ruler over God’s creation “You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Psalm 8: 5-9 NIV

41. Psalm 8:4-5 God crowns Man with honor and glory.

42. IV. Man’s Distinctiveness

43. Man’s Distinctiveness 1 Cor 15:37-39 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39 All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. NIV

44. Man , one kind of flesh…, Corinthians 15:37-39 1. The author of all living forms is God. 2. God gives the type of body he wants through the seed (DNA). 3. There is a definite distinction between each form (body). 4. This is totally contrary to the evolutionary tree in which all organisms are related to each other. 5. Hence, Man is distinct and not related to any animals including monkeys.

46. Man’s Distinctiveness from Animals • Intelligence • Language • Creativity • Moral Conscience • Emotional Depth

47. Intelligence Man has so many unanswered questions about the brain. It is the most mysterious organ created, and as well the most complex physical structure in the universe.

48. “Practically nothing is known about the way information processing actually takes place in the brain. Nobody knows how the perceived semantic information is derived from incoming electrical signals.”Werner Gitt, The Wonder of Man (Bielefild, Germany, Christliche Literatur-Verbreitung e.V. 1999) p81

49. Intelligence 1. Standard IQ – Evolutionary origins of man. Stanford –Binet: Test developed by Lewis Terman from Stanford University who was part of the Eugenics movement to improve the evolutionary stock of the human race. Developed to separate the weak form the strong, the feebleminded from the gifted. 2. Terman a powerful American psychologists in the 1920’s believed that children were born with a fixed intelligence and that it did not change in adulthood. “The limits of a child’s educability can be fairly accurately predicted by means of mental testing in the first school year.” 3. Such a theory allows for no advancement or progression even with the training. It is highly biased and evolutionary driven leading to the highest form of racism. 4. Accurate scientific observations report the reverse. Proper training in many areas produce significant results.

50. Intelligence (continued) 1. Intelligence is difficult to measure 2. Multiple Types – Howard Gardner 3. Only Humans can solve complex problems with multiple variables. 4. Humans are the only living creatures that use inductive and deductive reasoning