Let me start.
"men is created in the image of God"
This statement certainly doesnt imply any phsycal likeness to God.
Scripture teaches that God is a spirit and doesnt have physical
parts like a man(John 4:24) The bible uses anthropomorphic
expressions, such as"the hand of God" only to accommodate our human
incapacity to think in any other terms. The strong prohibitation
against man's representing God by graven image was given becauseno
one had ever seen God; therefore, no one could know wad he looks
like. Nothing on earth can represent his spirit(deut 4:15-23)
The image of God in man has to do, rather, with personality.
According to D.M. edwards, ""Man has a free, self consious,
rational personality like that of God. A nature, capable of
distinguishing right and wrong, and of ascending to the hights of
spiritual attainment and communication with God""
The feeling qualities of feeling, sorrow, communicateing and desire
for relationship are part of His personality
--The original man was intelligent. he could give names to all the
animals when they were presented to him(gen2:19-20). He had the
power of reasoning and thought, as displayed by SIS. In speaking,
he could connect words and ideas. he could and did commune with
God.
--Moral and spiritual qualities differenciated humankind from all
other creatures. God's image gave then an awareness, a sense of
right and wrong(gen. 3)This 'knowing' from God means that God's
people love love and hate evil and differenciate between the two
options. This is not an optional software! the new testament calls
this 'conscience'.
--Individual seperateness distinguishes the God and mankind from
each other-each beinghis own person. All people are endowed with
God's image and seperate form all other ppl. Obviously,I am not you
and you r not me and neither of us is God.
The significance of this seperatenessis that it clarifies our
understanding of God as an approchable individual. He is not an
amorphous blob, a genie, a pgost, or even 'the force'. We can
communicate person-to-person and understand each other.
above is 100% had typed, so pls read seriously.thx
Got this thing from the book. Christians here, any questions?
Thank you for sharing with us on this topic. However, I disagree
a bit on this point. It was true that man was created in gods image
, however, man has become corrupted because of sin.
He is no longer a likeness of god. Imho, the only man who is in
god's image was Jesus. He was perfect, sinless and holy. Man is
sinful and full of evil and the evil one, no one can ever be truely
said to be in gods image as he is perfect.
Yet it is so true that god is no genie, blob or even the force. He
is real and present around us , able to speak to our hearts and
soul. His word contained in the bible is sharper then a double edge
sword able to cut to the very soul.
p.s N.U.S Superstar be wary for you are in danger of hellfire
itself
Mark 3:28-29
28 I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will
be forgiven them. 29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin."
