MAN - THE IMAGE OF GOD Genesis 1:1-31  by Mark S. Camp

   We have before us the story of creation. In verse 27 we read, "So
God created man in his own image." It is important to understand what
it means to be made in the image of God. Why? Because the whole process
of redemption is vitally tied in with it. And so, I would ask the
question for us to answer, "What is the image of God?"

   The earth was formless and empty, a vast darkness was over the face
of the deep. In this void the Spirit of God was "hovering" over the
waters ( 1:2 ). The verb is used in the Pentateuch one more time in
Deut. 32:11. In Exodus 19:4 God is described as bearing Israel on
eagle's wings.

   The Spirit hovering is 1:2b we shall call the Glory-Presence. The
Glory-Presence was a multifaceted structure. The inner part of it was
invisible, except when God revealed it in a prophetic vision. READ
Ezekiel 1:4-28.

   The Glory-Cloud is equated with the Spirit in places like

   Isaiah 63:11-14 and Nehemiah 9:19,20.

   Psalm 104:1-4 also gives us a picture of the Glory-Presence.

   The reason for looking at all of this is because the Glory-Cloud
(the Spirit hovering in 1:2b) is a pattern for the structure of the
universe and the creation of man in God's image.

   When the inner regions of the Glory-Cloud are seen, God is beheld as
a King in his heaven. He is the King of Glory enthroned in the midst of
thousands of heavenly beings (Ezekiel chapter 1). The glory in the
cloud is the glory of royal majesty. At the center of the cloud is a
throne ( Psalm 97:2 ). Therefore the Glory-Cloud is a palace. It is the
site of the divine council and the court of judgment. Since its King
is a divine and holy king, it is a a temple. The throne is mobile, like
unto a chariot, directed by the Spirit. At times, this cloud is like a
sheltering canopy, or a whirlwind, or a thunderhead of terrifying
trumpet and flashing lightening (Ex. 13:21, Psalm 97:3-4, Job 38:1 ).

   The glory of the cloud could be expressed by light. At times it
could be a bright sun, a rainbow, or as a spiritual light which
penetrates the darkness of sin.

   The Glory-Presence was often revealed to man in human terms. We see
such descriptions as "the hand of God", "the arm of God", "the finger
of God", etc. Whenever these terms are used they speak of God acting
from his throne in the exercise of his divine sovereignty.

   REMEMBER - The Glory-Cloud (the Spirit) of Genesis 1:2b is a pattern
for the creation of man. God created man in the likeness of the Glory
to be a spirit-temple of His spirit.

   According to Genesis 2:7, man was made a living soul by divine
in-breathing. READ Psalm 104:29-30. When God sends forth his
Glory-Spirit, the face of the earth is renewed and living creatures are
created. In the Valley of Dry Bones (Ezek. 37:1-14), the Spirit-Wind
blows across the valley and the dead bones come to life. The
Spirit-Presence gave birth to Jesus (Luke 1: 35). The Lord breathed the
Spirit onto his disciples (John 20: 22).

   Therefore, it was the Spirit-Glory of Genesis 1:2 which was hovering
over the lifeless deep, blowing and moving where he would, bringing
life into the vast expanse.

   It was in the Glory-Cloud, surrounded by the thousands of winged
beings, the cherubim and seraphim, that God said "Let us make man in
our image."

   ******** Now let us see how man is the image of God ********

   Considering the Glory-Cloud:

   1. The throne in the center represents the OFFICIAL aspect. God sits
enthroned as a royal king, a sovereign ruler with dominion over all
things.

   2. The foundations of the throne are righteousness and justice
(Psalm 97:2). This is the ETHICAL aspect.

   3. Next is the PHYSICAL aspect. God is robed in light. Yet, at times
he manifests himself to man in a physical sense, such as the Angel of
the Lord, the Angel of the Presence, or in the person of Christ.

   Considering man in God's image:

   1. Man was given an OFFICIAL function. He was made to be a king over
the created earth (Genesis 1:28, 2:20). He was able to make decisions
and exercise discernment (2:16,17). Man was created to exercise a
derived authority.

   2. Man was given an ETHICAL likeness to God. He was created pure and
without sin. He was created in righteousness and holiness. Man was to
exercise his dominion over the earth with righteousness and justice.

   3. Man has a PHYSICAL likeness to God. The physical features of man
reflect God's ability to take on physical appearances.

   At creation, man was crowned with glory and honor, and was invested
with official authority to exercise dominion over God's earthly courts.
The glory of man would be progressive as he fulfilled his tasks. He was
created in righteousness and holiness, and would have progressed from
one degree of glory to another, moving from a state of simple
righteousness to one of full maturity.

   However, in the fall, man lost his glory aspect (Rom. 3:23). By
falling into sin, by improperly exercising his dominion and official
function (deciding for himself to eat of the tree), he lost the ethical
likeness to God. The glory was replaced by nakedness, shame, and a
sense of guilt. Instead of the physical body living forever, it now was
subject to decay and death.

   Here then is the need for REDEMPTION. Redemption is necessary if man
is to regain the ethical glory-image which was lost. When Christ
regenerates, he re-creates and offers the believer the promised hope of
immortality. He gives the believer a love for the truth and a desire
for righteousness (Eph. 4:22-24). And, not only does the believer still
have a ruling function over the earth (not totally lost in the fall),
he is now able to reign with Christ in the heavenly places. He is able
to have a spiritual reign with Christ now. He regains the ability to
progress from one degree of glory to another (2 Corin. 3:18, 4:16, Rom.
12:2). And, one day, the saint shall sit enthroned in heaven with
Christ.