Image Bearers
Scripture
26: Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27: So God created man in His own image; in the image of God, He created him; male and female, He created them.
28: Then God blessed them ….
Genesis 1 (NKJV)
14: I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
17: How precious to me are Your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!
Psalm 139 (NIV)
God created man in His image and His likeness. Human beings – both men and women – are made in God’s image. God created them to represent Him on the earth and have dominion over every other creation in His name. Only humans are uniquely created in the image and likeness of God, distinguishing them from all other earthly beings. They were made like Him to be in relationship with Him – the one and only triune God. Human beings are created both in the image of God and to be the image of God in the life of the world. He created humanity to be His image bearers.
An image bearer is a person who is made in the image of God, reflecting God’s nature and character to the rest of creation. The term has theological implications and relates to racial reconciliation. “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 (NIV)
The term image bearer comprises two parts: image, which is a visual representation of something, and bearer, which is a person or thing that carries or holds something. Here are some things that image bearers are meant to do:
· Reflect God: Image bearers are meant to reflect God’s glory and likeness in all they do, including work, rest, play, and relationships.
· Rule wisely: Image bearers are meant to rule wisely and lovingly over the world.
· Help restore the world: Image bearers are meant to help restore the world.
· Be shaped like Jesus: Image bearers are meant to be shaped into the image of Jesus Christ.
· View others as God views us: Image bearers are meant to view others as God views them.
Mankind was not created to be like the walking dead, inward-focused and self-centered to the point that they will destroy others to sustain themselves. God’s image is bound up with the characteristics and relational tendencies humanity shares with Him. God created people for family, community, relationships, reciprocal love, sharing, helping, and giving. Being made in the image of God means humanity can fulfill the mission He has given them.
A local church’s sign reads: “You were created in the image of God. So was the person with whom you disagree.” Remembering that all people – not just certain ones – were created in God’s image should help keep the focus on the God in them rather than the myriad issues that divide them. When others are seen as reflections of God, it is possible to love them for who they are rather than how they are perceived. That’s when people are most like God. That’s when they are true image bearers.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for creating us in Your image and likeness, with minds, wills, emotions, thinking, reasoning, and feeling beings. Help us nurture our likeness of You, so that we may love others as we love ourselves. Help us to be mindful that they deserve our love as much as we deserve theirs. Help us to be mindful that when we see others, we should be seeing You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection:
“Agape doesn’t love somebody because they’re worthy. Agape makes them worthy by the strength and power of its love.”- Rob Bell
Some of the information was excerpted from the following sites: GotQuestions.org and The Gospel Project