Humanity was made in God’s image

Read Genesis 2

Humanity was made in God’s image (Gen 1:27), that is, to bear witness to and display, to reflect Him in both character and purpose, and ultimately to glorify him with their whole being.

As we read the story of creation we see each day God creating something more marvellous and complex than the previous day until he gets to humanity. They are the pinnacle and final created thing, that he gives a ‘mission’ to (he does not ask anything of the animals). 

We see God has built humanity to be relational, for he made them “in our image” (Gen 1:26). As in the Trinity there is perfect relationship, so God desires this for humanity, both with him and one another. God made them male and female, both equal image bearers of God and yet complimentary to one another. Humanity is incomplete in bearing God’s image unless there is unity between man and women.

And so together men and women are called to rule, to have dominion over, and to care for the world that God has made. As the pinnacle and ultimate display of God to creation, humanity alone is given this role.

Humanity is also told to be fruitful and multiply - to produce further image bearers of God, that his glory may be spread and proclaimed in their work throughout all the world. 

Even as we see this call for humanity at the beginning, we see how far we fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23) and yet there is hope. Jesus is the true image of God and in him all things are reconciled back to God. (Col 1:15,20). It says in Hebrews 1:3 that Jesus is the exact imprint of God’s nature. Where humanity falls short of displaying God’s character and their mission, Christ has fulfilled it all for us. 

Question

How do you see Jesus fulfilling our role as the pinnacle of God’s creation?