The Created Image Of God

by McCormick, F. | Category: General | Feb 1954

"And God said, Let us make man in our image after our likeness

And God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him" (Genesis 1.26, 27).

As God purposed, so He wrought, and it is evident from this scripture that man was made in the image of God.

To believers in the Scriptures, and in the God of the Bible, this gives the lie to the theory of evolution. The origin of human life is divine. By no stretch of imagination could the image of God be seen in protoplasm, in the lower forms of life, or in the animal creation. It is an insult to the Name and glory of God to suggest it. The evolutionist may propound his theories, but we who believe in the God of Truth accept unequivocally the statements of Genesis 1. We have seen that it was through the Son of God creation came into existence. He is Heir, Sustainer, and Lord 'of all created things and beings. He is the uncreated image of God containing in Himself the Divine fulness of the Father without limitation.

Man is not so, he was created and is limited as to the sphere and conditions of his existence, the capabilities of his mind and powers. He is circumscribed by the body in which he was created, and in the earth in which God placed him as overlord, when He gave him dominion over the works of His hands. There is a tremendous unbridgeable gap between the uncreated image of God and the created image of God. The former is, in fact, God the Son Himself, the Creator; the latter is man, the product of His creative power, created to have dominion over things terrestial.

Herein we see the shadowy outline of the image of God Himself. A likeness in miniature of Him who possesses undisputed authority and lordship in His absolute sovereignty.

Man "is the image and glory of God" (1 Corinthians 11.7), endowed with headship and authority, though it is clear that he was also under authority, as responsible to the law of the Lord God.

Though he possessed a perfect nature; and was endowed with perfect intellectual and spiritual capabilities; made a little lower than the angels and crowned with glory and honour, his position and liberty were conditioned by his continuance in obedience to the divine law.

Of his own volition, with eyes open, and knowledge of the consequences of his act, he chose to disobey, and "through the one man 5 disobedience the many were made sinners" (Romans 5.19).

Man fell from his place of authority; he had forfeited his right to dominion; he had yielded himself to the authority of darkness, and become a slave of sin and Satan. God's designs for the time being in man were frustrated. The relationship between Himself and His creature was broken; the rule of God, and the will of God, on earth which were to have been wrought through man was ended, and there awaits the fulfilment of God's purpose through the second Man according to the words concerning that future kingdom, "Thy kingdom come Thy will be done as in heaven so on earth" (Matthew 6.10). Man lost his all, God had lost his man. Man's pristine glory had gone the image of God had been defaced. The crown of authority has fallen from his head, and earth's ruler is ruled by another the evil one. Divine love yearns after His creature and the plaintive cry rings out (and throughout the ages) to His creature, "Where art thou?" Man is incapable of re-establishing his relationship with God for sin must be righteously dealt with, the foundation of God's throne requires it, hence man's only hope is in the mercy of God. God, being rich in mercy, intervened. Through the sacrifice of Christ every barrier has been removed, and reconciliation is now possible through the death of His Son (Romans 5.10). Man must be regenerated, and, according to the purpose of God,

"Whom He foreknew He also foreordained to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the First-born among many brethren" (Romans 8.29).

This is God's redemptive purpose, and the objects of His love are destined to bear for ever the likeness of Christ. "If any man is in Christ he is a new (creation) creature," and in this new creation man is to be conformed to the image of God's Son. In the former creation man was made in the image and likeness of God, who said, "Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness" (Genesis 1.26). The Trinity had but one likeness, one image. In redemption 'we are "created in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2.10) "after the image of Him that created him," i.e. the new man (Colossians 3.9).

Christ is the great prototype of the "many brethren" who will bear His image, and reflect His likeness for ever, on the ground of sovereign grace alone. Because we "are all (out) of One" (Hebrews 2.11), "He is not ashamed to call them brethren". The image of God's Son will be seen in the perfection of resurrection glory when we are presented to Christ. Above, and beyond all in glory and majesty will be seen the conspicuous One, "The Chiefest among ten thousand," the Christ of God, as Firstborn among many brethren, for in all things He must have the pre-eminence. We must not, however, think that men will become partakers of Deity. The uncreated image of God in His Son will ever remain distinct from all other sonships, whether applied to angels or men, and between the image of God's substance, and men conformed to the image of His Son, there will ever remain an unbridgeable gulf.

The Son of God in incarnation took upon Himself perfect humanity, and through it manifested the moral glories required in perfect manhood. He lived, walked, talked, and thought in perfect unison with the Holy Spirit, and in unshadowed communion with the Father. He has left us an example that we should follow His steps.

God has foreordained us to that high destiny of being conformed to the image of His Son, and that He will accomplish perfectly, but while we live in this scene of earth, God requires that we shall manifest in mortal bodies the image of Christ. This is a practical and progressive thing, and there are degrees of manifestation according to spiritual attainment and growth.

The Colossians are exhorted to put away the things which belonged to their past life. "Seeing that ye have put off the old man and his doings, and have put on the' new man, which is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of Him that created him" (Colossians 3.9, 10). Judicially the old man is crucified, and the new man put on, and the new man is being renewed day by day unto knowledge. This is a present process, producing, as it goes on, a likeness, after the image of Him that created him. Consequently, there is a putting off, and a putting on as knowledge is perfected.

"And put on the new man which after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth" (Ephesians 4.24).

Here we see something of the character of the new man, and the requirements of righteousness and truth to be manifested in us. With this agrees the words-" But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof" (Romans 13.14). The manifestation of the image of Christ is dependent upon our inward spiritual condition, and it is possible for this to fluctuate. We can be affected by the flesh, by our environment in the world, the wiles and snares of the Devil, and also by the poison of wrong doctrine. The Galatians were thus affected by attempting to mix law and grace, but imbibing other doctrines may also affect our relationship with God. The apostle said "I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from Him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel" (Galatians 1.6).

Their spiritual condition was affected, it was a removing "from Him", and the apostle says

"My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you" (Galatians 4.19).

It was to him a matter of deep concern and exercise before God, and he strove with them to correct the wrong "For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature" (creation, R.V.M.) (Galatians 6.15). The freedom which was theirs through Christ could not be reflected by them if they placed themselves under the bondage of the law, "Ye are fallen away from grace." The corrective was, Christ being formed in them again. "That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith" (Ephesians 3.17). He must be given pre-eminence in our hearts, and happy are we if Christ dwell there. This speaks of that conditional presence of Christ in us, which is dependent upon our spiritual condition (Revelation 3.20; John 14.28). It is important then that we abide in dally communion with the Father and with the Son, and it is only thus we shall be able to manifest outwardly the image of Christ.

"But we all, with unveiled face reflecting as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3.18).

The gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, has dawned upon us, we have been illuminated with the knowledge of the glory of God as seen in the face of Jesus Christ. This revelation is found in the new covenant which remaineth in glory, and herein, with unveiled face, we behold the glory of the Lord reflected as in a mirror. Thus beholding, the Spirit reveals, for this is His gracious work. "He shall glorify Me: for He shall take of Mine, and shall declare it unto you" "and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you" (John 14.26; 16.14).

As we learn Christ, so we should also live Christ; may it be ours to emulate the apostle who said, "For to me to live is Christ" (Philippians 1.21). He was a true imitator of Christ, and an example for the imitation of others. "Be thou an example to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4.12).

Thus day by day as we respond to the Spirit's revealing of Christ, and His work in our hearts, we may be transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.

There should be more of Christ in us, and manifested through us as day8 and years pass; this was Peter's desire as seen in 2 Peter 3.18. "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and for ever. Amen."

"LikeThee in faith, in meekness, love,

In every heavenly grace;

From glory unto glory changed

Till we behold Thy face."

While we are to bear the moral image of Christ day by day, as wrought upon by the Spirit of God, we are conscious indeed of many deficiencies, and the defiling influences of our present environment in this world. We dwell in mortal bodies subject to sickness, change, and decay. Nevertheless, in every circumstance of life we are to manifest Christ-likeness, in our service, "always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body . . . manifested in our mortal flesh" (2 Corinthians 4.10, 11). And, "If the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, He that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall quicken also your mortal bodies through His Spirit that dwelleth in you" (Romans 8.11). Such may be our present experience, for "if by the Spirit ye mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (Romans 8.18). Beyond the struggles and imperfections of this life, we await the dawning of that glorious day of release, from the presence, and ravages of sin.

"For verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven" (2 Corinthians 5.2).

Then, whom He justified, He will also glorify. Happy moment indeed, when we shall look upon the face of our Beloved!

"We know that if He shall be manifested, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him even as He is" (1 John 3.2). Then, "As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly" (1 Corinthians 15.40), our bodies be "conformed to the body of His glory" (Philippians 3.21) and finally we shall be "conformed to the image of His Son "to the praise of the glory of His grace for ever. In the holy environment and company of heavenly inhabitants, we shall for ever adore the wisdom which planned, the power which wrought in His crosswork and triumphant resurrection, which made it possible for us to be conformed to His glorious image.

"Now unto Him that is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of His glory without blemish in exceeding joy, to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and power, before all time, and now, and for evermore. Amen."

(Jude 24, 25).

McCormick, F. | Feb 1954
General