And God said: Let us make mankind in our image/b’tsalmeinu, as our likeness/kid’muteinu. And they will have dominion over [the animals]…․And God created humankind in His image/b’tsalmo, in God's image/tselem He created him, male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27)
One who spills the blood of man, through/by man, his blood will be spilled, for in God's image/tselem He made man. (Genesis 9:6)
Thoughts: We are designed to be a mirror image of God. We are designed to glorify and reflect Him. The Westminster Shorter Catechism speaks of this image as being in "knowledge, righteousness, and holiness." Other creeds see this image as our being immortal. Other theologians see the image as distinctions between human beings and animals-like complex language and abstract thinking (1:28 talks about being given dominion over the animals). Some Neo-orthodox theologians speak of true human love as a reflection of God's love. In the tenet below the emphasis is that we are given the ability to know and relate to God. We were made to relate in love to God and in love to each other. God is love, and we glorify God best when we show love in our lives for God and neighbor.
God has no need of anyone or anything beyond Himself. Yet in grace this Triune God is the one Creator of all things. The ongoing act of creation is further manifested in God’s gracious sovereignty and providence, maintaining the existence of the world and all living creatures for the sake of His own glory. He is the Holy One, the ground of all being, whose glory is so great that for us to see Him is to die. Yet He has made the creation to reflect His glory, and He has made human beings in His own image, with a unique desire to know Him and a capacity for relationship with Him. Since our God is a consuming fire whom we in our sin cannot safely approach, He has approached us by entering into our humanity in Jesus Christ.
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