The Capacity

“Humans alone are created as rational beings in the image of God, capable of a relationship with God and given by him the capacity to understand the universe in which they live.” (John Lennox)

 ²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make humanity in our image to resemble us so that they may take charge of the fish of the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and all the crawling things on earth.”

²⁷ God created humanity in God’s own image, in the divine image God created them, male and female God created them.

²⁸ God blessed them and said to them, “Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and master it. Take charge of the fish of the sea, the birds in the sky, and everything crawling on the ground.” ²⁹ Then God said, “I now give to you all the plants on the earth that yield seeds and all the trees whose fruit produces its seeds within it. These will be your food. ³⁰ To all wildlife, to all the birds in the sky, and to everything crawling on the ground—to everything that breathes—I give all the green grasses for food.” And that’s what happened. ³¹ God saw everything he had made: it was supremely good.

There was evening and there was morning: the sixth day. (Genesis 1:26-31, CEB)

In some respects, humans resemble God mentally, relationally, and morally.

You resemble God mentally because humans need to be creative and rational beings; to think, learn, and adapt.

Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is—what is good and pleasing and mature. (Romans 12:2, CEB)

You resemble God relationally because humans are designed to be personally close to God and other people.

²⁴ And let us consider each other carefully for the purpose of sparking love and good deeds. ²⁵ Don’t stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25, CEB)

You resemble God morally because humans are made to know right from wrong.

But your misdeeds have separated you from your God. Your sins have hidden his face from you so that you aren’t heard. (Isaiah 59:2, CEB)

“What does it mean to be human? It means we are created in the image of God for the glorious reality of being in permanent fellowship with Him.” (Ravi Zacharias)[i]

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[i] Inspired by the sermon “Image of God, “Sunday September 22, 2019, Elder Ryan Edwards, CenterPoint Gahanna Church Gahanna, OH.