AUGUST 6, 2023 – GOD’S IMAGE

READ: Gen. 1:26-31: … in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; … and indeed it was very good.

Now that everything on the earth created by God has been ordered and provided with plants and animals, the earth is inhabitable for humans. On the sixth day, God creates humans in His image.

God had already revealed Himself as the triune God: everything is created through the spoken Word (John 1:3), and the Holy Spirit hovers over the earth (vs. 2). Now we read: “Let Us make mankind in Our image, in Our likeness.”

As God’s image, humans reflect Him. In the other creatures of Creation, something of God can also be seen: they are letters in a beautiful book that show us something that cannot be seen of God, namely His eternal power and divine nature (Article 2 of the Belgic Confession).

Only humans can demonstrate covenantal love and faithfulness to the world of God. In their actions, humans must reveal how glorious God is. They must represent Him in creation and unfold it to His honor. In addition, they must multiply. For these tasks, God made humans male and female. Both are given special gifts by God to be His image: true righteousness and holiness. God also blesses them with life-giving power and wisdom so that good may come from them.

Thus, everything in paradise is harmonious and perfect. This applies to the prepared earth and to the people who receive God’s gifts to serve and honor Him according to His pleasure.

God sees everything He has made and concludes that it is very good. Thus ends the sixth day.

What do male /female say about the gender issue here?

Singing: Ps. 8:3-5