Are we really created in God's image

[Phantasman]

"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27

So if we are created from the image of God, does that mean God is man or woman? Or both at the same time. I think an omnipotent being can be more than one thing at the same time. So I will go with both.

But gender identity is not my biggest issue with the idea we are created from God's image. If we were really created from the image of God we would all have omnipotent powers. Without omnipotent powers, we are very much NOTHING like the image of God.

No having omnipotent powers brings some interesting questions to my mind. If we do not have omnipotent powers, are we really morally responsible for what happens in our lives. It seems to me without omnipotent powers we have no control over our moral choices. If we have no choice over our choices, then what if all our choices are all immoral ones. Many times people are force to make choices that are clearly immoral choices because they have no choice but to choose the least possible evil from limit possible set of immoral choices.

So the question is without omnipotent power are any of us morally responsible for our lives if our choices prevent us from acting morally?

If you believe Genesis we are.

My God is far above my understanding. Considering man is imperfect, I doubt I am even close to his image.

Jesus was the son of man. Christ was Son of God. If we have any connection to God, it is spirit, not flesh.

 

[Sleeppy]

Put simply: God, the Father of Creation, is manifest through Creation.

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27

So if we are created from the image of God, does that mean God is man or woman?

Like all vague language - poetry, song lyrics - it means whatever the reader wants it to mean, whatever the reader brings to the process. Look at the answers you have gotten thus far. People feel free to improvise.

 

[Faithofchristian]

"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27

So if we are created from the image of God, does that mean God is man or woman? Or both at the same time. I think an omnipotent being can be more than one thing at the same time. So I will go with both.

But gender identity is not my biggest issue with the idea we are created from God's image. If we were really created from the image of God we would all have omnipotent powers. Without omnipotent powers, we are very much NOTHING like the image of God.

No having omnipotent powers brings some interesting questions to my mind. If we do not have omnipotent powers, are we really morally responsible for what happens in our lives. It seems to me without omnipotent powers we have no control over our moral choices. If we have no choice over our choices, then what if all our choices are all immoral ones. Many times people are force to make choices that are clearly immoral choices because they have no choice but to choose the least possible evil from limit possible set of immoral choices.

So the question is without omnipotent power are any of us morally responsible for our lives if our choices prevent us from acting morally?

Well it's very simple to answer, Seeing that Jesus is God in the flesh, Thereby seeing Jesus is a man, that pretty much answers the question. God is a man and so are the angels.

 

[Faithofchristian]

In Genesis 1:16 he also said:

And God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness; and let them have . . . .​

So it wasn't only in his image, nor was he the only one doing this making. And "after our likeness" reinforces the notion of physical appearance.

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Upon God saying ( let us ) the Angels also had a hand in making man, But it took the life giving force of God to give life unto the man that was created from the earth.

 

[WalterTrull]

"Are we really created in God's image?"
It is easier for me to understand if I use "...created as God's image."

are any of us morally responsible for our lives

There are certain universal laws. You don't break laws, but you are subject to them. If I jump off a very tall building, the result is fairly certain and unhappy. There are laws involved. However, I do have the choice to jump or not to jump.

 

[syo]

Animals have bodies and spirits, but no souls

I disagree. animals have souls. humans are animals too.

 

[rrobs]

"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27

So if we are created from the image of God, does that mean God is man or woman? Or both at the same time. I think an omnipotent being can be more than one thing at the same time. So I will go with both.

But gender identity is not my biggest issue with the idea we are created from God's image. If we were really created from the image of God we would all have omnipotent powers. Without omnipotent powers, we are very much NOTHING like the image of God.

No having omnipotent powers brings some interesting questions to my mind. If we do not have omnipotent powers, are we really morally responsible for what happens in our lives. It seems to me without omnipotent powers we have no control over our moral choices. If we have no choice over our choices, then what if all our choices are all immoral ones. Many times people are force to make choices that are clearly immoral choices because they have no choice but to choose the least possible evil from limit possible set of immoral choices.

So the question is without omnipotent power are any of us morally responsible for our lives if our choices prevent us from acting morally?

The image of God is spirit (john 4:24). Adam and Eve were originally body, soul, and spirit.
Body is flesh and blood. Soul is breath life (animals breath, so they have soul). Spirit was their connection with God. When first created, Adam and Eve had spirit and thus were able to be at one with God. They got all their information about life from God. When they sinned and lost the spirit. They still had soul life, i.e. the continued breathing, but without spirit they lost their communication with God. There only source of information became that of the five senses. That man is called the "natural man" in the Bible. The natural man has no connection with God (1 Cor 2:14). Now the devil is the God of this world (2 Cor 4:4). Therefore the devil can manipulate our minds via the five senses. Terrible situation. But there is hope.

By the resurrection of Jesus Christ we can be born again, or born from above. Essentially that means God puts his seed in us (1 Peter 1:23) and we become his children just like our earthy father's seed makes us their child. Those who are born again (Rom 10:9,10) are back to God's original plan of people being body, soul, and spirit which is God's image. Problem solved. When the child of God dies, their body rots, their soul simply departs (Gen 35:18. soul is not eternal, while we breath we have soul, when we stop breathing the soul goes away). However the spirit that God gave us when we were born again lives on for eternity. We'll get new bodies but their life source will be spirit instead of soul. It'll be a pretty big change.

I think that's a pretty good summary of the Bible. I could give more verses if there is any interest.

 

[WalterTrull]

I disagree. animals have souls. humans are animals too.

Don't know if there is or ever will be actual consensus, but just for the heck of it, what do you consider to be the soul?

 

[WalterTrull]

Soul is breath life

Interesting. I think that's the first time I've heard that definition. Maybe I haven't been paying attention.

 

[rrobs]

Interesting. I think that's the first time I've heard that definition. Maybe I haven't been paying attention.

Gen 2:7,

And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
​

The words "living soul" are "nephesh (creature) chay (living)" in Hebrew. There is a big debate over whether or not animals have souls.

Gen 1:21,

And God created great whales, and every living creature (nephesh chay) that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that [it was] good.
​

Thus Gen 2:7 says people are nephes chay and 1:21 says animals are nephesh chay.That should settle the question for good.

By the way, Gen 1:26 says "So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him;" So Gen 2:7 covers our body and soul while 1:26 is our spirit which is what made Adam and Eve the image of God who is spirit. God is not flesh and blood, nor does He have soul. It's the spirit that makes the born again believer a child of God.

 

[rrobs]

Like all vague language - poetry, song lyrics - it means whatever the reader wants it to mean, whatever the reader brings to the process. Look at the answers you have gotten thus far. People feel free to improvise.

Good observation. I also notice a lack of scripture in many posts. Perhaps the scriptures are more definitive. I for one would say they are.

2Pet 1:3,

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
​

 

[WalterTrull]

That should settle the question for good.

Well, not for some of us. The connection you make between breath and soul is a somewhat larger jump than I can attempt at this time.

By-the-way, which version of Christian do you call yourself? Just curious. I consider myself Christian because I believe in the Christ. Most others who call themselves Christians require a much more specific commitment.

 

[rrobs]

Well, not for some of us. The connection you make between breath and soul is a somewhat larger jump than I can attempt at this time.

By-the-way, which version of Christian do you call yourself? Just curious. I consider myself Christian because I believe in the Christ. Most others who call themselves Christians require a much more specific commitment.

I'm like you and just call myself a Christian. I like to think of a verse in Colossians,

Col 1:27,

To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
​

Since Christ is in us we are "Christ ins." Anyway, that is what some teacher once told me. I guess it makes sense.

All I can say is look at Gen 1:21 and 2:7. In the former it clearly says animals are nephesh chay (living soul) and the latter says man was nephesh chay (living soul). So animals and humans are both "nephesh chay" which is where we get the words "living soul."

On the other hand only man was said to have been created in God's image (spirit - John 4:24). When Adam and Eve sinned they became just like the animals. Neither had God's image anymore and thus are devoid of eternal life which is only found in the spirit. The new birth solved the problem by once again making man body, soul, and spirit, Speaking of the the born again believer, God said,

1Thess 5:23,

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
​

It is the spirit that differentiates us from animals, not soul life (breath life).

 

[Skwim]

Put simply: God, the Father of Creation, is manifest through Creation.

In what sense is god "Manifest through Creation"?

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[ThePainefulTruth]

"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27

So if we are created from the image of God, does that mean God is man or woman? Or both at the same time. I think an omnipotent being can be more than one thing at the same time. So I will go with both.

But gender identity is not my biggest issue with the idea we are created from God's image. If we were really created from the image of God we would all have omnipotent powers. Without omnipotent powers, we are very much NOTHING like the image of God.

No having omnipotent powers brings some interesting questions to my mind. If we do not have omnipotent powers, are we really morally responsible for what happens in our lives. It seems to me without omnipotent powers we have no control over our moral choices. If we have no choice over our choices, then what if all our choices are all immoral ones. Many times people are force to make choices that are clearly immoral choices because they have no choice but to choose the least possible evil from limit possible set of immoral choices.

So the question is without omnipotent power are any of us morally responsible for our lives if our choices prevent us from acting morally?

I don' believe in any of the revealed religions, but much of Genesis is well done when understood as allegory. We and God (if It exists) are all fully self-aware spiritual beings. I refer to God as an It because an omnipotent creator would have no need for reproduction. In fact, it would be impossible for there to be two omnipotent gods--by definition.

 

[WalterTrull]

In what sense is god "Manifest through Creation"?.

Wow! Have to think about that. It seems pretty self-explanatory, but then we're rowing different boats. Maybe if I reposition the lighting.

 

[Sleeppy]

In what sense is god "Manifest through Creation"?

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Outside of, or before spacetime expansion, all universal power must presumably be static.

That static, all-powerful singularity, or God, is manifesting itself- according to our perspective within spacetime.

 

[Axe Elf]

I disagree. animals have souls. humans are animals too.

Who saves the animals' souls?

Humans are animals, but they are unique among the animal kingdom in having been given dominion over all the others--after all, we're the ones running the zoos. We have the cranial capacity for complex, abstract thought (although you wouldn't necessarily discern this from reading internet forums) which allows us to develop an individual mind, persona, or soul far beyond the ability of lesser species to do so.

 

[Skwim]

Outside of, or before spacetime expansion, all universal power must presumably be static.

Sorry, but "must presumably be" is one huge speculation.

That static, all-powerful singularity, or God, is manifesting itself- according to our perspective within spacetime.

When you say a power is static you're describing the nature of the power; which, in this case, I take it to mean: not in operation. "The power ain't doing nothing." Then you say that this out-of-operation power is a singularity called god. However! this non-operational state of power is manifesting itself, but evidently only as we perceive it. In other words, if we weren't around to perceive it, it wouldn't exist. So at its very foundation, we humans create god through our minds. Sans us, there is no god. Interesting.

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