Category Archives: God

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July 9, 2024

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God, Humanity

What does it mean to be created in the image of God?

A surprisingly difficult concept in the Bible is the nature of the image of God in man. In Genesis 1 God said, “Let us make man in our own image.” (Genesis 1:26) The Bible then says “So God created man in His own image.” (Genesis 1:27) In what way is man created in God’s image?

A common presumption is that because man was created in God’s image, God looks like people. God is imagined as having two legs, two arms, forward facing eyes, a nose in the center of His face, an ear on each side of His head, opposable thumbs, and an upright stance. However, the Bible does not say the physical shape of man is a scale replica of God’s form.

The Bible does not define the image of God in man. The possibility exists that man’s general shape is like that of God’s but this is unlikely. The Bible never describes the actual appearance of God. The Bible describes the glory of God and the forms God took when He appeared to men. However, God appeared in various ways throughout Scripture. The most familiar forms God took are the forms of a man, a pillar of fire, and a great cloud of glory. The diversity of forms and the Biblical declaration that no one can see God show us God’s appearances in the Old Testament were always accommodated to the limitations of man.

Because the image of God in man is not clearly defined in the Bible, a wide range of opinions are held on this subject. Some believe man bears God’s image by being a three-part being with a body, soul, and spirit like God is one God in the three Persons of Father, Son, and Spirit. Others believe the image of God in man is the authority man has been given over creation. Others have suggested the image of God in man is humanity’s ability to distinguish between right and wrong. These beliefs may all be true. However, another explanation is preferred. The image of God in man is the moral ability God has created within every human being.

That the image of God in man is not to be found in a person’s physical appearance is evident from the Bible’s assertions about the incarnation of Jesus. Jesus is God the Son who became fully human while also remaining fully God. He is declared to be the perfect and complete representation of God to mankind. (Colossians 1:15; 2:9; Hebrews 1:3) This manifestation of God in the flesh did not include the visible glory of God. (Isaiah 53:2) The revelation of God in Jesus is declared to be one of grace and truth, not form and majesty. (John 1:14)

When a person is saved he is made a new creature who is to become more like Jesus. The imitation of Jesus is described in Colossians 3 as putting on the likeness of God. In Ephesians 4:24 the Christian is commanded to “put on the new man which is created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4 describes this imitation of God entirely in terms of the character of the person, not in their appearance.

“The new man” is the phrase used by the Apostle Paul to describe the new spiritual life given to a person at salvation. The saved are not immediately delivered from their tendency to sin. Instead, the sin nature remains in the person and fights against the things of God. (Galatians 5:17) The Christian is commanded to resist his sinful desires and pursue holy things. This pursuit of holiness is the same as putting on the new man. The new man is created, “according to God.” In other words, the new man looks like God. Colossians 3:10 makes this more clear. The new man is being remade, “according to the image of Him who created him.” The new man is the re-creation of the sinner into the image of God. This new man is characterized by selfless love, peace, joy, honesty, patience, goodness, kindness, humility and forgiveness. (Ephesians 4:25-32; Colossians 3:12-16) If the saved man is made a new creature whose expression of Godly character is the image and imitation of God, then the first man was created in the image of God by virtue of his being given a righteous character like God’s. Though the fall of man corrupts all the person does, yet a sense of kindness, goodness, and compassion still pervades humanity. This moral character, though tarnished, still reflects the character of God. The image of God in man is the ability in mankind to do good, to be selfless and to be kind to others.

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February 6, 2024

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Christianity, God, Religions

Can Christians call God “Mother Earth”?

Wicca and certain forms of paganism revere the earth as a goddess. Gaia, the Great Goddess and Maya are just a few of the many names given to Mother Earth. The common understanding of the earth goddess is that she is one deity among many. She is revered by some as the creator of all life and by others as the giver or the sustainer of life. This worship of the earth as divine is in direct opposition to the Biblical teaching that God alone is God, Creator and Sustainer. However, can Christians use Mother Earth as another name for God?

A person intending to give all credit to Jehovah, the God of the Bible, for the work of creation and for the work of sustaining creation might desire to call Him Mother Earth. Despite good intentions, the God of the Bible must not be referred to as Mother Earth. In common use “Mother Earth” is understood to be a reference to something other than the God of the Bible. This means identifying God as Mother Earth is confusing and misleading to the hearers.

More importantly, God does not permit His worshipers to innovate in their worship of Him. The book of Leviticus is a rule book for the Israelite’s worship of God. The Old Testament gives repeated examples of the consequences of worshiping God in a way other than the way prescribed by Him. The death and resurrection of Jesus in the New Testament ended temple worship and the Old Testament rituals. Jesus’ death did not alter the character of God or the necessity of worshiping Him as He prescribes. God must still be worshiped “in truth.” (John 4:24)

God has revealed Himself exclusively with masculine names and pronouns. None who desire to worship God rightly can refer to Him by feminine names or pronouns. God is declared in Scripture to be “Our Father,” never “Our Mother.” Those who desire to worship God in accord with His revelation cannot call Him by names or titles not given to Him in the Bible.

A handful of passages in the Old Testament describe God with feminine imagery. In Deuteronomy 32:18 God is said to have given birth to Israel. In Psalm 17:8 and Psalm 91:4 God is described as sheltering His child like a hen shelters her chicks. Do these and similar descriptions of God justify referring to Him as Mother? Every description of God using feminine imagery is a description of the work God does. God is never called by a feminine title. Instead, His care for His children is said to be like that of a mother, a nurse or a hen.

The Old Testament uses an abundance of images to describe God’s interactions with people. He is described as having horns, a mighty arm and an all-seeing eye. He is described as riding on clouds and breathing fire against His enemies. None of these are literally true, but are figures of speech intended to teach something about God’s interactions with mankind. The use of feminine imagery does not justify referring to God as Mother Earth any more than the use of barnyard imagery justifies referring to God as Mother Hen.

God has revealed Himself to humanity. God’s revelation to man defines God and in so doing limits the way humans can speak of God. God truly does care for His people like a mother cares for her children, but the people of God must not refer to God by any name other than those revealed by Him in His Word.

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January 23, 2024

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Creation, God

Is God in Everything?

“God is in everything.” Those words sparked a lengthy conversation about the relationship of God to the physical universe. Christians who make that statement do not mean the same thing a Hindu or Buddhist might mean by a similar statement. The Christian might mean that since God is Creator of all things then all things contain an active part of God. Therefore, His being can legitimately be said to be in all of His creation. This asserts more than the existence of evidence of God’s creative work in the things He created, but that all things contain a part of God. This asserts that a piece of God is present in every created thing. Is this a Biblical assertion?

The Bible teaches that God is present everywhere. “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” (Psalm 139:7) “Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him? says the LORD, Do I not fill heaven and earth?” (Jeremiah 23:24) God is present everywhere in His creation and His presence fills all His creation. God is truly present in all places simultaneously. The Biblical teaching of the unlimited presence of God is not the same as the teaching that God is present in everything

The Bible teaches God is present everywhere while also remaining completely distinct from His creation. God is everywhere, but God is not in everything. Declaring that God is in all things blurs the line between creature and Creator, a line which the Bible draws clearly. Aside from the incarnation of Jesus, the Divine and the created are never described in the Bible as co-mingled. God is greater than all the world and is higher than the heavens. He cannot be contained by the universe or even by Heaven. (1 Kings 8:27) Isaiah 40:22 says, “It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.” Isaiah shows God is separate from His creation. He sits above the earth. He spreads out the heavens. He is infinitely greater than all His creation.

Isaiah 40:25 asks, “To whom then will you liken Me, or to whom shall I be equal?” If God is in everything and everything contains the Divine, then what could be wrong with portraying God as a Sun, an elephant, a calf or some other created thing? Only because God is not in any of those things is it wrong to represent Him by an image of them. God is not in all creation, but “above all.” (Ephesians 4:6)

Understanding that God is always present with all His creation in all places and at all times while also always separate and distinct from His creation is not easy. The distinction is difficult but important. To mingle God’s being with His creation is to elevate the creation to the level of the Divine and to diminish the infinite, limitless God until He becomes equivalent to His creation. God is not equal with any or all of His creation. He is infinitely greater than all His works. None dare lessen His greatness. All must marvel at the infinity and intimacy of God who transcends all creation and remains present with each person.

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November 21, 2023

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God, Life Questions

Why can we be thankful?

In this time of worldwide turmoil some may wonder if there is any reason to be thankful. International turmoil, protests in American cities, political uncertainty and fears about global warming join with personal sorrows to make the world seem a dark and miserable place. Despite the incredible problems threatening the peace and stability of our world everyone has great cause for thankfulness. Despite personal tragedies a person may suffer everyone has an abundance of reasons to be thankful.

Everyone can, and should be, thankful because every good thing in life is a gift from Another. Thankfulness is necessary because the universe owes humanity nothing. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are not owed to anyone of any nationality. Life itself is a gift and the continuance of life is the generosity of the Giver of life who sustains all things. (Colossians 1:17) Happiness and the things which bring it are gifts from the Source of all joy. (Psalm 43:4) The sun that fuels life and the rain that nourishes all creatures is the gift of God. (Matthew 5:45) The sun is God’s to do with as He pleases, yet He in His goodness chooses to send its rays across the entire world. (Psalm 19:4-6)

Psalm 104 teaches many reasons to give thanks to God every day. He is the Creator who formed the earth and rules continually over it for its protection. (Psalm 104:5-9) God sends the rivers and streams across the lands for the good of all the birds and beasts of the earth. (Psalm 104:10-12) God waters the earth with rains and satisfies it’s thirst. (Psalm 104:13) He causes all plant life to grow for the benefit of people. He gives daily bread and much, much more. He gives sweet fruit drinks to gladden hearts. He gives oils to refresh and cleanse. He gives bread to strengthen people’s hearts. (Psalm 104:14-14)

God plants the trees as a nesting place for the bird. He formed the hills and cliffs as homes for wild animals. (Psalm 104:16-18) God set the sun and the moon in the heavens to mark the seasons and days. He gives day and night for the good of all creation. (Psalm 104:19-23) All receive their food from the hand from God. “You open your hand, they are filled with good.” (Psalm 104:28)

Everyone has abundant cause for thankfulness. Even in tragedy and sorrow God’s good gifts are still evident. The food in the refrigerator, the sun in the sky, the birds in the trees and animals in the fields are all gifts from God. He sustains those gifts by His daily, gracious giving. Give thanks because all you have is from God. Give thanks because God has given you more than the basic necessities. Give thanks because God provides abundantly, sumptuously and generously for His creation. Though the curse of sin continues to be felt in every life, the gifts of God are greater. Thank Him for all He does.

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September 11, 2023

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God

What does “God is Holy” mean?

Are you “holier than thou”? Holiness has a bad reputation. Many people see it as the trait of a killjoy or a self-righteous hypocrite. However, the Bible repeatedly says God is holy. The holiness of God is unique in the Bible as the only attribute of God praised with the threefold repetition, “Holy, holy, holy.” In ancient Hebrew repeating something was the way to express it as higher or greater. The praise, “Holy, holy, holy,” declares God is the Most Holy and the Holiest One. God is never said to be, “Love, love, love” or “Good, good, good.” Only His holiness is exalted in this superlative fashion. Holiness must be understood as the chief attribute of God and the greatest reason to praise Him.

What does it mean that God is holy? God’s holiness is not only something He does, thinks or feels, but something He is. A vital part of holiness is uniqueness. The word means “separate.” God is unlike His creation. This does not mean He is completely foreign and incomprehensible to His creatures. God created man in His image, therefore man can understand some things about God. However, God is not His creation. He is not the universe or anything in it. He is not a man, nor even a grand man. He is God and He is the only God. “No one is holy like the LORD, for there is none besides You.” (1 Samuel 2:2)

The separateness of God is especially evident in His relationship to sin. God is untouched by all that is morally evil. His nature contains nothing sinful. He is not tempted to do evil and He does not tempt men to sin. (James 1:13) His entire being is righteous. (Psalm 92:15) His every action is right and pure. (Psalm 18:30) God cannot lie. (Titus 1:2) God always keeps His promises. (2 Timothy 2:13) “His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4) All God does is morally right. This does not mean something is right because God does it, though that is true. This means all God does is in perfect harmony with His holy nature. He cannot and will not do that which is contrary to Himself, therefore, He cannot and will not do anything which is sinful.

The holiness of God also means He cannot and will not overlook any sin. (Habakkuk 1:13) He will punish every sin. At the end of history God will judge humanity and will examine every deed. He will then measure out the judgment due to each person. The condemned will suffer the full extent of God’s wrath on their sin. (Revelation 20:11-13) The only way a person can escape the holy judgment of God on their sin is to place their faith in Jesus for forgiveness and salvation. Those who believe Jesus is God, who died for their sin and rose again as the only means of full salvation will be forgiven their guilt. The punishment of their sin is paid by Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21) and they receive eternal life instead of eternal wrath. (John 3:18) In His holiness God provided a means of salvation that does not excuse any sin, but does not leave sinners in hopeless condemnation.