Being made in the image of God means that we have an inherent responsibility. Within that responsibility lies what I’m calling our “job description“.
26Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule [reign – NLT; have dominion – ESV] over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” — Genesis 1:27-28 NIV
Today we’ll go over the first “job description” and conclude this series tomorrow with the second one.
Here’s the job description for every human being who has ever walked the planet. It’s your job description. It’s mine.
OUR FIRST JOB DESCRIPTION
Build FAMILIES and connect in COMMUNITY.
“Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth…”
In other words, God said, “I want you to connect in community by building families, establishing towns, creating communities and the structures and systems that serve the people in those families, towns and communities.” [1]
Part of our original assignment was to get married, have children, develop friendships, create communities, participate in small groups, plant churches, and establish schools, cities, communities and governments; because God’s plan has always been that we connect in community. It has always included relationships.
If you’ve ever wondered why the craving the majority of us have to connect in community is so strong, it’s because we were created in the “image of God.”
Then God said,
“Let us make mankind in our image,
in our likeness…”
— Genesis 1:26
Many scholars believe that Genesis 1:26 is describing a conversation among the members of the Trinity.
The doctrine of the Trinity is foundational to the Christian faith. It’s the idea that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct persons — Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is one in essence, but three in person.
There are basically three ideas wrapped up in this definition:
- Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three distinct persons.
- Each person is completely and fully God.
- There is only one God.
I know. It’s mind-blowing. But remember my quote from Augustine… It’s impossible to put an infinite God into a finite mind.
When God said, “Let us make man in our image…” that’s what was going on. He was having a conversation with the other members of the Trinity.
I love the way Christian George described the relationship the members of the Trinity have with one another in his book, Godology. He writes: “Before cities were born or worlds created, God hung out with Himself. He was His own party. Some say three’s a crowd, but in this VIP club, the King, Prince and Advocate General share a perfect blend of intimacy, community and eternity.” [2]
“…the King, Prince and Advocate General
share a perfect blend of
intimacy, community and eternity.”
In about 500 A.D. the church came up with a statement that remains definitive when it comes to describing the doctrine of the Trinity. It’s part of what has been called the Athanasian Creed. Here’s how it reads. Heads up. It’s a mouthful.
Now this is the catholic (universal) faith: We worship one God in Trinity and the Trinity in unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing their essence.
For the Father is a distinct person, the Son is another, and the Spirit is still another.
But the divinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is ONE, equal in glory, coeternal in majesty…
What quality the Father has, the Son has, and the Holy Spirit has.
The Father is uncreated, the Son is uncreated, the Holy Spirit is uncreated.
The Father is immeasurable, the Son is immeasurable, the Holy Spirit is immeasurable.
The Father is eternal, the Son is eternal, the Holy Spirit is eternal.
And yet there are not three eternal beings; there is but one eternal being. So too there are not three uncreated or immeasurable beings; there is but one uncreated and immeasurable being.
Similarly, the Father is Almighty, the Son is Almighty, the Holy Spirit is Almighty. Yet there are not three almighty beings; there is but one Almighty being.
Thus the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God. Yet there are not three gods; there is but one God.
The Father was neither made nor created nor begotten from anyone. The Son was neither made nor created; He was begotten from the Father alone. The Holy Spirit was neither made nor created nor begotten; He proceeds from the Father and the Son.
Accordingly there is one Father, not three fathers; there is one Son, not three sons; there is one Holy Spirit, not three holy spirits.
Nothing in this trinity is before or after, nothing is greater or smaller; in their entirety the three persons are coeternal and coequal with each other.
So in everything…we must worship their trinity in their unity and their unity in their trinity.[3]
I told you it was mouthful! That’s enough to send your brain into overdrive.
The doctrine of the Trinity basically says that God is THREE PERSONS — Father, Son and Holy Spirit — three separate and unique persons, but at the same time they are inseparably and unexplainably ONE. They exist in a relationship of perfect UNITY.
Think about this for just a moment. What do you think life must be like within the TRINITY? Have you ever thought about that? I mean, what’s life like between Father, Son and Holy Spirit? How do they experience one another? How do they relate to one another?
Do you think they ever get bent out of shape with one another? Do you think there are lots of arguments between the members of the TRINITY over who’s the most OMNISCIENT, most OMNIPRESENT, most OMNIPOTENT or over who is the OLDEST? Do you think there’s any jealousy or rivalry between them?
When Jesus walked the earth with the disciples, do you know what the most common ARGUMENT among the disciples was? The most common argument among the disciples was over who was the GREATEST. The members of the Trinity have never had that argument. NEVER!
This was Jesus’ great prayer for the church — for you and me.
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.”
—John 17:20-23 NLT
Mark Galli, in his book, A Great and Terrible Love describes the Trinity like this:
“…in John 17 we are given a glimpse, if a brief one, into the life of the Trinity, into the dynamics of God as He is in Himself. What Jesus clearly reveals is [that]… [God] created us not because he needed someone to return love to Him but because the love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit bubbled over into creation...[4]
Galli goes on to describe the relationship that exists between the members of the trinity as “an ongoing movement of love.” [5]
The basic implication is that human beings crave to connect in vibrant, life-giving relationships because we were created in the image of a God who has experienced connection in community and an existence marked by perfect love and unity from eternity past.
Our spiritual DNA knows that we were created to connect and it is constantly challenging us to get out of our comfort zone and to connect in relationships and to heal conflict and disunity.
Part of your assignment and job description is to build families and connect in community.
This means, if you’re married, love your spouse! The goal of a Christian marriage is not to simply avoid divorce . It’s to experience the kind of oneness and unity with your spouse that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit experience with one another. This is the goal.
If you’re a parent, build your relationship with your kids. The goal of Christian parenting is not to tolerate your kids. It’s to actually enjoy them.
If you’re a friend, be a great friend. Build dynamic friendships!
If you don’t have friends, then get busy developing some vibrant, life-giving friendships!
[1] Nancy Pearcey, Total Truth, p 47 of 379, Location 1051 of 11903, Kindle Ed.
[2] Christian George, Godology, page 18.
[3] The Athanasian Creed, quoted by Mark Galli in A Great and Terrible Love… The version included in this message appears on the website of the Christian Reformed Church
[4] Mark Galli, A Great and Terrible Love, pages 135-136
[5] Mark Galli, A Great and Terrible Love, page 136