week 2 responds cled 800
Jacob Hawk
YesterdaySep 1 at 10:24am
CLED 800
Discussion 2: What is the Image of God?
In the brief stent of the course thus far, the complexities, and intricacies of the image of God, have already challenged my understanding of its premise. I have previously operated from a foundational understanding of its existence, primarily from its first introduction in the biblical narrative, when Scripture confirms that both male and female were created in God’s image (New International Version, 1978/2011, Genesis 1: 26-27). Yet beyond this text, there are so many levels and layers of the image of God. I continue to wrestle with its various meanings and manifestations. As Dr. Small powerfully noted, “If we stumble on understanding the image of God, our understanding of theological anthropology will not be in line with the teachings of Scripture” (Video, The Image of God, 0:30). I might also add that if we stumble on understanding the image of God, we will miss the core message of the gospel and reconciliation.
When defining a healthy, holistic perception of the image of God, Kilner (2015) offered a helpful explanation when he penned, “Being the image of God turns out to mean having a special connection with God and indeed being a meaningful reflection of God” (Kilner, p. 54). The image of God is not a physical carbon copy. The image of God is a spiritual extension of the mission, purpose, and values of the Father. Connection and reflection drive understanding and passion for honoring and glorifying God’s image. People who are connected to God strive to deepen that connection, as Jesus described, “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (New International Version, 1978/2011, John 15: 5). People who reflect God long to represent him appropriately, as Paul exhorted the church at Philippi, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (New International Version, 1978/2011, Philippians 1:27).
The image of God becomes more complicated when discussed in relation to sin—specifically, how sin affects the security of God’s image. Dr. Small described the image of God operating in function (authority) and relationships (Video, The Image of God, 2:20). With these inclusions, the following inquiries develop—can the image of God ever be lost, and if so, to what degree? And if all people are equally created in God’s image, can some lose the image when others cannot? Challenging questions indeed. Everything, in its own way, is a product of the image of God. When the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus about paying taxes to Caesar, Jesus’ reply was brilliant, yet simple, “…Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” (New International Version, 1978/2011, Matthew 22: 21). Anything associated with God’s image is owed to God (Kilner, 2015, p. 141) God’s image is all encompassing and witnessed in all people, even by those who refuse to acknowledge God as creator and sustainer. Caesar certainly fell into this category, as do many others.
In his book, Dignity and Destiny, Humanity in the Image of God, Kilner provides helpful context. To tackle the idea, or the possibility, of the image of God being lost, Kilner discussed what occurred at the fall of man in the garden of Eden in Genesis 3. Kilner (2015) observed, “…there is no indication in the text that God’s image, according to which people are created, has suffered damage. Were the standard itself damaged, the people would no longer be accountable to be better than they are. It is precisely the continuing standard of God’s image, embodied in Christ, that requires people to be more and points to an eternal future in Christ when they will be so” (Kilner, p. 137). This affirms Kilner’s position that even in the heartbreak of sin, the image of God is not diluted, but strengthened (Kilner, 2015, p. 136). How can this be? In simpler terms, when red salsa stains a white dress shirt, the shirt is not ruined because it can still be cleaned. It does, however, present a powerful dissonance of shade, because it reminds the owner of the shirt how clean it used to be, as well as the dire need to return to its purest form. Similarly, sin does not ruin the image of God. Sin reminds people created in God’s image that through “repentance”, they must return to the purest form by which they were created. The image of God provides the standard for how God intends humanity to live out its status (Kilner, 2015, p. 143). The image of God does not change, but people created in that image change, either for good or for bad. The image of God can never be lost. It can be avoided, but it can also be appreciated. As Kilner (2015) argued, “People mistakenly think that God’s image is improving, when it is Christians who are improving instead” (Kilner, p. 193). When the example is set, the path can be traveled.
The most encouraging promise I heard this week in all the presentations came from Dr. Small when he reminded us that the New Testament proves that the image of God is most clearly seen in Jesus (Video, The Image of God, 5:22). When we falter and get discouraged on who or what we are supposed to be, Jesus paints the perfect portrait. When we wonder if our own sin destroys what God had intended for our lives, Jesus sweetly whispers, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life. And they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand” (New International Version, 1978/2011, John 10: 27-28). When we smear the ink of God’s masterpiece, Jesus stands ready to paint it back, time and time again. Praise God for such mercy and blessing. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” (New International Version, 1978/2011, Hebrews 12:2).
References:
Kilner, J. F. (2015). Dignity and destiny: Humanity in the image of God. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.
New International Version Bible. (2011). Zondervan. (Original work published 1978)
Small, R (2018). CLED 800. Theological Anthropology in Leadership & Education. Week two, lecture one: The Image of God. Retrieved from https://canvas.liberty.edu/courses/136120/pages/watch-the-image-of-god?module_item_id=14842024
YesterdaySep 1 at 9:57pm
Greetings Dr. Small, colleagues, brothers, and sisters in Christ, here we are together in Week 2/Module 2 of CLED 800. This First-Post addresses two questions: (1) What is the image of God? (2) What effect does sin have on the image of God?
What is the Image of God?
What is the image of God? Historically and contemporarily, misunderstandings about the image of God abound. The underpinning of these various misconceptions emerges from how people generally think about humanity’s creation. For example, Kilner often posits that “People often think that humanity’s creation and continuing existence ‘in God’s image’ is about ways that people are currently like God” (Kilner, 2015, p. 177). Kilner lists four ideas people generally embrace as to the image of God as demonstrated in people: (1) Reason; (2) Righteousness; (3) Rulership; (4) Relationship. All four are problematic as to defining the image of God in that all four can be and are demonstrated in various degrees by various people. As Kilner stated in Chapter 1 of our text, these demonstrative character attributes, whether of greater or lesser degree in people groups, can be devastating (Kilner, 2015).
The biblical truth as to “what” the image of God is is not a “what” but rather a “Who?” The Holy Spirit, through the apostle Paul, explicitly reveals who the image of God is. In 2 Corinthians 4:4, we read, “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (English Standard Version, 2001, 2011; emphasis added). In John’s gospel, we read of God the Word incarnate, “All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:3). Then in Colossians 3:10, we read of this Creator, “and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator.” Colossians 1:15 says of Jesus Christ, “He is the image of the invisible God.” Romans 8:29 states, “For those, he (God) foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” Hebrews 1:3 affirms of God the Son, “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” Moreover, numerous Scriptures address God’s image ( Genesis 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 11:7; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:24; James 3:9; 1 Corinthians 15:49; Genesis 2:7; John 1:18; John 14:9, and many others).
Because Jesus Christ, being sinless in his humanity and as to his divinity, eternally God of very God, his image can neither be destroyed, defeated, nor diminished. Dr. Small briefly mentioned three views people may hold thinking about the image of God to frame the larger context and content of the image of God in this week’s lesson: “Functional view, Relational view, and Substantive view” (Liberty University, 2018, 2:56-3:39/5:49 section). The substantive view embraces the biblical view that every human being is created in the image of God, and this view affirms the inherent value and worth of each person on earth. Furthermore, because Jesus Christ is the image of God, the next question correlates to whether or not sin affects the image of God when that image is God the Son himself.
What Effect Does Sin Have on the Image of God?
The first half of the answer is that sin has zero effect on the image of God. This non-affect is because the image of God, Jesus Christ, cannot be affected in any way, shape, or form by sin (John 1:5). What sin does affect regarding the image of God is how people think about what the image of God is (Kilner, 2015). Again, Kilner lists four views or concepts as to how people through history have attempted to define how or in what manner humanity is created in the image of God: (1) Reason; (2) Righteousness; (3) Rulership; (4) Relationship. Kilner posits that although these views are not in and of themselves what the image of God is, they are consequences of that image: “Humanity in God’s image is about connection and reflection – a special connection with God intended to reflect attributes of God, to God’s glory and for the flourishing of people as God has always meant them to be. In other words, such attributes are intended consequences of being in God’s image. They are among the purposes for which God has created humanity” (Kilner, 2015, pp. 227–228). Thus, how people think about the image of God is where sin in fallen humanity skews, distorts, corrupts, and imputes to the image of God attributes in which the Bible nowhere applies to God’s image and likeness.
Lastly, God cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2:13). Galatians 5:22-25 reads, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (English Standard Version, 2001, 2011) Since God cannot deny himself. Furthermore, there is only One God (Deuteronomy 6:4). Moreover, because the Father, Son, and Holy Spirt are that one, God, then the fruits of God the Holy Spirit are attributes of God. We can rest assured that those attributes (although most assuredly not all that is infinitely attributable to God) were and are present in Jesus Christ in his humanity, and as Jesus Christ is the image of God, those attributes are of certainty what God intended for humanity to exhibit as the image-bearers of God. Humanity is way short. However, we in Christ are a definite work in progress, as the Holy Spirit works within to conform us to the image of Christ, the image of God (Romans 8:28).
References
English Standard Version. (2001, 2011). The Holy Bible (ESV Text ed., 2011). Crossway.
Kilner, J. F. (2015). Dignity and Destiny: Humanity in the image of God. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Liberty University. (2018). The image of God. https://canvas.liberty.edu [Video Presentation Week2/Module2]. https://canvas.liberty.edu/courses/136120/pages/watch-the-image-of-god?module_item_id=14842024