What Is Man?

Module 3

l.
At the end of the module, the learners should be able to:

1. Know and understand that their ultimate goal in life should be to live for God’s glory through a
careful study of the Bible.
2. They will glorify God by doing and fulfilling their responsibilities as created in God’s image.

1. Created for God’s Glory

2. Created in God’s Image
3. Responsibilities as creatures in God’s Image

After God created the plants and the animals on the earth, he had one more thing to create, the
pinnacle of his creation: MAN

So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created
them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue
it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing
that moves on earth.” (Genesis 1:27-28)

God did not create us because he was lacking or needing anything. He wasn’t lonely, nor he need someone
or something to bring him praise or give him glory. But he still chose to create us, and we do bring him
glory. In Isaiah 43:7, God says, “Everyone who is called by my name…. I created for my glory.” Although
this fact is supposed to give our lives significance, unless we understand what it means, it can seem empty
and meaningless. To give God glory means to give him great honor and praise, and we can do that in
various ways.

Created for God’s Glory

Because we were created for God’s Glory, our ultimate goal in life should be
Because we were
to live for his glory. Giving God glory will give our lives purpose and meaning; created for God’s Glory,
it will give us the joy in our life that we all long for. Giving God glory is one of our ultimate goal in life
the life Jesus spoke of when he said, “I came that they may have life and should be to live for His
have it abundantly” (John 10:10). glory
One of the ways we glorify God is by enjoying Him. As David says, “In your presence there is fullness of
joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Ps. 16:11). Fullness of joy is found in knowing God and
delighting in him. When we do this, we give him the glory that he desires and that we long to give him. In
the midst of this, we find God rejoicing over us “with gladness” and exulting over us “with loud singing”
(Zeph. 3:17).

2. Created in God’s Image

If all the Bible told us about ourselves is that we were created for God’s glory, this would be a wonderful
thing, but it wouldn’t really distinguish us much from the rest of creation. For, “the heavens declare the
glory of God, and the sky above proclaim his handiwork” (Ps. 19:1). Part of our uniqueness, however,
comes from the fact that we are the only part of God’s creation made “in the image of God” (Gen. 1:27).

As creatures made in God’s image, we were made to be like him.

So God created mankind Therefore, the more we understand about God, the more we understand
in his own image, in the
about ourselves. And the more we understand about ourselves, the more
image of God he created
them; male and female we understand about God. For example, 1.) we are moral creatures,
he created them. created with an innate sense of right and wrong. This is reflection of God’s
(Genesis 1:27) perfect sense of right and wrong. In addition, 2.) we are not merely
physical creatures; we are also spiritual creatures, which means we are
somewhat like God, who is spirit. Our spirit is a reflection of God’s nature
and allowed us to relate to him personally. To take another example, 3.) our ability to think about and
process information is a reflection of God’s knowledge. And 4.) our ability to relate to others, as well as
our desire for community, is a reflection of God’s perfect community within the trinity. The Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit have forever related to each other perfectly.

Because of sin, God’s image in us is partly distorted. His image is not seen as clearly as it once was.
Although the Bible is clear that man is still “made in the likeness of God” (James 3:9), that likeness, defiled
by sin, doesn’t look like everything it is supposed to. For example, sin distorts our moral judgment, clouds
our thinking, and hinders our fellowship with others.

The good news is that God’s image is being restored. God redeems his children through the life, death,
and resurrection of Jesus so that they can be “conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom. 8:29), who is the
“image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15). Paul says that fellow Christians have a new nature, “which is being
renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Col. 3:10). And while here on earth, we “are being
transformed” into Christ’s image “from one degree of glory to another” (2 Cor. 3:18).

At the end of time, all God’s children will become like his Son, Jesus Christ. For,” just as we have borne
the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven” (1 Cor. 15:49). Christ
“is the image of God” (2 Cor. 4:4) in a perfect sense. In Jesus we see God’s likeness as it was intended to
be. And because of Jesus, we will eventually be changed to reflect God’s image as we were intended to
do.
3. Responsibilities as Creatures in God’s Image

What are our responsibilities as creatures in God’s image?

a. God called us to fill the earth

As creatures made in God’s image, we were also made to be his representatives on the earth. Much like
a king who places image (through statues and pictures, for example) of himself around his kingdom to
show where he rules, God has, through us, placed images of himself across his world. This is why he
commanded Adam and Eve to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” (Gen. 1:28). When they
replicated God’s image across the earth, they demonstrated all the places where God rules and reigns.
And since “the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof” (Ps. 24:1), God desires that his image “fill the
earth” (Gen. 1:28). When we fill the earth with God’s image, we demonstrate all the places where he
reigns and rules and bring him the glory he desires and deserves.

b. God called us to take care of his land

As God’s representatives on the earth, we are also called to take care

God blessed them and said to
of his land. When God commanded Adam and Eve to “subdue” the them, “Be fruitful and
earth and “have dominion over… every living thing that moves on the increase in number; fill the
earth” (Gen. 1:28), he did so as a king telling his representatives to take earth and subdue it. Rule over
care of his kingdom in a way that honored him. Therefore, although we the fish in the sea and the
birds in the sky and over
are free to take from the abundance of God’s earth, we are to do so in
every living creature that
way that demonstrates care for it and respect for its Creator. And when moves on the ground.”
we take the opportunity to make improvements to the world we live in, (Genesis 1:28)
we are bringing God the glory he deserves by making his world look
more like he designed it to look.

c. Help restore his people and his land to the way they were meant to be

As God’s bearers--- as representatives of the king of the universe--- we have the awesome responsibility
to help restore his people and his land to the way they were meant to be. We get the opportunity to work
alongside the king who is “making all things new” (Rev. 21:5).

Therefore, we have great hope and respect for all people--- regardless of their state. They, like us, are the
culmination of God’s infinity wise and skillful creation. They have the potential to return to the beauty of
Jesus Christ, the “image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15), by turning away from their sin and turning to
their Creator.

We also have great hope and respect for the world God has entrusted us with. We long to see it returned
to its original state--- a world without “thorns and thistles” (Gen. 3:18). And as we joyfully work toward
this goal, we give God the glory we were created to bring to him.
Questions for Review and Application

(For 15 points, please answer the ff Questions)

1. Among God’s creation, what is considered as the pinnacle of His creation?

2. Since we are created for God’s glory, what should be our ultimate goal in life?
3. What does give glory to God can contribute or give in your life?
4. What makes man unique from the rest of God’s creation? (Gen 1:27)
5. As creatures made in God’s image, we were made to be like Him. What can you see in man that reflects
God’s image? (Write at least 4)
6. How does the image of God in man distorted and defiled?
7. What is that good news that restored the defiled image of God in man?
8. In this global Pandemic, what do you think is the right thing to do in order to glorify God in your life
as created in the image of God? Why? (5pts)

1. THE HOLY BIBLE (Any Versions & Translation)

1. CHRISTIAN BELIEFS by: Wayne A. Grudem; Edited by: Elliot Grudem (Zondervan Books)