And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth: And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters: And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died(Gen. 5:3-5).
This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him; Male and female created He them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created (Gen. 5:1-2). Throughout the history of the modern church, there has been much discussion of what it means to have been created in the likeness of God. For centuries, Scholars have debated if this ‘image’ was in the literal or figurative sense, each side arguing passionately about what they felt to be our indelible connection to God. A close examination of Scripture, however, appears to settle this question.
Adam and Eve were created perfect in the likeness of God. They carried His spirit with them (Gen. 2:7), and they were without sin. When they deliberately turned against God in the Garden of Eden, they suffered spiritual death (Rom. 5:12). No longer did they exist in the likeness of God, but rather according to the sinful nature of natural man. In confirmation of this, we read, And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me (Ps. 51:5). Seth was born in the likeness of Adam; in other words, Seth was born spiritually dead, as are all that have come after him. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others (Eph. 2:1-3).
So, are Christians everywhere wrong when they claim to have been made in the image of God? No, far from it! God, in His boundless mercy and love, desired that our spiritual lives be restored to us. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). During His ministry on earth, Jesus explained that all who fully accepted Him as their Savior would be spiritually reborn (John 3:3-6). Therefore if any man be in Christ, He is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (II Cor. 5:17). At the moment of this rebirth, we are restored to the likeness of God.
Reborn in His image, Christ has given us back the birthright bestowed on us by our Creator that Adam, in his arrogance and pride, so carelessly threw away. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:12-13).
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created Him(Col. 3:10).
Thought For TodayGod’s will is to restore us to His image; through Christ, we are closer to him than those of the Old Testament.
Word Studies4:1 knew = had intercourse with; 4:4 had respect unto = approved; 4:6 fallen = angry, resentful; 4:15 a mark = a sign of protection; 4:18 begat = fathered; 4:22 artificer = metal craftsman; 4:23 to my wounding = for wounding me; 5:22 walked with = believed in and was obedient to; 6:2 sons of God = followers of God; daughters of men = worldly women; 6:6 repented = grieved.
Christ Revealed:Through Abel's blood sacrifice (Gen. 4:4-7). Christ is the Lamb of God (John 1:29; see Heb. 9:22; 11:4). Man's best achievements can never take the place of Christ's death on the cross, which cleanseth us from all sin (I John 1:7).
Pray For Staff:Tifany Parisi • Country: Mongolia (2,953,190) East-central Asia • Major Language: Khalkha Mongol • Societal abuses and discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice • 53% Buddhist; 3% Muslim; 2.1% Christian; 2.9% Shamanist; 0.4% Other; 38.6% None • Prayer Suggestion: Remember that God hears and answers our prayers (Is. 65:24).
Optional Reading: