Cancel

Tabletalk Subscription
You have {{ remainingArticles }} free {{ counterWords }} remaining.You've accessed all your free articles.
Unlock the Archives for Free

Request your free, three-month trial to Tabletalk magazine. You’ll receive the print issue monthly and gain immediate digital access to decades of archives. This trial is risk-free. No credit card required.

Try Tabletalk Now

Already receive Tabletalk magazine every month?

Verify your email address to gain unlimited access.

{{ error }}Need help?

Genesis 9:6

“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.”

Our look at the biblical themes covered in the Heidelberg Catechism has thus far given us a good introduction to anthropology—the doctrine of humanity. For the next week, we will continue looking at what Scripture teaches about human beings and our sin, but in order to get a fuller understanding of what God’s Word says about us, we will be using Dr. R.C. Sproul’s teaching series A Shattered Image as a guide.

Anyone who takes the time to consider human nature is quickly forced to conclude that understanding who we are as human beings is no easy task. On the one hand, we see creatures who are capable of excellence and possess great dignity. We build monuments, travel into outer space, create beautiful art and music, and sacrifice our own well-being to improve the lot of others. On the other hand, we see creatures who are capable of horrific acts. We start wars, abuse one another, and despoil the created order. Even the best among us is capable of the vilest sins, while the worst of us still evidences praiseworthy qualities such as love and loyalty. Surely Blaise Pascal was right to refer to humanity as “the supreme paradox of all creation,” for we are creatures of grandeur as well as misery.

Obviously, our fallenness accounts for the miserable condition of human beings, but our greatness is due to our creation in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:26). Some in the history of theology have tried to distinguish “image” from “likeness,” but it is probably best to see them as synonyms that refer to the same concept: our reflection of who the Lord is to the world. Today’s passage, revealed after the fall, indicates that we retain the Lord’s image, though it has been significantly marred by sin (9:6).

We conclude our study today by noting two things we learn from being made in God’s image. First, we see that we are not God. Human beings reflect the Lord, but we are still dependent and finite creatures. Furthermore, our Creator is never accountable to us; we answer to Him (Job 38–42). Second, being made in the image of God distinguishes us from the animals. We submit ourselves to the Lord and not to the birds, the beasts, and the fish. Men and women have dominion over these other creatures (Gen. 1:28). We may not, however, rule these creatures foolishly and without compassion, for we are to be good and honorable stewards (Ex. 20:8–10; Deut. 20:19–20).

Coram Deo Living before the face of God

Knowing that all people are made in the image of God has profound ramifications for how we interact with others. If we all have the image of God, then we cannot refuse to treat others with the appropriate level of respect even when they do things we do not like. It also means that racial discrimination is forbidden. Let us remember that everyone around us is made in God’s image and should therefore be treated rightly.


For Further Study
  • Job 7:17–18
  • Song of Solomon 4:1–16
  • Isaiah 14:12–21
  • Matthew 12:9–14

    The Curse on Law-Breakers

    The Duality of Man

    Keep Reading The Apocalypse of John

    From the January 2012 Issue
    Jan 2012 Issue