Lecture 3 Flashcards
WLC 17 asks how did God create man. What are 4 observations of this definition?
1.) Humans are created.
• humans have a beginning and yet are immortal.
2.) a moral and ethical perspective.
• three characteristics are mentioned: knowledge, righteousness, holiness.
3.) we have a capacity to obey:
• God has written his law in our hearts.
4.) in our original state we were created in such a manner where we were subject to change.
• able to sin or not to sin
WLC 17: Mentions humans were made in God’s image and lists three characteristics.
What are these characteristics and why is it important?
Knowledge, righteousness, and holiness
• this speaks to our moral and ethical capacity.
• it also means we are to uphold what is right, and to relate to God, ourselves, others, and creation in a way that upholds God’s dignity and character.
***the shorter catechism WSC 10 calls out these three traits as well.
Where in scripture do we see the moral traits of knowledge, righteousness and holiness?
Ephesians 4:24
Colossians 3:10
What does the Heidelberg Catechism have to say about God creating wicked and perverse man?
HC 6 tells us that man was created in righteousness and holiness so that we might know and love God.
• Berkhof adds that the imago dei is not merely knowledge righteousness and holiness, but that this “God relatedness” is the true meaning of what it means to be made in the image of God.
• Turretin says the image of God is what allows us to approach nearer to God.
Who is the “us” in Genesis 1:26-28?
Let “us” make man in our image…
Three possibilities:
1) refers to heavenly court.
• meaning God takes council with the angelic hosts or heavenly beings.
2) God is speaking in a “plural of majesty.”
• like a king or prince might speak of himself on the first person.
3) an indirect reference to the Trinity.
• At the very least we have a reference to a plurality within the Godhead in scripture.
> Holy Spirit is mentioned as “hovering over the earth.”
> Christ is mentioned several times as creator.
What is the difference between “image” and “likeness” in scripture?
Some church fathers divide the two into:
• image as metaphysical traits like holiness and righteousness.
• or image and likeness as body and spirit respectively.
There is no biblical basis for this. The terms are used interchangeably and are synonyms.
In contrast to church fathers who divided likeness and image, what is the reformed view of man as the image of God?
Bavinck makes the case that the image of God is reflected in the whole person.
Bavinck draws out the whole person reflecting the image of God in 4 ways.
(See notecard)
John Murray says obedience to God is the fullest expression of what it means to be made in the image of God.
• God created us to reflect him.
Bavinck’s 4 ways in which the image of God is reflected in the whole person.
1) reflected in man as a living soul.
• in this we are distinct from animal and angel where God breathed the breath of life in us.
2) reflected in the faculties of man.
• the entire person; heart, mind and will.
3) reflected in our moral composition.
• we are not created neutral beings.
• ethics is at the heart of what it means to be truly human.
4) reflected in the human body.
• the body is not a prison but a marvelous piece of art from the hand of God almighty.
Do humans retain the image of God after the fall?
Reformed tradition says all humans, regardless of faith retain the image of God after the fall.
• Genesis 5 (after the fall) reflects Genesis 1.
• Genesis 9 confirms this understanding of Genesis 5 in that it requires a reckoning for taking the life of another man because “for God made man in his own image.”
The image after the fall is however perverted.
How is the image of God in man perverted after the fall according to Hoekema?
1) we do not know God as we should.
2) we worship the creature rather than the creator.
3) we do not possess original righteousness.
Where is the image of God seen most clearly in the NT?
The image of God is seen most clearly in Christ.
2 Corinthians 4 tells us Christ “is the image of God.”
Hebrews 1:3 tells us Christ is the “exact imprint of his nature.”
How do we see the image of God through sanctification?
Romans 8:28 tells us “all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
The “good” in Romans 8:28 is spelled out in verse 29 as being conformed to the image of his Son.
1 Corinthians 15:49 tells us we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.
