Made in the image of God

@ghost-of-a-duke said
Sorry Joseph but viewing the Genesis story as a true story is plain daft, especially through modern eyes. I can say that with confidence, despite not being there.

And yes, our current image is who we are at this time. This may change in the future as we grow and adapt to the changing world around us. (No doubt technology itself will have a bearing on our future im ...[text shortened]... le simultaneously accepting the Adam and Eve narrative, along with talking serpent, beggars' belief.

You really haven't explained what it is man is in the image of except to say ".., our current image is who we are at this time."

If man bears an image, then what or who's image is it he is bearing?

It can't just be the image of himself. How does that work?

-Removed-

I'm "...accepted in the beloved."

I'd provide the reference, but you won't look it up anyway.

@kellyjay said
That was how scripture says we started.

What does that mean?

Evidently not with a knowledge of good and evil; that was Adam’s downfall. I would say that man is an image of God insofar as he is conscious of himself as a spiritual being. Animals are not. Man represents the aspiration, and God represents the perfection of the spiritual quest .

@moonbus said
Evidently not with a knowledge of good and evil; that was Adam’s downfall. I would say that man is an image of God insofar as he is conscious of himself as a spiritual being. Animals are not. Man represents the aspiration, and God represents the perfection of the spiritual quest .

The downfall of Adam wasn't his knowledge or lack of it of good and evil; he desired to be like God buying into the lie that was told to them, not trusting God, not taking God at His Word.

Gen 3:
But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

-Removed-

You don't think that what God wanted when He made us matters?

@josephw said
The chief attribute of God is love. As image bearers we have that capacity - to love and be loved.

And the list goes on. That is what it means to be made in the image of God.

God is love; yes, He is also good, just, on and on that is the mark that we fall short of the perfection of being in His image.

@rajk999 said
99% of the bible is there to occupy the minds of people who have nothing better to do. 1% of it has critical information for eternal life. Unfortunately 99% of the people will get caught up with the 99%, and ignore the 1%.

Only someone who believes themselves more important than scripture could say such a thing.

@moonbus said
Evidently not with a knowledge of good and evil; that was Adam’s downfall. I would say that man is an image of God insofar as he is conscious of himself as a spiritual being. Animals are not. Man represents the aspiration, and God represents the perfection of the spiritual quest .

I could tweak some of that, but a fair enough assessment in a sense.

@kellyjay said
God is love; yes, He is also good, just, on and on that is the mark that we fall short of the perfection of being in His image.

This verse comes to mind.

"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."

@josephw said
I could tweak some of that, but a fair enough assessment in a sense.

I don't think it is even close; nothing about what was good or evil mattered in the choice; the thing that God told them was don't, you'll die.

@kellyjay said
I don't think it is even close; nothing about what was good or evil mattered in the choice; the thing that God told them was don't, you'll die.

But that wasn't what moonbus was talking about.

You and I both believe the Genesis account is literal. Creation happened just as the scriptures say it happened. I have spent hours studying just the first 5 words. They are not man's invention. They say exactly what God wants us to know.

Yes, moonbus was off script. You could consider it a bad paraphrase. I do.

@kellyjay said
Only someone who believes themselves more important than scripture could say such a thing.

A true bible worshiper you are. Every person dead or alive is more important than the bible. Jesus died to save all of mankind. He did not die to save the bible. The bible is just a record of the history of the Jews, prophecies which people do not need to know about for eternal life in the kingdom of God. The one thing people need is the teachings of Christ and that is the one thing you have not focused on.

@rajk999 said
A true bible worshiper you are. Every person dead or alive is more important than the bible. Jesus died to save all of mankind. He did not die to save the bible. The bible is just a record of the history of the Jews, prophecies which people do not need to know about for eternal life in the kingdom of God. The one thing people need is the teachings of Christ and that is the one thing you have not focused on.

Your accusations are the unfounded blurtings of someone pretending to be a follower of Jesus in word only. Yours is lip service and mouth worship. Virtually nothing you ever say in this forum squares with the scriptures.

@rajk999 said
A true bible worshiper you are. Every person dead or alive is more important than the bible. Jesus died to save all of mankind. He did not die to save the bible. The bible is just a record of the history of the Jews, prophecies which people do not need to know about for eternal life in the kingdom of God. The one thing people need is the teachings of Christ and that is the one thing you have not focused on.

Earth to rajk999, no one is saying the Bible is more important than anything except you. What we are saying is that it is the revealed word of God that apparently you hold in disdain. You don't have a written record; then it is all word of mouth; check truth statements on that!? The printed word is a much better way of communicating truth than word of mouth; it is easier to check what was written than argue over what was said. You have a problem with God sharing His truth with us through the centuries by the written word; I suggest you take it up with God. For someone who is always going on about what is and isn't in the Bible, you should at least treat it with some reverence.

@fmf said
It means that the ancient authors of Hebrew folklore were not able to make sense of their own consciousness in any other way.

When they cogitated upon a creator entity, they simply HAD to anthropomorphize it in order to create a recognizable God figure which they then worshipped.

In both practical and philosophical terms, that's what "made in the image of God" means.

The gospel according to fmf.