Christian Doctrine Semester 1, 2011

Week 6: Humanity in the image of God [Week 3: The God Who Is] [Week 4: The Creator God] [Week 5: The Nature of God] Week 7: The Humanity of Jesus

Humanity in the Image of God The Anthropological aspect of Christian Doctrine. “Who am I?” “What am I here for?”

The Importance of the Doctrine of Humanity 1. Relationship to other major doctrines 1. We creatures testify to The Creator (God) Made in His image and likeness (Gen 1:26-27) 2. Jesus took on human nature To understand Him we need to understand humanity (Lecture 7: The Humanity of Jesus) 3. Understanding human need = understanding Jesus’ work, i.e. dealing with human sin

The Importance of the Doctrine of Humanity 2. Addresses crisis of human self-understanding Always a struggle – in every age e.g. existentialism Especially in midst of lost historical / cultural roots e.g. Bible defines our original roots

The Importance of the Doctrine of Humanity 3. Links Human Concerns with Biblical Revelation e.g. people don’t feel valuable Bible says God created them and called them good e.g. people are just drifting through life Bible says God created them for purpose e.g. people don’t know what they are here for Bible says they are made for God and relationship

The Importance of the Doctrine of Humanity 4. Defines humanity & its responses In a humanistic society it gives understanding and provides a norm for morality & ethics. Answers the questions: “What should we do?” “What is right?” “How should we treat these people?” “Why do I feel like this?”

The Importance of the Doctrine of Humanity 5. Affects how we minister Our concept of human beings and their destiny matters It needs to be truthful & wholistic

Images of Humanity 1. A machine 2. An Animal 3. A Sexual Being 4. An Economic Being 5. A Pawn of the Universe 6. A Free Being 7. A Social Being

The Christian View of Humanity Created By God In His Image What are the implications of that?

The Christian View of Humanity Intentionally created Purposefully created Relational Like He is To relate to Him To relate like Him (Trinity) Eternal Valuable

The Origin of Humanity 2 accounts in Genesis 1:26-27 In His image To be fruitful & multiply 2:7 … breathing His life in to Adam … 2:22 … creating Eve out of Adam’s life … Paul re “one man Adam” as significant to us... We derive from them – particularly in sin nature…

Humans and Creation 1. Created = no independent existence 2. Created = part of creation 3. Created as pinnacle of creation Not “according to their kind” But “in the image and likeness of God” 4. Shared origin & nature with rest of humanity 5. Whilst valuable – it is the Creator’s glory that is to be worshipped

Humans and Creation 6. As created – we are limited / finite Limitation is not inherently bad NOT the cause of sin 7. As created – we are not to aspire to be God In part the cause of Adam & Eve’s sin 8. As created – we are nonetheless – good We do not need to diminish for God to be greater!

Humanity in the Image of God Genesis 1:26-27 & Genesis 5:1 Should not kill another human made in the image of God (Genesis 9:6) 1 Corinthians 11:7 James 3:9 Becoming the image of God- Rom 8:29; 2 Cor 3:18; Eph 4:23-24; Col 3:10

Views on The Image of God 1. The Substantive View Also called The Structural View Concerns our nature or essence rational, moral, thinking, emotions, will, personality That which connects with God How is this truthful / helpful / limited / weak? Does not concern the physical (He is non-material)

Views on The Image of God 2. The Relational View Our ability to relate/ commune with God & people Brunner: we cannot be human by ourselves Barth: Vertical & Horizontal relationships Look to Christ not other humans! (Nonetheless recognise others as imaging God) Relational view is not static but dynamic Not something to think about but be and do! How is this truthful / helpful / limited / weak?

Views on The Image of God 3. The Functional View Concerned with what we do. E.g. exercise dominion – “let them rule” How is this truthful / helpful / limited / weak?

Views on The Image of God 4. The Dynamic View Concerned with who we are becoming… … post-Fall, in Christ Christ is the Image of Who we are to become: Col 1:15 2 Corinthians 3:18 Romans 8:29 Being brought in to relationship with God and each other – fully How is this truthful / helpful / limited / weak?

Human Constitution A. Trichotomism We are a trichotomy of body, soul & spirit B. Dichotomism We are a trichotomy of material & non-material Body & soul Esp. because spirit & soul used interchangeably C. Monism We are a radical unity. Synonymous not distinguishable parts. Self. Being body – no post-death experience.

Human Constitution D. Conditional Unity Unified persons – material & immaterial with multiple functions Whole person – interconnected & indivisible Jesus’ resurrection was physical / spiritual 1 Cor 15:1-11 We also will have a bodily resurrection Won’t be our natural body but a perfected spiritual body

Implications We belong to God We won’t know who we are till we know whose we are We should pattern ourselves after Jesus Whose humanity was never spoiled by sinning (Heb 4:15) We are being restored to His image by Him (2 Cor 3:18)