enesis 1:24-27 ²⁴ And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. ²⁵ God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. ²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” ²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

1. Humans are clearly the highlight of God’s creation
2. Who is made in God’s image?
   1. All human-kind—common grace; Christians and non-Christians alike are made in his image
   2. Women are made in his image (in the past some have suggested otherwise)
   3. People of all races: white, black, Asian
   4. People of all beliefs, ethnicities, backgrounds—Muslims, Jews, Goths, Osama Bin Laden, Guys with leather, tattoos, and Harleys, George W. Bush, Barak Obama, Skinheads, Deadheads, etc.

III.   Who/What is Not Made in God’s Image?

1. 1. The rest of creation
   2. It’s good that you love your pets Rex and Snowflake, but remember that the annoying kid next door (or the orphan in Haiti) is more important in the eyes of God

IV.    What does it mean to be made in God’s image?

1. 1. Hebrew term for image: selem: term also used for idol
      1. representative in the physical form, but not representative of the physical form
      2. c.f. Genesis 5:1-3—Seth in the likeness of Adam
   2. 2 Elements based on Language and Context
      1. God has given us the capacity to be like him and therefore represent his character—Identity aspect
      2. God has given us the capacity to rule—functional aspect
         1. kings would set up their images (selem) in places where they want to establish their authority
   3. We, as the image bearers of God, have the capacity to reflect his attributes and act on his behalf

V.     So What?

1. 1. Don’t make the excuse for sin in that you are just following animal instincts
   2. Dignity for yourself—You are made in God’s image
   3. Dignity for others—white, black, Muslim, homosexuals, women, children, handicapped (both physical and mental), obese people, short people, the unborn (see Psalm 139:13-16), immigrants, the unemployed, bikers, people who work for BP, male models, vegans, ugly people, people with bad breath or AIDS—You don’t have to agree with their lifestyles, beliefs, or politics, but as a Christian you are called to show them dignity as human beings made in the image of God