The confusion in the minds of many about God is in the failure of Man. Men don’t have much questions for God when everything seems to go on well, but questions arise when there are difficulties and failures in the dealings of Man. Well, the question that was ever raised in the Scriptures is not who is God. It is also not where does he live but rather, “What is Man?”
When this question is rightly answered, the confusion of man be settled. Let’s do a proper investigation about this subject. Note: In Bible interpretation there are certain principles that one must follow; you can’t explain the bible outside the Bible. Everything must be explained from the bible(context is key). No thought must come from outside the Bible. Also note that the Old testament writings are not self-explanatory. The New testament explains the Old testament.
Genesis 1:26 NKJV
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
This text of scripture have been taken from a literal point of view. People assume that when God said “Let us make Man in our own image” that was fulfilled in the creation of Adam.
Quick one, the word Image means ‘phantom’ which means a ghostly appearance or to say something which is not there but it’s there. (Metaphorical in that sense).
This particular portion of scripture was more of a prophecy than a literal statement. This is to say, it was not fulfilled in Adam or in the creation of Adam. Note that we have already established that the Old Testament writings are not self-explanatory. In Bible interpretation to understand this text, you need to refer to other parts of scriptures where this text was referred to. Now this text appeared in Psalm 8:4.
Psalm 8:4-6 NKJV
What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,
Peter explained to us what the Old Testament Prophets did. He says:
1 Peter 1:10 NKJV
Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,
They made enquiries that’s they searched. So the Prophet David also in His enquiry asked the question “What is Man” and referred to Genesis. He added some details which means their knowledge was progressive.
Why did that question arise? The epistles has the answer to that.. The writer of Hebrews gives us the explanation.
Hebrews 2:6-9 NKJV
But one testified in a certain place, saying: “What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
You notice the writer of Hebrews made a statement saying, we do not see all things put under Man which is to say the statement in Genesis 1;26 had not yet been fulfilled. And then he says, but we see Jesus who was made a little lower than Angels, crowned with glory and honor. What’s your tell us that Jesus is the fulfillment of Genesis 1:26.
That statement as recorded was in the mind of God which we refer to us “Logos” in the Greek. Which means “something that precedes speech”. That’s what God thought before he made that statement in Genesis 1;26, which is to say His intentions.
Let’s see what John says
John 1:1-4 NKJV
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
John explains and says In the beginning was the WORD. “Logos” is what is translated as the WORD. So we can rewrite John 1:1 to look like this.. “In the beginning was God’s intention or thought and that thought was with God and that thought was God himself.
The phrase “the WORD was with God” means that the thought had not yet been known or manifest or understood.
He later personifies the word as “Him”.. all things were made through HIM, and without HIM nothing was made that was made. In HIM was life, and the life was the light of men.
John 1:14, now says : ” The word was made flesh and made his dwelling among Man. Which can now be understood in this way -that God’s thought became Manifest or was made known and that thought was Christ Jesus(God’s man) or God’s idea of Man.
So in the quest of the Prophets to search for man they found God. We will notice in the Bible that the word “Image” seen in Genesis was not used for Adam but rather in multiple places, emphasizing the law of double mention: The word “image” was used for Jesus.
Let’s see them
Colossians 1:15-18 NKJV
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
He’s the image. Exact image. He’s uses a definite article.
Colossians 2:9 NKJV
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
Fullness of, that’s the weight of God is Him. The weight of God is that which is translated as the glory of God. (Ref: John 1:18).
1 John 1:2 NKJV
the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—
His life is the Father manifested.
Hebrews 1:3-4 NKJV
who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
He’s the express image. and has become better than the Angels. Better in the biblical language and context means.. He has an eternal nature or features. (That we shall talk about later).
From the text read. We can see plainly that God’s idea of Man is Jesus Christ. That’s why Ephesians 2:10 says
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them”.
God’s man is created for good works. What we can say in conclusion is this:
The phrase God in Man reveals God’s man. The Man in the image of God.
Paul says
1 Corinthians 2:16 NKJV
For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
We have the mind of Christ.
The phrase mind of Christ means “the understanding of Christ”. And Christ is the understanding of God or better still the wisdom (Ref: 1 Corinthians 1:30)
God is the understanding of Man. Man search for God will result in the knowledge of Man himself. God is the understanding man must carry.
God in Man is the Man Christ. Man is only understood/known in Christ.
In much clearer view
“Knowing God is knowing Man. God is the understanding of Man. The search is actually not man trying to know God but Man trying to understand or know Himself IN God.
Hope it’s clear?
Reign in life. Amen. Be blessed. Jesus is Lord, win.
Victor Bauchi of (RJCM)
0268455560
Revealing Jesus Christ Missions.