Man in God's Image
S. Martin. Genesis 1:26-27 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea… The small can represent the great. Is not the sun reflected in the hues of the smallest flower, and in the greenness of the finest blade of grass? Yet that sun is distant from our earth ninety-five millions of miles, and is larger than our earth one hundred thousand times. I. IN WHAT THE IMAGE OF GOD UPON MAN CONSISTS. 1. In the possession of moral powers and susceptibilities. 2. In the pure and righteous state of his whole nature. 3. In his relative position toward other terrestrial creatures. II. GREAT BLESSEDNESS WAS INVOLVED IN THE POSSESSION OF GOD'S IMAGE. 1. In the possession of the Divine image human nature had within itself a mirror of God. 2. It led to fellowship with, God. 3. It was a mirror of God to other creatures. 4. It was a mirror in which God saw Himself.In this was involved — (1) Supreme good to man himself. (2) High satisfaction and glory to God.Reflections: 1. How sadly changed is human nature. 2. How elevated is the Christian. 3. How blessed is God. (S. Martin.) Parallel Verses KJV: And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. WEB: God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."