This time we are looking at two topics. In the topic of the creation of man on the sixth day to govern and manage the earth, we see that man was created in the image and likeness of the Triune God. We note that image and likeness are two different words, and confusing them will inevitably lead to logical errors. The Bible mentions that man’s image will be tainted and changed by the entry of sin, but likeness will not be tainted. We have discussed image and likeness in detail. We also discussed God’s original plan and the situation after it was tainted by sin. In the topic of God resting from His work of creation on the seventh day and blessing the Sabbath, we see that God has indeed rested from His work of creation, but the Triune God is still working for salvation today, because He wants all people to be saved and to know the truth. We also mentioned the creation of the Sabbath and its true meaning.
1. Creation of man on the sixth day to govern and manage the earth
“Then God (H430, plural) said, “Let Us make (H6213) man in Our image (H6754), according to Our likeness (H1823); and let them rule (dominion, H7287) over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created (H1254) man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so. God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”(Genesis 1:26-31)
We should first notice that the word God is used in the plural, referring to the Triune God. The original text of the Strong’s Concordance does not have these words ‘our,’ but it is used in the plural, so it is obviously ‘our.’ Then we notice that image (H6754) and likeness (H1823) are two different words. If we confuse the two, it will definitely lead to logical errors. The word image appears 17 times and its meaning can be seen from the verse, “then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their figured stones, and destroy all their molten images (H6754) and demolish all their high places.”(Numbers 33:52) In addition to the outward appearance of idols – molten images, the main thing about them is the power of Satan behind them. So when God created man in their image, it did not mean that they looked like humans, with a nose, two ears, etc. The image here refers to the spiritual image.
There are many scriptures about the image of the Triune God. For example, God is holy. The Bible says, “For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.”(Leviticus 11:45) He has absolute sovereignty, ““I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. …”(Isaiah 45:5) And it is said, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You.”(Psalm 89:14) The church often talks about God’s love, which everyone likes to hear, but rarely mentions the righteousness of God, which many people do not like.
In the New Testament era, God’s righteousness was indeed fulfilled because Jesus died on the cross on our behalf. Doesn’t the scripture say so? “whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”(Romans 3:25-26) And again here, “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”(Romans 6:4) Also, “And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door; …”(Luke 13:23-24) How can one enter through the narrow gate without a newness of life? “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”(Hebrews 3:13) Don’t wait until the great white throne judgment mentioned in the Book of Revelation (see Revelation 20:11-15), when the Triune God will reveal His righteousness, it will be too late.
The Holy Spirit also has absolute sovereignty. “But one and the same Spirit works all these things (gifts), distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”(1 Corinthians 12:11) Jesus’ image is the image of the Father, because “Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”(John 14:9) In the Old Testament era, no one could see the face of Jehovah and live. Jehovah said very clearly to Moses, “…You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”(Exodus 33:20) The New Testament era is different. People at that time could see Jesus. There are many verses about images of Jesus. Let us give two examples. One is, “…I am gentle and humble in heart, …”(Matthew 11:29) The other is, “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.””(John 8:12)
As for the word likeness (H1823), it appears 25 times and its meaning can be seen from this verse, “Now King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw the altar which was at Damascus; and King Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the pattern (H1823) of the altar and its model, according to all its workmanship.”(2 Kings 16:10) Let us look at the following verses: “Within it there were figures (H1823) resembling four living beings. And this was their appearance: they had human form (H1823).”(Ezekiel 1:5) “As for the form (H1823) of their faces, each had the face of a man; all four had the face of a lion on the right and the face of a bull on the left, and all four had the face of an eagle.”(Ezekiel 1:10) In other words, the meaning of this word is like when we say that a table basically has four legs, although the shape of the tabletop may be different, such as rectangular, oval, etc.
When the Old Testament says, “This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness (H1823) of God.”(Genesis 5:1) Therefore, the likeness of man is the likeness of the Triune God. The Bible does not explicitly state what the likeness of God is, but the New Testament clearly states what the likeness of man is. First of all, we notice that the New Testament is written in Greek, so the words used are different, namely G1504 for image and G3667 for likeness, but the meaning is the same as the corresponding words in the Old Testament, so we will not elaborate on them.
Let us ask what is the likeness of man? As the Bible clearly states, man is composed of three parts: spirit, soul and body, which is the so-called tripartite theory. It is said, “…may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”(1 Thessalonians 5:23) The dichotomy says that the soul and the spirit are inseparable, but this contradicts what the Bible says, because “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”(Hebrews 4:12) If you read the Old and New Testaments together, you can see that when a person dies, the spirit leaves first, followed by the soul. After the soul leaves, the person dies. Therefore, we can be sure that the three-part division is correct.
Regarding human death, let us first look at the Old Testament, “It came about as her (Rachel’s) soul was departing (for she died), …”(Genesis 35:18) So the soul departed and the body died. Let’s look at the New Testament then, “Now they were all weeping and lamenting for her (Jairus’ daughter); but He (Jesus) said, “Stop weeping, for she has not died, but is asleep.””(Luke 8:52) Let us look further, “And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately; …”(Luke 8:55) Please note that the word “spirit” is used here. The old spirit returns to the person and can maintain life, but the soul is still in the body, so Jesus would say that she is asleep. So when a person dies, the spirit leaves first, then the soul. When the soul leaves, the body dies!
We note that the image and likeness of the Triune God already existed, and man was created in the image and likeness of that existing God, so the word made (H6213) is used first. Because the likeness is fixed, “God created man in His own image (H6754), in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”(Genesis 1:27) So man was created out of nothing, so the word creation (H1254) is used here as well.
So this is the original image of man, created in the image of God. For example, God has absolute sovereignty and of course has free will, so humans also have free will and can choose to disobey God and sin, and eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. As recorded in the Old Testament, “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 desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband (with her), and he ate.”(Genesis 3:6) Doesn’t the New Testament also clearly state, “Therefore, just as through one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death through sin, …”(Romans 5:12) So the image can be changed by the stain of sin.
We have just said that the likeness is fixed. Let’s see what the Bible says about the fact that the likeness cannot be tainted by sin. First, Jesus “…emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”(Philippians 2:7) So Jesus is like us. Let’s look at the word God again. It is used in the plural, referring to the fact that the three persons of the Trinity together form the likeness of God. The Holy Spirit is pure spirit, and it is true that Jehovah is a spirit. But Jehovah said to Moses, “…“Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.””(Exodus 33:21-23) Therefore, Jehovah also has a body, both spirit and body. Because man was created in the likeness of the Triune God, Jesus, in addition to having a spirit and a body, must also have a soul, so that He can have a likeness comparable to that of a man, because the likeness of a man is likeness of Jesus when He became flesh, which is also the likeness of the Triune God.
Let us look at the fact that He and we have different images: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.”(Matthew 1:18) So He started out sinless. However, He took on human likeness, and during the period of His incarnation, He was a complete man who could sin like humans, but He was completely obedient to God, as He said, “…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. …”(John 14:31) So “…we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”(Hebrews 4:15) So His image has never been tainted by sin. If likeness can be tainted, Jesus had likeness tainted by sin. If this were the case, then Jesus had flaws and could not have “…through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, …”(Hebrews 9:14) Therefore, the likeness cannot be tainted by sin. Only the image was tainted when Adam sinned.
As for our image, the Bible clearly states, “When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.”(Genesis 5:3) At that time Adam had already sinned, so Seth was sinful. It is indeed a bit like heredity. We are all descendants of Adam, so we are all sinful like Seth. No one is a Christian from birth. It takes a period of time. Because we already have the same undefiled likeness as Jesus, thus it is consistent with what Paul said, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.”(Romans 8:29) We need to be conformed to His image only, because we already have His likeness. From this, we also see another example of “what God tells us through the Bible is consistent.”
We see that God’s original intention was for man to fill (H4390) the earth. This word appears 16 times in the Book of Genesis. A typical passage is,
“Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with (H4390) violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.”(Genesis 6:13) So the Chinese Union Version isn’t translated correctly, since it is just a repetition of God’s blessing, “…Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, …”(Genesis 1:28) In addition, those who are not defiled by sin are also given authority to rule, that is, ““You have made him for a little while lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And have appointed him over the works of Your hands; You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” …”(Hebrews 2:7-8) “…But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, …”(Hebrews 2:8-9)
After man was defiled by sin, “…the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope.”(Romans 8:20) They still have hope, ” that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.”(Romans 8:21-23) This is what Paul said, “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”(1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
As soon as we believe, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. “…do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, …”(1 Corinthians 6:19) So at that time our spirit was already saved with a new spirit, just as the scripture says, “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”(Ezekiel 36:26-27) What we can do in this life is to be conformed to the image of Jesus (see Romans 8:29) and obtain the salvation of our souls, which is what Peter said, “obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”(1 Peter 1:9)
Finally, we also see that before people were tainted by sin, they were all vegetarians. Please note that only humans can eat the fruit. This is related to the command God gave to Adam. We will discuss this command later. Notice also that it was not until after the Flood that God said to Noah and his sons, “Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant.”(Genesis 9:3) At that time, people began to eat meat.
2. On the seventh day God rested from His work of creation and blessed the Sabbath
“Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created (H1254)and made (H6213).”(Genesis 2:1-3)
Please note that the Union Version uses the word ‘create’ to cover the two original words in the Strong’s Concordance, because we have shared that some of the world today is created (H1254) and some is made (H6213). So God had indeed completed all of His work of creation at that time, and “Then the LORD God took the man (Adam) and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate (H5647) it and keep (H8104) it.”(Genesis 2:15) So God gave everything He created to Adam (man), and he continued God’s work to repair and guard it. And “Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, …”(Genesis 2:19-20) In the beginning, Adam was created in the image of God and was very powerful. Who can do the same now?
Regarding the Sabbath, it is said in the Book of Exodus, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.”(Exodus 20:8-11) It is just that it is more important to pay attention to the true meaning of keeping the Sabbath rather than just observing the time prescribed by the law. This is made clear in the Book of Isaiah, ““If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot From doing your own pleasure on My holy day, And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, And honor it, desisting from your own ways, From seeking your own pleasure And speaking your own word, Then you will take delight in the LORD,…”(Isaiah 58:13-14) Jesus did just that in the New Testament, “And He said to them, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.””(Matthew 12:11-12) and “…the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”(Matthew 12:8)
Paul made it very clear in Romans 8:29 that we should be conformed to the image of Jesus. Here we can clearly see that Jesus gave us an example. What we should observe on the Sabbath is the true meaning, not the literal law. Therefore, “For truly I (Jesus) say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”(Matthew 5:18) This refers to the true meaning of the Law. Paul also said, “And do not be conformed (G4964) to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”(Romans 12:2)
Some people say that Jehovah has not rested! Doesn’t the New Testament say, “But He answered them (the Jews), “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.””(John 5:17) Yes, it does say that there was rest from the work of creation, but because of Adam’s disobedience to God, sin entered the world through him, and the plan of salvation began in a prophetic way, so Jesus was referring to the Triune God still working for salvation today. That is what Paul said, “…God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”(1 Timothy 2:3-4) We should really be grateful, because this gives us the opportunity to receive complete salvation and to have our lives completely changed.
(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)
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