What Does Genesis 1:27 Mean?

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Genesis 1:27(NASB)

Verse of the Day

The creation of man on the sixth day was the crowning point of God's creation "In the beginning" for man was made in the image and likeness of God, and everything that He had made was good - very good.

Man was made in God's image for a reason. Man was created by God to have dominion over the whole earth, over the fish of the sea, the fowl of the air, and all animals and creeping things that moved on the face of the earth... ALL that had in them the "breath of life."

And God called the man "Adam" and he was designed to be the sovereign ruler of the earth in willing subjection to the universal sovereignty and all-inclusive rulership of God, the uncreated, eternal, infinite, almighty, omniscient Creator of everything.

The triune Godhead was implied in the previous verse when God said let US make man in OUR (plural) image, and yet we know that the Lord our God is ONE God, which is demonstrated in the following verse where we read: "So God created man in HIS own image, in the image of God HE created him; male and female HE (singular) created them. And God blessed them."

The mystery of the Triune Godhead is then beautifully echoed in the way God created Adam and Eve, which was distinct from all other forms of life. He created Adam and his wife as ONE being, one unity, one person, one life, united in spirit, bonded in soul, and becoming one in body. Male and female He created them, and God called THEM "Adam."

Once Adam the single man had named all the animals and fish and birds and creeping things, God did a wonderful thing. Once Adam had called every kind of creature by name, the male with his mate, God constructed Eve, bone of Adam's bone and flesh of Adam's flesh, and they were knit together in a God-orchestrated, loving marriage union: "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh."

What a beautiful picture of our own, heavenly Man, the last Adam, the second Man, our dear Lord Jesus Christ, for we are one with Him, united with Him, a very member of His Body, bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh. What a glorious image of our own precious Bridegroom Who birthed His own precious Bride from His pierced and wounded side.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, what a great Creator God You are and what a precious Saviour we have in Christ Jesus, our own perfect Man. Thank You that just as Adam was created in Your image and likeness, I too have been recreated, born again, and united with Jesus. Thank You that in Your grace, You made me a new creation in Christ, united me with Him, and seated me together with Him in the heavenly realms. To You be all praise and glory, world without end, AMEN.

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