Genesis 1:26 - Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in

the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.

 

Introduction

As with God's other creative pronouncements, the Father told Jesus, His master craftsman, to "let". On Day 3, He let the water and the land. On Day 4, He let the lights. On Day 5, He let the water and the birds. On Day 6, He let God.

 

"Let us make mankind

in our image, in our likeness..."

-- Genesis 1:26

 

It was God's desire that mankind be in His image. But what did He mean, and what were the barriers? What did Jesus do that allowed His Father to make mankind be in His triune image?

 

A Command for Righteousness; a Command to be Just

Genesis 1:26 describes God's motivation: that mankind rule over the sea, birds, livestock, wild animals, and all creatures on the ground. This requires a level of awareness that animals cannot achieve. It is similar to God's rulership over us.

 

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.

-- Psalm 89:14a

 

Rightousness and justice are the qualities through which God rules us. They are scripturally synonomous when speaking of God; not very synonoumous when speaking of mankind. We can emulate rightouesness, but we do not naturally possess it.

 

What is God's Righteousness?

When we die, God will judge us. Most envision this to be a judgement of how much right we did versus how much wrong. However, some people repent of their evil and die soon after. What of them? Others live selfless lives only to conclude that it was all for nothing. What of them? How can God be just if there is no acknowledgement of such change? Israel struggled with this, accusing God of not being just, and God answered them.

 

18 If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, he will die for it.

19 And if a wicked man turns away from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live by doing so.

20 Yet, O house of Israel, you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But I will judge each of you according to his own ways.”

-- Ezekiel 33:18-20

 

There is an ultimate justice that God will hand out to every person after they die, and His justice will not be a simplistic weighing of their deeds. He will use everything He knows of that person's heart, and take into account exactly who they were when they died. It is a justice, a righteousness, that no human has the knowledge to excercise or possess. But, if righteous justice is the image of God, and He wants us living in that image, how do we?

 

What is Human Righteousness?

According to scripture, God is righteous because He is just, but it takes God's perspective to be just. No mere person is, and so no mere person can be righteous on his own. Still, God is willing to see us as righteous.

 

For a person to be considered righteous by God, he must believe God when He speaks (Genesis 15:6) and obey Him when He commands (Deuteronomy 6:25). God will then credit that person with righteousness. It is that simple, and it is that complicated. Believing God does not make you just, but He will call you righteous [emphasis added]...

 

6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

-- Genesis 15:6

 

22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

-- Romans 3:22

 

Similarly, obeying God does not make you just, but it demonstrates the righteousness God has credited you with [emphasis added]...

 

25 And if we are careful to obey all this law before the LORD our God,

as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.

-- Deuteronomy 6:25

 

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

-- James 2:18

 

Based on the scripture's definition of the righteousness God has for you, you cannot be righteous as God is righteous... but you can allow His image to show through you. You do this through belief and obedience [emphasis added]...

 

21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.

-- James 2:21-22

 

Abram's belief was made complete by his obedience.

 

Our Ability to Believe and Obey

Whether you read the Old Testament or the New, God's formulation for human righteousness depends on our being created in His image. Believe God and obey Him; have faith in Jesus and do not sin. Only someone created in God's image can do these things. No mere animal can believe God. No mere primate can obey Him. It was the transition from mere animal to intelligent spiritual being that God was telling Jesus to allow. Jesus believed, and obeyed.