(Genesis 1:26–2:7 — Rightly Divided)
There is something unique about man.
Not in his strength.
Not in his intelligence.
Not in his achievements.
But in this—
He was made in the image of God.
▪️“LET US MAKE MAN…” — THE GODHEAD REVEALED
The first hint is found in the very language of Scripture:
“Let us make man in our image…”
— Genesis 1:26 (KJV)
Not me—but us.
Not my—but our.
From the very beginning,
the Bible reveals plurality in the Godhead.
Father.
Son.
Holy Spirit.
Not three gods—
but one God in three Persons.
Even before the mystery was revealed through Paul,
the Godhead was already there—
seen… but not yet fully explained.
▪️WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE “IN HIS IMAGE”?
God is not flesh and bone.
He is not limited by form.
So the image of God in man
is not something you can see in a mirror.
It is inward.
It is unseen.
It is real.
Man was created with:
• A mind — to think, to reason, to understand
• A will — to choose, to respond, to decide
• Emotions — to feel, to love, to grieve
This is what sets man apart from the animal world.
Not just life—
But awareness.
Not just existence—
But accountability.
▪️BODY, SOUL, AND SPIRIT — HOW MAN FUNCTIONS
Scripture shows that man is more than physical.
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground…”
— Genesis 2:7 (KJV)
There is the body—formed from dust.
But then—
“…and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life…”
Now something happens.
Man becomes a living soul.
So we see three parts:
• Body — world-conscious (connects to the physical world)
• Soul — self-conscious (personality, identity, awareness)
• Spirit — God-conscious (capacity to know and respond to God)
And Scripture makes a distinction:
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful… and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
— Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)
The soul and spirit are not the same—
They work together,
but they are distinct.
▪️ADAM — THE HEAD OF THE HUMAN RACE
God gave Adam a position of authority.
Dominion over the earth.
Responsibility over creation.
Adam stood as the head of humanity—
What he did mattered
not just for himself…
But for all who would come after him.
“And so death passed upon all men…”
— Romans 5:12 (KJV)
When Adam fell—
we fell.
When he sinned—
sin entered the world.
▪️BUT GOD WAS NOT FINISHED
Here is the good news—
God had another Head in mind.
Not the first man, Adam—
But the last Adam.
“…the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:45 (KJV)
Where Adam brought death—
Christ brings life.
Where Adam failed—
Christ succeeded.
▪️TODAY — A NEW IDENTITY IN CHRIST
In this Dispensation of Grace,
God is not restoring Adam—
He is creating something new.
A new creature.
A new identity.
A new position in Christ.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature…”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
This is not about improving the old man—
It is about being placed into Christ.
▪️SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?
You were created in God’s image—
But more than that…
You can be recreated in Christ.
Not by works.
Not by religion.
Not by effort.
But by faith.
Christ died for your sins.
He was buried.
He rose again.
And the moment you believe—
You are made alive.
Complete.
Accepted.
His.
This is who you are.
Not just a body.
Not just a soul.
But a person designed by God—
and, in Christ,
made new.
