從聖經的頭兩章，我們瞭解到這世界和其中所有是如何生成的。我們全能的上帝從無中創造出萬有。祂言語一發出，事就成就。而祂所有奇妙的創造皆「甚好」（創1：31）

        人類是上帝創造之工的極致和高潮。只有在創造第一個男人和女人時可看出上帝的心意，因祂宣告了人類的尊嚴、崇高的地位和重要性（創1：26）。雖然所有的走獸和飛鳥都是用土造成的（創2：9），但上帝只有在人的鼻孔裡吹入生氣（創2：7）。所以人類具有上帝的形像。是什麼形像呢﹖肉體上的相似嗎﹖當然不是，因為上帝是靈，不像人有肉體的成分。

        （1）那是一種心智上的相似。上帝賦予人類理性、良心、和意志的恩賜，使他成為一個自由人。

        （2）道德上的相似。亞當和夏娃被造有公義和聖潔，所以他們能與上帝相交。這種無罪的道德上的相似在亞當和夏娃運用他們的自由意志而落入罪中時就喪失了。從那時起，人類也失落了聖潔和公義的天性。現在，我們生來就有罪性，但藉著信靠耶穌基督，我們便得以恢復原有的上帝的形像（羅3：21~24；西3：10；弗4：23、24）。這就叫做屬靈的重生，或成聖的過程。

        （3）社交性相似。上帝有社交的天性，祂創造人與祂相交。上帝也給人社交的天性，所以人會尋求也需要團契和愛。最完滿的交情是我們與上帝之間的團契。上帝愛你，祂希望你也愛祂，並且每天在禱告裡與祂靈交。

        （4）統治身分的相似。人類與上帝相似，有一部分至少在他被造來管理世界足以印證。上帝主宰一切，祂的旨意也是要人來分享祂的統治權。

        按著上帝的形像被造是何等光榮，那應使我們想要歸榮耀與我們的造物主。每個人的生命都十分重要也值得尊敬。你對上帝而言是重要的，祂差遣祂的兒子耶穌來到世上，好使你藉著祂可以得救、得恢復、並與祂相交。

        親愛的主，願您在我們的生活中得榮耀。謝謝您賜下救恩、恢復、和與您相交的關係。主啊，改變我們，使我們「榮上加榮」直到我們變成您的形狀（林後3：18）。奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

English

        In these first two chapters of the Bible, we come to understand how the world and all that is in it came into being. Our all powerful God created everything there is out of nothing. He merely spoke the word and it was. In fact, all His marvelous creation was found to be “very Good” (Gen. 1:31)

        Mankind was the grande finale, the crown and climax of His creation. Only with the creation of the first man and woman did there proceed a divine counsel and an announcement showing the dignity, high position, and importance of mankind (Gen. 1:26). Although all the animals and birds were formed out of the ground (Gen. 2:9), it was only man into whose nostrils God breathed the breath of life (Gen. 2:7). Thus the human race was made in the image of God. What kind of image was this? Was it a physical likeness? Most certainly not, for God is Spirit and does not have physical parts like a man.

        (1) It was a mental likeness. God endowed mankind with the gift of reason, conscience, and will, making him a free agent.

        (2) It was a moral likeness. Adam and Eve were made righteous and holy and were therefore able to have communion with God. This moral likeness of sinlessness was lost when Adam and Eve exercised their free will and fell into sin. From then on, mankind suffered the loss of a holy and righteous nature. We are now born with a sinful nature, but through faith in Jesus Christ, we can be renewed to this original likeness of God (Romans 3:21-24); Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:23, 24). This is called spiritual regeneration or the process of sanctification.

        (3) It was a social likeness. God has a social nature, and He created people to have fellowship with Him. God gave them a social nature as will; consequently, human beings seek for and need fellowship and love. The most fulfilling fellowship is that which we have with God. God loves you and desires that you would love Him and daily commune with Him in prayer.

        (4)It was a ruler ship likeness. Mankind has a similarity to God at least partially fulfilled in his having been created to rule over the earth. Just as God is sovereign over all, man was intended to share in this dominion by God’s will.

        What an honor it is to be made in the image of God. It should make us desire to bring glory to our Maker. Each human life is very important and worthy of respect. You are important to God and He sent His Son Jesus into the world so that through Him you might be saved, restored, and brought into communion together.

        Lord, be glorified in our lives. Thank You for salvation restoration and communion. Change us, Lord, from “glory to glory” until we are conformed to Your image. (2 Corinthians 3:18)