The first thing the bible tells us about ourselves is that we were made in the image of God.
"Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;male and female he created them." Genesis 1.26-27
Here we learn a great deal about ourselves. Humans Beings were made intelligent, creative, moral, capable, relational etc. Unlike animals we were created with an ability to communicate rationally and emotionally. Of course this image was marred through sin. But in Christ, the image of God is restored in us.
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5.17
Being made in God’s image gives us a sense of dignity. Knowing that we are like Him creates in
us an image of value.
dignitas
= worth
To be made in the image of God means to have a sense of value, of self-worth, of self-esteem, of self-respect. It means to have a good self-image.
Dignity also means beauty.
The word translated “good” in Genesis 1 can also mean “beautiful”.
Through sin however this self-worth was lost and replaced with a sense
of shame.
“Then the man and his wife heard the
sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day,
and they hid from the Lord God amongst the trees.” Genesis 3.8
There was no longer a feeling of dignity. But the Good News is in Christ this sense of dignity is restored. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." 2 Corinthians 5.17. We are now “new creations” all that God originally intended is beginning to be restored. “We are Gods workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2.10
In the Old Testament the garments of the high priest were to give them dignity and honour. "And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty." Exodus 28.2; In the New Testament reference with regard to restoration of dignity is John 8.1-11 "but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
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