Gen 1:27- So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
One of the popular contentions of the trinitarians is the that the word “image” here refers to His inner “divine nature” and not the actual appearance. However, the word “be-sal-me-nu” used here translates to “image as on camera”.
And now, their other argument is that when God said “Let us make man in our own image”, it was a discussion among the 3 persons of the trinity. However, they do not seem to have an answer for:
Gen 1:27 “So God created man in his own image”.
The articulation used in the verse “Let us make man in our own image” is Majestic plural or Literary plural. The Kings and Sovereigns used plural to refer to themselves as a symbol of majesty and respect.
Hence, it is understood now that when God’s statement is used in Direct speech, Majestic plural is invoked.
On the other hand, when the author records the same statement, he uses the proper singular noun instead of majestic plural.
And coming back to the first argument, we see that God created man in His own image.
Now, if God is a Spirit, how did He create man in His image? A Spirit does not have an image or shape after all. Also, a Spirit is dimensionless: we cannot decide which is a Spirit’s “right hand side” or “left hand side” to argue who is seated at his right hand. And a Spirit cannot cast a Shadow (for us to hide under the shadow of his wings).
The Bible clearly says that Jesus is the beginning of all creation. He existed (in the spirit) before the earth and the hills were created. He existed long before the angels were created.
Ps 90:2- Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
John 1:1- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Col 1:15- Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Rev 3:14- And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.
The Bible very clearly says that God foreknew about creation and the eventual fall of man. God already knew that Adam and Eve would sin and bring on themselves the curse of sin and death. And God in His abundant love for us, also devised a master plan for our salvation. God planned the Salvation of mankind even before he created the world. That’s why the Bible says:
Rev 13:7,8- And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev 17:8- …and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Yes, the Lamb was slain before the foundation of the World, long before He created Adam and Eve. God already foreknew that He would be born in this world as Jesus to “save His people from their sins”. And because God had already planned how he would be born into this world, he said “Let us make man in our own image”.
Sonship foretold in the Old Testament:
The Bible says that after Death has been destroyed, the mission of Sonship would be accomplished, that “God may be all in all”.
Hence Sonship is just a mission role in God’s Salvation plan for mankind. The Bible is very clear that there is only one God, who was manifest in this world as Jesus Christ to save us from our sins. He will return again as “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev 19:16)
Zec 14:9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
அப்பொழுது கர்த்தர் பூமியின்மீதெங்கும் ராஜாவாயிருப்பார்; அந்நாளில் ஒரே கர்த்தர் இருப்பார், அவருடைய நாமமும் ஒன்றாயிருக்கும்.
Amen.