Genesis 1: 24-28; 31 “And God said, “Let the earth bring forth every living creature after his kind, cattle and creeping things: the beasts of earth after his kind, and it was so. 25. And God made the beasts of the earth after his kind, and saw that it was good. 26. And God said, “Let us make man after our likeness, and let him have dominion over fish of the sea, and over fowl of the air, over cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. 27. So God created man in His own image: in His image created He him; male and female He created them. 28. And God blessed them and said unto them, ” Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over fish in the sea, over fowl of the air, and over every living creature that moves on the earth”…31. And God saw everything He had made, and behold it was very good. And evening and morning were the sixth day.
Day by day God has progressively prepared for this eventful day when He would create man, His highest being. And God honored man by creating him in His image. Some might ask how that could be since each individual is different: for we’re told that even identical twins have different DNA’s, and the Bible tells us no individual has seen God; so how does man know how God looks?
Let me try to answer that by saying the reference to man’s being created in God’s image does not mean God’s physical appearance, if He has a physical appearance, but each man is like God in that he/she is a spiritual being. After God formed the first man, He breathed into him and he became a living soul.
No one ever has seen God: His only begotten Son Jesus has declared Him. But two facts are clear: though God is Spirit, some physical characteristics are attributed to Him in the Bible and other writings. Also God has revealed Himself to mankind as male by such terms as Father, His, and Him. Also He has mind and exhibits intellect, and emotions.
In some Biblical materials we find physical attributes used about God: and they are too numerous to list here, but ten are His Omniscience, His knowledge of everything; His Omnipotence, or control over everything; His Omnipresence; or presence at all times in all places; His immutability, His ability of never changing: for He is the same today, yesterday, and forever.
His holiness is mentioned many times in the Bible. Righteousness is another attribute of God and since He is holy, He is righteous. And God is sovereign, which makes him capable of ruling heaven and earth, but He created man ability to make choices. Love is an attribute of God which includes His mercy, grace, and loving kindness. In fact in 1 John 1: 4, we’re told God is love. And since God is merciful He does not give us what we deserve.
And when we read of the Trinity in the Bible, It’s One entity with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and God is the first person of the Trinity.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive my inability to adequately list and describe all Your awesome characteristics and amazing attributes. Please forgive any errors, and I thank You and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
