Thomas K M Supporter A retired Defence Scientist from Indian Defence R&D Orgn.

Creation of man by God was unique and different from other creation. All creation other than man was done by God through the Word. But the creation of man was in His own image and likeness.

At the time God made Earth and Heaven, before any grasses or shrubs had sprouted from the ground, God hadn't yet sent rain on Earth, nor was there anyone around to work the ground (the whole Earth was watered by underground springs) God formed Man out of dust from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The Man came alive—a living being. Man is a unique combination of earthly, natural material and life-giving power from God Himself. Such a mode of creation highlights the importance and value of human life.

Sometimes, it confuses the modern reader into thinking that there are two different creation accounts. No, there is only one. Practically God created heavens, earth and all animals and birds and God created man in spirit. Thereafter, God formed man from the dust with all chemical elements. 

God could have chosen to create humans in any form. However, Scripture records the particular way He did create, using both natural material (dust) and supernatural power to give humans a unique place in the cosmos. The recipe of dust of the earth plus God's breath emphasizes the supernatural power of God and the fragile nature of humanity. Human life is completely dependent upon God, and, as a result, humans are called to worship the Lord and to serve Him only.

The spirit given to man originated from God’s Spirit, and is the part of us that can correspond to God. We have the ability to relate to God. No animal can do that. It is designed to be the dwelling place of God. And in the beginning, it was. God dwelt in Adam’s spirit. We know that because the second Adam was made according to the pattern of the first Adam. Who was the second Adam? Yes, Jesus, and the Spirit of God dwelt in Jesus from his very birth. Therefore, this was also true of Adam. It was also true, therefore, that Adam did everything by the power of God. This is God’s provision and intention for man. When Adam needed to do something he would rely upon the power he found within himself, which was God. When Adam named the animals, the wisdom he employed was God’s wisdom. That is how he knew what each animal was like, and named it according to its attributes, which was a tremendous task. When man chose to disobey God, the Spirit of God left the spirit of man. He was left empty, still alive but on a different basis.

God’s creation of humans was different from anything else. He created one thing after another until He made something in which He could see His reflection. Humans alone were created in His image, sculpted by His hands, and animated by His breath of life.

If this is what God does because that is what he is, then when it says that we are created in the image of God, it means that we too have those capacities. It is true that this is where we differ from the animal kingdom. We create. Animals lack that ability to invent things. They cannot in their minds imagine or conceive of things that do not already exist that could exist, as man can do. Now we cannot create out of nothing, as God does. Out of pure energy, he brings things into being. We lack that power, but we can combine things that are and combine them in various ways to create this enormous complexity of technology that we now celebrate, particularly in Silicon Valley, and in other places. And we can invent, and that inventive quality is something animals do not have.

Man is made up of physical material, the body, that can be seen and touched. But he is also made up of immaterial aspects, which are intangible -- this includes the soul, spirit, intellect, will, emotions, conscience, and so forth. These immaterial characteristics exist beyond the physical lifespan of the human body and are therefore eternal.

December 24 2014 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Steve Nearman Supporter A sinner saved by grace. Fredericksburg, VA

I would say there are four.

1. Man has a soul. 
2. God sent His only son to the cross to redeem man's soul.
3. Man has freedom of choice, not just instinct.
4. Man has the ability to reason.

December 23 2014 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Billy P Eldred Supporter

Probably the fact that God said man was created in "our image". Meaning, I think, that man was created with a spirit apart from the body just as God is Spirit. 

I think this fact is what gives us a free will and makes us alone of all God's creation able to have a relationship with Him. Special indeed! 

In addition to this, God gave us the gift of intelligence and emotion that we might be able to recognise His creation and enjoy being a part of it!

December 23 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Salem Markus Purba Supporter

Well, Man was created by God in his own image (Genesis 1: 26-27) and was given authority to play a role as a ruler over all the earth, and over all the creatures that moves along the ground.

As an image of God, man is having a knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3: 22) and a covenant with God (2 Kings 11: 17-18) to become people of God and will not to worship other gods/Baal, but God alone.

God Himself emptied Himself and became a man (John 1:14) in order to save the world (John 3: 16-17), although God can become whoever He wants:" I AM WHO I AM " (Exodus 3: 14).

December 23 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Georg Kouz Supporter

Genesis 1:27
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:26
Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

Ephesians 4.24
and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness..

God created man with his own hands.
Exodus 2.7 Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

December 23 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report