“The Blessings of Sonship” No. 2 by Rev. Toru Asai

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground (Gen 1:26)."

When you read the whole chapter of Genesis 1 from the beginning, you get a sense that the world was created for humans who were created at the last. In fact, God said, "… and let them ruler over the fish of the seas, … over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground," and it indicates that he had planed and prepared everything so that humans could rule over what he had created. And this leads us to the idea that we humans are the heirs of the world. This does not mean, however, that we can rule over the world selfishly, not according to God's will. Needless to say, such a self-seeking and dictatorial manner of ruling is a sin, and this ownership by humans assumes that the world is without sin.

More importantly, the Bible also says that the world and everything in it were initially created by and for God the Son, the first image of the invisible God.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Col 1:15-17).

Note the expression "the image of the invisible God," which the Son was at the beginning, before anything was created, and definitely before he was born as a human, a descendant of Adam in the New Testament time. He is the head of humans, and in him, we exist as sons of God. The expression, "the image of God," signifies sonship with God being the Father.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves (Eph 1:3-6).

Note the expression, "he chose us." In the Bible, the one chosen belongs to the one who chooses. Then, note the expression, "he predestined us to be adopted as his sons." Because we were created, in order to be the sons of the Creator, we needed to be adopted. This adoption was planned and purposed before the creation of the world. In the same way, Israel was chosen, and adopted as God's own possession.

Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites (Exod 19:5-6).

Note the expression, "my treasured possession" (lit. "(a) treasure belonging to me"). The noun in Hebrew is segullah, and it is always used referring to Israel except once. The idea is that Israel was chosen in God's love, and became "treasure" to him. See, for instance, the following passage:

The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession (segullah). The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, … But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you … (Deut 7:6-8).