My short answer is yes. However, the explanation of why this is so requires an answer from the entire Bible, because superficially the answer seems to be no. This is especially the case if you limit your discussion to the history of Old Testament creation and alliances. For example, think about what Genesis 1-2 teaches us about the creation of man, woman, and marriage.
In Genesis 1, everything seems to focus on the creation of men and women on the sixth day (Genesis 1:26-31). That day, did God create man and woman?be your servant children, your kings and queens to rule creation, marry and have children. In fact, this is beautifully described in Genesis 2, where we are told that no appropriate help was found for Adam from the rest of creation, so God created Eve to complete it (Genesis 2:23). Eve’s creation then becomes the basis of the institution of marriage, which is the basis of human society (Gen 2:24), and the solution to prevent the destruction of society.
- Moreover.
- After the fall and until the end of this era.
- The order of creation continues in Noah’s covenant.
- Which includes marriage and family (Genesis 9:1-7).
- Even under the covenants of Abraham and Moses.
- The proposition is that human beings marry.
- Have children.
- And fulfill the mandate of creation.
- In fact.
- Not getting married and having children is considered abnormal.
- So if we stick to the Old Testament.
- It seems that single people can only see the true image of God in marriage.
But that would be a bad conclusion. Let me explain why in four steps.
Marriage is certainly an expression of what it means to be a bearer of the image, but as individuals we are created in the image of God, w w or not we are married; otherwise, from conception, we would not have the image of God. we do not return to God’s image until after our marriage, which is not the case, but it is better to point out that we were created for relationships, which is uniquely expressed in heterosexual marriage, but is not limited to it. as evidenced by single children from families and people living in communities.
After all, the glorious Trinitarian God of scripture is the most central person in the history of creation, and the purpose of our creation is to know and glorify Him God created us not only for others, however important they may be, but for his own glory. And for the covenant relationship with him, do we then realize the purpose of our creation in the relationship?first with God and then with us? Marriage is just one way to express human relationships.
Because? Because in Christ’s work, he fulfills the above covenants and reveals God’s ultimate goal for us. In this regard, consider Ephesians 5:21-33 in relation to marriage. By giving instructions for Christian marriages, Paul bases his teaching on Genesis 2:24 as one might expect, but then does something unexpected. He says that God created marriage to be a “mystery,” that is, a revelation of God’s final plan or plan, which has now been revealed at the coming of Christ.
For Paul, God wanted marriage to be a typological model for revealing something greater, namely Christ’s relationship with his church, which only makes sense if human marriage is not seen as an end in itself, but as a means to a greater end. In words, no matter how vital human marriage is, God did not want it to be permanent in his plan and, therefore, the only expression in his image, but he conceived marriage for many reasons, but more significantly to point out beyond, the greater and deeper relationship for which God created us, that is, to be in relationships in the church and as a church , be in a relationship with Christ.
First, Jesus teaches that, however important marriage is for this age, there is no marriage in full consummation (Mt 22:29-30). In other words, God wanted human marriage to be temporary for that age, but pointing to something. What is eternal, then, is not human marriage, but Christ’s relationship with the Church. If this is the case, then marriage cannot function as the only place where we see the image of God.
According to this truth, it also makes sense when Paul says that being single is a charismatic gift (1Co 7. 7, 25-40). In the Old Testament there is nothing like this teaching; but now that Christ has come, he has the new Creation began to be born and are the old structures of creation transformed, including marriage and family? Although this does not happen completely before consumption. In the church, the status of singleness should not be considered inferior or abnormal, because singles, along with couples, are part of what is permanent: the church. As God’s people, we live out the purpose of our creation and image by having relationships with each other and with Christ.
So can a single person be the image of God outside of marriage?The short, long answer is yes. In the scriptures, linked to God’s created order, human marriage is vitally important, but it is not permanent and is not the only place where humans can see the full image of God. If we’re married, our marriages must reflect all that. God has created for him to reflect; however, the conjugal relationship is not an end in itself, but the church, the church that is made up of singles and married people like God’s new humanity and the new creation. believers, and especially as members of the Church, are the image of God when they build relationships with each other and grow in their relationship with the God of the Trinity, centered on Christ Jesus, our Lord.