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Made in the Image of God: The Foundation of Human Dignity
Contending for the Word Q&AEpisode Summary
Human dignity is not earned through intelligence, ability, achievement, status, or usefulness. It is given by God.In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins explains what it means to be made in the image of God and why this foundational biblical truth matters for every area of human identity and dignity.Drawing from Genesis 1:26–27, Dave considers how humanity was created to reflect God, represent His character, relate to Him, and live under His authority. Every person possesses inherent value because every person has been made by God in His image.Sin has affected humanity, but it has not erased the image of God. Through the saving and renewing work of Christ, believers are being restored to reflect God more clearly. This truth shapes how Christians understand their own value, treat others with dignity, and reject cultural ideas that reduce human worth to performance, usefulness, or identity labels.Listen
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Episode Highlights
- Every human being possesses inherent value because every person is made in the image of God.
- Human dignity is given by God rather than earned through intelligence, ability, success, or status.
- Humanity was created to reflect God, represent Him, relate to Him, and live under His authority.
- Sin has distorted humanity, but it has not erased the image of God.
- Rejecting the image of God makes human value unstable and often leads to injustice and dehumanization.
- Through Christ, believers are being renewed to reflect God’s character more clearly.
- Christians should recognize their God-given value and treat every person with dignity.
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Contending for the Word Q&A provides clear, biblical answers to important theological, cultural, and worldview questions. Each episode is designed to help Christians grow in discernment, think according to Scripture, and stand firm in the truth of God’s Word. Explore More Contending for the Word Q&A Episodes Watch the Contending for the Word Q&A Playlist on YouTube
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.
Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.
He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).
You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.
When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.
Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
