Man Created in the Image of God

“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image: in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:26-27)

Humans have a special place and role in God’s creation. While God cares for, provides, and protects the plants and animals of His creation (Matthew 6:26-30; Luke 12:24-28), not one of them is said to be created in the image of God. However, God made you and me in His own image. This is both an inspiring and yet perplexing thought. What an honor it is to be made in God’s image. It is very encouraging and motivating to live for the One who has made us like Him. On the other hand, how are we in God’s image? What has God given to us that is like Him?

There are three distinct Biblical areas to address when considering the image of God. (1) Man is created in the image of God. (2) Christ is the express image of God. (3) Christians are to be conformed to the image of God. Our intent is to consider these three areas in the next three articles.

The first area then is man created in the image of God. This is taught in various places in the Bible. Along with the above-mentioned Genesis 1:26-27, examples include: “… In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God.” (Genesis 5:1) “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed. For in the image of God He made man.” (Genesis 9:6)

“For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God….”

(I Corinthians 11:7) Speaking of the tongue we read, “With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.” (James 3:9)

While it is a Biblical truth that we are created in the image of God, it is more difficult to grasp exactly what this means. Two guiding principles to help in understanding this involve dominion and relationship. God gave man dominion (or rule) over all living things of the earth (Genesis 1:28). Humans are also unique in creation in our capacity to have a special relationship with the Creator. It seems to be a result of being created in the image of God that we (humans) have dominion over the creation and a relationship with the Creator.

How are we as humans set apart from and above the rest of creation, while also bearing a likeness to God? Let’s consider two possibilities. The first is an immortal soul and spirit God has placed within each person. “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). The prophet Zechariah describes the LORD by saying, who ‘forms the spirit of man within him’ (Zechariah 12:1). In creation, God connected man to the earthly by forming us from the dust of the ground, while also connecting us to the heavenly by forming a spirit within us. This link is further seen in death as described in Ecclesiastes 12:7, “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” No other part of God’s creation has a soul or spirit. It is humans alone who are spiritual. Therefore, this spiritual component of man - our spirit and soul - may be the most significant way we are created in the image of God.

A second and closely related way we are formed in the likeness of God is that humans are religiously inclined. Throughout history and including nearly all civilizations, men and women have attempted to worship a higher Being - whether the true God or their own gods. As God planted a spirit in man, it seems to be a general principle that He also imprinted that spirit with a desire to commune with and worship Him. We find an example of this in the Scriptures when Paul wrote of the Gentiles, “For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, … who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness…” (Romans 2:14-15). These Gentiles had also been created in the image of God. This had included imprinting His law on some level in their hearts and conscience. A second instance is those in Athens who worshipped ‘an unknown God.’ Their poets had even written of being ‘offspring’ of Him (Acts 17:28). In the next verse, Paul declares this to be true. As the offspring of God, we are made in His image and inclined with a nature to worship Him. Is this true of any other parts of creation? Are there any plants or animals which seek to worship God? Humans are alone in our desire and ability to worship our Creator.

We have examined two thoughts regarding what it means to be created in the image of God. He formed and planted our soul and spirit within us. In the spirit of man, He has also inclined us and given us the capacity to worship Him. Of course, there are a number of additional ideas on this subject which also have a great deal of merit. God has given to humans a mind and moral conscience to combine higher-level reasoning with an ability to distinguish right from wrong. Thus He has equipped us with the directions and capabilities to make right choices. May each of us appreciate being created in the image of God and fully strive to worship Him in our spirit and His truth.

The Gospel Message October 2006

by Kevin Ferguson