The Image of God

“You are made ‘in the image of God,’” is considered a meaningless or even a delusional statement by the average person today, but it is one of the greatest truths ever to be heard. The “image of God” is the gift of God which was bestowed on humanity at the moment when He created us. Being created was a gift in of itself, but being created “in the image of God” was a much greater gift than can be imagined. This gift separates us from all other creatures and gives us dignity and value over all Creation. This gift makes us much more than just flesh and bones, but something far more lasting and supernatural.

The Biblical record of Creation says, “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, NKJV) There are two details that should be noted about the “image of God” in this passage alone, beginning with the fact that though mankind’s “dominion” over the Earth is a great gift, God’s act of making mankind in His “image” is a far greater gift. Second, though the creation of Eve is not mentioned until Genesis 2:21-22, God’s “image” was given to both genders, meaning it is not related to physical appearance.

The New Testament sheds further light on the “image of God,” especially when one considers that it was a new and unique thing when the Son of God came “in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7, NKJV). If the physical nature of man had anything to do with the "image of God," then Jesus would not have had to do anything to become a man, because "He is the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15a, NKJV). This proves that the "image of God" is not found in the physical nature of humanity, but rather something less visible.

It is in our spirits that we retain His “image” and His “likeness." To be “in the image of God” is to share a part of His nature, namely His spiritual and eternal nature. There are several implications to this fact concerning our spiritual nature. First, being made "in the image of God" requires that humans be treated differently from all other creatures. For example, the Bible says that capital punishment is the appropriate sentence for the murder of a human being, because God clearly said, "Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man." (Genesis 9:6, NKJV) God does not impose any such punishment for the killing of an animal, because animals do not have an eternal, spiritual nature. On the other hand, every human being has an eternal, spiritual nature from the moment of physical conception. That is why the murder of an unborn child is equal to the murder of a terminally ill adult, because both are made "in the image of God" and deserve to be treated with great reverence and respect. Though much of humanity disagrees with this assessment, God still sees the murder of mankind for what it is: an attack on those who uniquely bear the "image of God." When that "image of God" is recognized and guarded by humanity, we will truly begin to live up to the value and dignity that God has placed on us.

The second implication of being made “in the image of God” is that we will spiritually exist for all eternity just like God will. There is life after physical death for those who possess the "image of God." Spiritually, ever human being will live on in a form of existence that science cannot grasp, nor imagination fully envision. We were designed to live on with God for all eternity in Heaven, but unfortunately most of us end-up living apart from God for all eternity in Hell.

That is why the third implication of being made “in the image of God” is that we bear responsibility for the way that we have cared for the “image of God” in our lives. We are responsible for having corrupted the "image of God" in humanity through our sin. That is why the Bible tells us to "...put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:22-24, NKJV). Without the "image of God" being restored in your life, you cannot live in Heaven, because we "...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23, NKJV). The problem is that we cannot make that spiritual restoration in our own physical strength.

The thirst to have our lives restored has always been the deepest and most misunderstood feeling in humanity. It is the emptiness that can never be completely filled and the longing that can never be truly satisfied apart from God. That is why it is so exciting to hear what Jesus is offering to those who will trust Him by faith. He said, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:37-38, NKJV) In the next verse (John 7:39), the Bible confirms that He is really talking about the Holy Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit can restore the "image of God" in our lives, as the Bible explains, saying, "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV)

To trust Jesus is to receive the Holy Spirit, and to receive the Holy Spirit is to have the life of Jesus, who "...is the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15, NKJV). The Bible describes the final outcome in this way, saying, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17, KJV) In Jesus Christ, the design that we corrupted with sin, is made new once again. That's why it is only through Jesus Christ that you can personally live up to your full potential, as a bearer of the "image of God." The only alternative is an image that you do not want to picture and an eternity that you do not want to endure!

"Lord God, thank-You for making us so special and forgive us for making human life so expendable. May many people give their life to You, Jesus. May there be many lives restored by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Thank-You for what You have done for me. I pray that countless others will experience the same thing. Amen."