We learn that man was made in God’s likeness in Genesis 1:27. What does this signify?
What does the Bible say exactly?
[The creation of the world, including man], is recorded in the book of Genesis. The following verses discuss how man was made in the likeness of God:
- “Then God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness,” according to Genesis 1:26,
- God created man in His own image, creating both males and females in His likeness, according to Genesis 1:27.
- “When God created man, He made him in the likeness of God,” says Genesis 5:1.
The identical term is used in another verse from Genesis 5 that is helpful for comparison because it relates to human procreation.
- “After living for 130 years, Adam fathered a son after his image, and called him Seth,” according to Genesis 5:3.
What is the image of God?
According to the creation story, God made the world, the plants, trees, and animals “according to their kinds.” However, people are unique. They are almost like God. Animals lack some of the attributes that humans possess from God.
- It is not concerning our physical selves. We do not physically resemble God despite having been made in his likeness. No one is aware of God’s appearance. There was no form when He came to man in the Old Testament, and God forbid the people to create representations of Him since they could never be true. He can’t fit into a form because he is too boundless. Though not literally, the Bible frequently refers to God as having eyes, hearing, feet, and other human senses. Though not confined to a human-like body, God has the ability to see, hear, and speak.
- Dad and kid “In his own likeness, after his image” was the son that Adam had. It’s interesting that “Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God” appears in Luke 3:38’s genealogy of Jesus. Thus, a father’s bond with his son is analogous to God’s relationship with man. The Bible makes extensive use of this motif.
- Serving as God’s envoy Man was given the responsibility of ruling over creation by God. He was the incarnation of God. He was created in God’s image in part because of this, as [God is the supreme authority].
- Qualities of God which we do not possess God is entirely different. He possesses several qualities that no other creature possesses, like as holiness, omniscience, and limitless ability to accomplish anything He pleases. Furthermore, the fact that God does not have a body and that humans are therefore limited by space and time makes us quite distinct from God.
- Features of God that we do have in common There is also a list of attributes that we do share with God, or at least did when man was formed. Though the Bible doesn’t list them all, we might consider our capacity for reason, reflection on the past and future, decision-making, understanding, and love for others. God is love and righteousness, and these are qualities we ought to emulate. Both the Lord and each other are reachable. We are able to praise Him. Animals are incapable of doing these activities, or only partially so.
God’s image in us is damaged by sin, but did not disappear
The story of the fall of sin is told in Genesis 3. Our connection to God was terribly strained. This indicated that humanity was growing more and more alienated from what God wanted for us. Sin also affected our capacity for love, moral judgment, and other aspects of life. To put it briefly, God’s image was tarnished.
However, the honor of being made in God’s image was not exclusive to the first humans, nor was it entirely forfeited upon their fall from grace. Notwithstanding the fact that they are imperfect now, their descendants nonetheless enjoy this right. This is made evident in Genesis 9:6, where God tells Noah and his family, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in His own image,” following the flood (i.e., long after sin entered creation). Although man was permitted to slaughter animals for food, he was not permitted to murder other people. Because they are the bearers of God’s image, humans hold a unique place in society that is not dependent on their goods or accomplishments.
Tim Keller explains the importance of this:
“The cycle of life that is protected widens when you believe that God is an image of himself. The circle, however, will keep becoming smaller if you reject the idea that humans are made in God’s image and instead accept capabilities or some other nonsense explanation for why we think that human rights are important. It will get smaller and smaller, protecting fewer and fewer individuals. You see how amazing, vital, and significant the lesson from God’s image is.[1]
A way towards restoration
However, when Jesus Christ came into the world, and opened up the way for us to return to God to be reconciled to Him, He has also opened up the way for us to return to the image of God. In Romans 8:29 we read “for those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His son.” Ephesians 4:23-24 urges believers “to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” and Colossians 3:9-10 tells them, “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”
God will progressively alter us if we accept Him as our Father, become His children, and let Him to change us from our previous selves. The person we were before we knew Christ will be transformed, allowing us to once more reflect the original image of God. Even though sin caused the image to be tarnished and buried, it will eventually start to show again, making us more like Christ in all areas of our lives—thoughts, attitudes, deeds, and speech.
God’s work in us will be completed
Even though Philippians 1:6 states that “He who began a good work in you, will complete it on the day of Christ,” we will never be able to perfectly emulate Jesus while we are here on Earth.God’s work in us will therefore be finished when we die, or when Jesus Christ returns to earth, and we will resemble God, being “holy and blameless and above reproach before Him” (Colossians 1:22).
[1] Focus on the Family blog
