Imago Dei

What does it mean to be “Created in the Image of God?”

Before we dive into the meaning of this phrase, let’s consider one crucial point: being created in the image of God is unique in all creation. There are no other creatures made in the image of Almighty God. While everything in creation bears the fingerprint of God, there is nothing in all of creation that bears the image of God except man. Do not underestimate the importance of this! Of all the heavenly host, none were made in God’s image. All of the stars, moons, planets, and solar systems, were made by God, but none were made in the image of God. Of all the mighty creatures placed on Earth, none were made in God’s image except man. (The Westminster Catechism tells us that man was made in God’s image for a distinct purpose: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. https://www.shortercatechism.com/resources/wsc/wsc_001.html)

Form

So, what does it mean to be created in the image of God? Genesis 1:27 reads, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” When God shaped Adam out of the dust of the ground, He formed Adam in his likeness to stand erect on two legs in the same form that Jesus would assume when He would come to earth as Savior.  Your form is divinely inspired!

Characteristics

To be created in the image of God means that humans, above all created beings, bear in them qualities and characteristics of God, although limited in scope, but important enough for God to cherish them enough to die for us, and for Satan to covet them. What a sobering thought.  Think of some obvious characteristics of God. God is Creator. Man has been endowed with creative abilities far beyond any other creature. Consider music with its great symphonies, vocals, orchestras, choirs, and more; art, with its paintings, ceramics, sculptures, weavings, architecture, drawings, and more; dance, including ballet, tap, waltzes, marches, and more; all forms of creative expression reflect God-given abilities, and God ultimately. Your God-given abilities have a divine purpose.

Representation

When we think of an image, we think of a visual representation, but being created in the image of God is more than a visual representation. Being created in the image of God implies a physical, mental, and spiritual representation, as well, as we shall see. God is Triune: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one God with three distinct persons. Man, similarly, has a body, as did the Son, a soul, which Keller (1980) says represents the mind, emotions, and will (Walking with God, pp. 75-104), like the Father, and a spirit, which corresponds to the Holy Spirit. In fact, it is the spirit part of us that allows God to indwell us and enables us to have communion with Him. When the Holy Spirit indwells our spirits, we begin to develop the heart and mind of Christ and walk in unity and companionship with God. In this way, we reflect the nature of God to those around us and bring glory to God as we grow and walk with Him. Imago Dei means reflecting God’s character and glory and sharing it and showing it to the world. Your spirit allows you to enjoy communion with God and share His glory!

Responsibility

Now consider this. When God created us in His image, he formed us in His likeness, and breathed His very breath into our lungs. Gen 2:7 God told Adam, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living things that moveth upon the earth.” Gen. 1:28

Man is a co-creator with God using his own abilities and managing the resources God created for man to enjoy and care for on earth. Man is responsible for making the most of his abilities and making the most of creation by caring for the earth and all the creatures and living things on it to God’s glory. God called it dominion and instructed Adam that he would have dominion over the earth and all creatures on it. This means that we were created as stewards of God’s handiwork. We were created to fill the earth and have dominion over it. It is our responsibility to fulfill God’s ultimate plan for us of extending His kingdom to the ends of the earth.

Value

Being created in the image of God means the life of every human has immeasurable value! Our sense of worth, our self-image comes from God alone and cannot come from others. We have value and significance to God and nothing, and no one on earth can give you that. People seeking to have a sense of belonging and self-worth from someone else—a spouse, an employer, a cause, status, achievements, power, etc. are misguided and broken. Our value comes from God and our relationship with God restores our sense of self-worth. The extent of our value is beyond our imagination.

Hope

Our image was scarred with the first sin. And that scarred image was then passed on to subsequent generations. We are evidence of the scarred image today. Every time a new disease is identified, or we see a child born with disabilities, or we watch an elderly person drift away into dementia, or we hear the news of violence and crime, we witness again the broken and scarred image. But, there is hope on the horizon. For God planned to restore man to the glory of life in Eden through the sacrifice of His only begotten son, Jesus. Jesus is the image of God and He is transforming us into that image, as well! When a man is born again in Christ, he becomes conformed to the image of Christ! (Rom 8:29). And we get a foretaste of that restoration every time someone repents and is given new life in Jesus Christ. Then the Holy Spirit begins the work of restoration in him or her. And glory be to God as He is renewing us day by day so that one day, we will be with Him in the new Eden. And our sinful nature and all of the consequences of it will have passed away forever. Glory to God!