What Does It Mean To Be Created In Gods Image?
Understanding “Imago Dei”: What Does It Mean to Be Created in God’s Image?
One of the most profound declarations in the entire Bible is that humanity is made in the image of God. This concept, known in theology as the Imago Dei (Latin for "image of God"), shapes our understanding of human dignity, purpose, and destiny. But what does it truly mean to be created in God’s image?
The Biblical Foundation
The doctrine of humanity’s creation in God's image is rooted in the opening chapters of Genesis:
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. - Genesis 1:26-27 ASV
This passage reveals three key truths:
- Humans are uniquely created by God.
- Every person, male and female, bears God’s image.
- This identity is foundational to our role and value.
What Does “Image of God” Mean?
The phrase “image of God” has been interpreted in several ways throughout church history. Let’s explore some key dimensions, keeping Scripture as our guide:
1. Reflecting God’s Character
While God is spirit and not physical (John 4:24 ASV), being made in His image points to spiritual, moral, and relational qualities that reflect His character:
- Rationality: Humans can think, reason, and create.
- Morality: We have a conscience and an inherent sense of right and wrong (Romans 2:15 ASV).
- Relationality: Like the triune God, humans are made for relationships—with God and one another (Genesis 2:18 ASV).
- Spirituality: We are able to know and worship God.
2. Representing God’s Rule
The context of Genesis 1 shows that being made in God’s image involves a calling to stewardship:
And God blessed them: and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. - Genesis 1:28 ASV
Humans are God’s representatives, called to care for and steward His creation wisely and responsibly.
3. The Value and Dignity of Every Person
Because every human being is made in God’s image, each person has inherent worth and dignity, regardless of status, ability, ethnicity, or age. This truth undergirds biblical commands to value life and treat others with respect:
Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: For in the image of God made he man. - Genesis 9:6 ASV
James reminds us that even our speech should reflect this truth:
Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God. - James 3:9 ASV
The Image of God and the Fall
Although sin has marred the image of God in us, it has not erased it. After the fall, humanity still bears God’s image, though now distorted by sin:
For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God. - Romans 3:23 ASV
Yet, God’s plan of redemption in Christ is to restore His image in us.
Restoration of the Image Through Christ
The New Testament reveals that believers are being renewed in knowledge and character to reflect God’s image more and more, through Christ:
And have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him. - Colossians 3:10 ASV
Jesus Christ is the perfect image of God (Colossians 1:15 ASV), and through faith in Him, believers are being transformed to reflect God’s character:
But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. - 2 Corinthians 3:18 ASV
Practical Implications
- Every person you meet bears the image of God and is worthy of respect and compassion.
- Our calling is to represent God in the world—through stewardship, creativity, and love.
- Salvation in Christ restores and renews what was broken by sin.
Conclusion
To be created in God’s image means to reflect, represent, and relate to Him—and to others—in ways that honor the Creator. This identity brings dignity and purpose to every human life and finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who renews us into the image of God by His grace.