Made in the image of God

I recently heard a Baptist preacher exclaim, “I’m not made in the image of God.” I almost believed him!😁Perhaps he identifies with the rest of God’s creatures rather than with man. Yes, man is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27; 9:6). Imago Dei is both Latin and theological terminology for “Image of God,” often used to express this biblical truth.[i]

Imago Dei is an expression of the connection between God and humanity. Man was made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). This does not mean that God who is a Spirit (John 4:24) was then in human form, but rather that mankind is made in God’s image in moral, spiritual, and intellectual essence, a creation of body, soul, and spirit that can commune with God in a way no other creature can. “Made in the image of God,” Imago Dei, makes man different than all other creatures in God’s creation.

The preacher’s argument was not that he was an animal rather than a man, but that after the fall man is no longer made in God’s image, but rather Adam’s image. “We lost that image,” he says. However, man did not “lose” the image of God, but that image was “marred” by sin in the fall of Adam. Consider the following Scriptures.

Man was made/created in the image of God.

• Genesis 1:26-27 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Man was made in the likeness (image) of God.

• Genesis 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

Seth was begat in Adam’s likeness (v. 3) who was made in God’s likeness (v. 1)

• Genesis 5:3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

Over 1600 years after creation, God describes man as made in his image (and this as a feature governing his actions toward his fellow man).

• Genesis 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

Over 4000 years after creation, the Bible describes man as being in God’s image (and this as a feature related to his actions and accountability toward God).

• 1 Corinthians 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

Over 4000 years after creation, the Bible again describes man as made in God’s similitude (image, likeness), and this as a feature related to his actions toward his fellow man.

• James 3:9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

There is a consistent thread that runs from creation into the New Testament, that man is made in the image of God. It is the basis of what sets man apart from the animals (Genesis 1:26-27) and even angels (Psalm 8:4-8), and a basis for instructing man how he ought to act and treat his fellow man (Genesis 9:6; 1 Corinthians 11:7; James 3:9). Yes, man has been marred by the fall, and only God through Christ can recover that ... but he still intrinsically has the image of God in which he was made. Failing to recognize this will lead to failure in correctly interacting before God with our fellow man.

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[i] We rural folk will usually just simply say “image of God,” but you need to know Imago Dei if you read much about this in theological writings or even just on the internet.