Are We Made in the Image of God? Go ask a majority of Christians whose image they are made in; most will say God’s. Even unbelievers, who know a bit about Christianity, will answer the same. But is it true? Are we made in God’s image?
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 foul of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So 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
This passage clearly shows that Adam and Eve were created in the image of God, but does that mean we also are created in God’s image? The answer is NO!
This is the book of the generation of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him. Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth. Genesis 5:1-3
Words matter! When you read the versus above you see a transition from man being made in God’s image, to man being made in man’s image. What happened? Why the change? The fall is what happened. When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit from the tree in the midst of the garden, they shed their glory for sin. (Notice also how the verse says God blessed them? And when you read Genesis 3:16-19 God is now cursing them?) They not only lost their glorified bodies; they lost their blessings as well.
In our fallen state we are no longer made or born in God’s image. We are born in the image of our earthy father who bears the image of fallen Adam. (The image of Satan.)
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. John 8:44-47
When we are born, we are born in sin. Our hearts are wicked.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9
There is no good in us. And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Luke 18:19.
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Romans 3:10
God is good, God is righteous, God is just, God is love, God is truth, God the opposite of everything we are. How can a person then say that they are born in the image of God? If that were true, then we would have the characteristics of God, and not those of our father the devil.
You don’t believe you are wicked?
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves or mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
We are all sinners. Everyone of us! This is why sin is so easy for us, so attractive to us in our flesh. Since the fall of man, we are no longer born in the image of God, but the image of sin. But God, in his mercy sent his only Begotten son Jesus, to take our sin upon him! Jesus was a perfect sacrifice. He was crucified, buried and rose again on the third day. And he now sits at the right hand of God the father. When we accept the gift of salvation, the Holy Spirit indwells us…and we are restored once again into God’s image!
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
We can’t see the change in our physical bodies. A believer and non-believer can be walking side by side, and physically we see no difference. But in the Spiritual world, to the eyes of the heavenly hosts and to God, this change is very clear.
That ye put off concerning the former conversation of the old man, which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24
The struggle is real! Those of us who are sealed with the holy spirit have been transformed spiritually back into the image of God, yet our spirit and soul still reside in a fallen, sin attracted body. That is why we have to choose daily to die to ourselves and let Christ live in us! (Galatians 2:20)
Now, just because a newborn baby is not made in the image of God, does that change our value or worth?
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee… Jeremiah 1:4
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! Psalm 139:13-17
Not in God’s eyes. He knew us before we were even formed. He knew we were going to be born unperfect in sin, yet his thoughts towards us are precious. What a gift salvation is! What an awesome God we serve!
prov315.org 