In God's Image

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him.” 

(Genesis 1:27)

For many years, I always wondered, what does that really mean? That God created man "in His image?"

Scripture, taken in context, interprets scripture. So we shouldn't have to guess or speculate.

First, what does the biblical word "image" mean?

The Hebrew word translated as "image" in Genesis 1:27 is H-6754; 'tslem' "an illusion, resemblance, a representative figure: image."

So if man was created in God's resemblance, what does God who created him look like?

What does the Bible say?

“God is Spirit.” (John 4:24)

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth.” (Colossians 1:15)

“No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” (John 1:18)

“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent.” (Numbers 23:19)

From these four verses, we can know the following about God's image or resemblance:

• He is Spirit
• He is invisible
• He is not a man
• No one has seen Him at any time

So in the context of Genesis 1:27, does that suggest a God that looks like me or you? It doesn't to me.

How then do we resemble God's image?  We too, are, or have, an invisible spirit—the eternal life force that is in each of our physical bodies.

People will argue, "but Jesus is the expressed image of the invisible God, so we are created in Jesus' image." But the Apostle John says Jesus, the Word, became flesh. (See John 1:1-14). Meaning, He was not always in a fleshly body.

Another interesting definition of 'tselm' (resemblance, image) is "a representative figure." Originally, God made man as His representatives on earth. Man was to re-present Him. That was the original plan. Then you know the rest of the story; we blew it right away, and Adam and Eve fell, and mankind has been in a fallen, sinful state ever since.

But Jesus came down as God's visible image. Born in a manger, the tiny babe of Bethlehem came into the world to save His people from their sins—which is all of us. As born again followers of Jesus Christ, we are to re-present Him to the world today. But we have nothing in of ourselves to offer humanity. The only thing we have to offer them is "Christ in us; the hope of glory." (See Colossians 1:27)

This is just a brief scriptural look on my part at the amazing nature of God. It is not intended to be a complete dogmatic doctrinal statement. And please feel free to respectfully disagree and expound from the holy Bible with a differing point of view.

We all should always search the scriptures daily and see what God's Word says about Him and His nature. My intent is to know Jesus more, to make Him known, and to glorify His name.

Amen.

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.