God Created Man in His Image

Genesis 1:26-30

God created man in His own image

Then 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 livestock and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (v.26)

So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (v.27)

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill 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 moves on the earth.” (v.28)

“Man is created in God’s image.” What does it mean? What are the significances?

Man is Different from Other Creatures

God resolves to make man in His own image and likeness, and man is to be different from other creatures.

“Image” can refer to character, human’s nature (inclusive of physical body and soul) or morality, as well as spiritual quality possessed both by God and man, i.e., an ability for him to discern right from wrong, and to make moral choices.

Man, also has an acute awareness of God. Man is able to be God’s representative on earth. Man knows himself to a certain level.

However, “image” does not refer to man’s likeness with God in terms of looks or body figure, for God is Spirit.

The word “man” in verse 27 is a collective term which refers to “human beings”. Verse 28 mentions that God blesses man with an ability to multiply and increase in number, and it is a command given to our ancestors like Adam and Noah (Gen 9:1), etc.

Though the command is addressed to all human beings, it does not mean that God demands all men and women to procreate themselves. We cannot claim that God commands all men to be fruitful and multiply based on this text.

It will be untrue equally to say that married couples are not supposed to reproduce. This verse has been misused with a kind intention.

Procreation is considered a cultural mandate rather than a personal mission to the majority of us. It will be very cruel to impose this cultural value on those couples who are not able to reproduce naturally.

On the other hand, we have to understand that, our ancestors, Adam and Eve, were not fallen at the time when God commanded them to reproduce.

Procreation built upon the foundation of marriage between a man and a woman is God’s way of reproduction. Therefore, sexual behaviours within the scope of marriage is considered good and it is the intention of God for us to do so.

Man has Ownership over the World

God endowed man with right and responsibility to enjoy the earth He had created. Man is solely reserved to be used by God as His representative, and he is endowed with God’s authority to rule over birds of the air, fish of the sea, and livestock and all creatures moving on the ground.

He represents God and is responsible to rule, manage and oversee all of God’s creation that has been entrusted to him (v. 26).

We humankind are to submit to God’s authority and His will in our lives. We should recognize God as the Creator, and the reality that we are made in His own image.

However, from Genesis chapter 3 we learnt that man failed God in his assignment. Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Sin had entered the world. Man’s image which was made in accordance to God’s image, was broken and destroyed in the wake of his fall and his rebellion against the Creator. And he was driven out from the Garden of Eden.

Man has sinned. However, God so loves the world that He gives His One and Only Son Jesus Christ to be our Saviour (John 3:16-17).

Changed into the Image of Christ Gradually

Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, and He was with the Father before the creation of universe. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (1 Col 1:15-20)

Though Jesus Christ is the invisible image of God, He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6-8)

Jesus Christ became the last Adam. When we believe Jesus and receive Him into our lives, we are dead like the first Adam (the old). The old Adam is sinful and fallen with a marred image in him. We are clothed with the new image of Christ. This is the last Adam (the new), and we have become the new creation.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

To New Testament believers this day, “created in the image of God” also means that believers are inspired by the Holy Spirit to live their lives in accordance to the Word of God, and they are transformed eventually into the image of Christ. This is the most important aspect.

The formation of our spirituality and the process of sanctification largely depend on the Holy Spirit who indwells in us. He transforms us each day and makes us to be more and more like Christ. When we submit to Him, we have the new life in Christ as an exchange for us.

We should also refer to Revelation 21-22 as we read Genesis 1-3. We shall become a perfect new creation in the New Heaven and New Earth!

We might have struggles now and we hope someday, all evils shall be destroyed and all goodness shall prevail and last.

The Application to Christian Living

First, we have to see others with a new perspective since we are created in the image of God.

The image of God in man has been distorted when sin got into this world. But Jesus Christ has the power to restore the most broken life on earth, and to change him into the image of Christ Himself.

The Lord Jesus invites all men to come to Him. He is able to give us hope, grace and forgiveness.

Second, our understanding of the concept of “created in the image of God” teaches us how to relate with others. No matter how impaired their original image (the first Adam) is, they are after all created in the image of God.

Who have captured your attention in this world? Are they the strong, the brilliant, the rich, the capable, the educated, the tall, the beautiful, the handsome ones?

We are attracted by those who are almost perfect in our eyes. For example, those world class athletes who have won their world games. But many of them were disclosed to have taken drugs during their competitions, and they had won their championship by violating the rules and through deception.

However, when we watch the Special Olympics, we see many young athletes coming from all over the world. They overcome their physical and mental disabilities and compete in a fair manner with their dignity and moral courage.

They are created in the image of God with fullness of their dignity in the eyes of God. We should receive others with this attitude.

Let me share with you the story of Annie Siow Lee Khoon, “Turning the Other Cheek”.

She came from a broken family in Malaysia. She was uneducated and she met someone who turned out to be her nightmare.

In 1989, she was disfigured by her admirer who failed to win her heart. Her right eye turned blind. She suffered severe pains during her treatment period and she almost wanted to give up her life. A nurse in the hospital shared with her about Jesus Christ and she was saved since then.

Her life story was made into a film called “Life Can Be Good”, and was further written and published into a book, “An Uncommon Beauty”. She has travelled to Singapore, Taiwan, USA and Canada to share her story.

She joined a welfare organization known as Concern and Care Society as a volunteer ten years ago, and helped take care of the elderly as well as conduct seminars.

She said, “I love my Job. My life is not useless. I can help others with my experience.”

Are we able to see “Image Dei” (“created in the image of God”) in the lives of those I mentioned above?

We should look at their pains and tears, their struggles in lives, their imperfection with the eyes of Jesus, and to have compassion in our hearts. May our understanding of what “man is created in the image of God” compels us to have a deep empathy towards others, especially non-believers.

Some people around us have various kinds of emotional, mental, social, physical and spiritual defects. We hope that someday we can lead them to know the Lord with love and compassion. We need to be ambassadors for the Lord and to practice the teaching of loving our neighbours.

Third, Christians should understand that the phrase “created in the image of God” refers to us, who are God’s representatives on earth, vessels solely and wholly used by Him, and His stewards.

We need to be good stewards, to maximise our time and resources and to use them for the salvation plan of God in our churches, communities, nation and the world.

In his book, “10 Life Principles”, Peter Drucker, a famous management consultant lists out his first principle as “Knowing who you are”.

Do you know who you are? Who are you living for? How are you living your life?

I know who I am. I am the most beloved child of Christ. I am created in God’s image, and I am pardoned by Christ’s redemption, and I am set apart to do the work of God. Since we have the “image of God”, there is a need for us to examine our priorities and all kinds of pursuits that we have in our lives.

May God touch your heart greatly today, to ponder about the way to manage your life, and to work for God, so that you will lead a fruitful life.