What is the 'image' of God in mankind?

“What is the 'image' of God in mankind?” (Genesis 1:26-27)

By Jake Kohl

     The image of God is a beautiful statement indeed. The Hebrew terms image and likeness are best regarded as essentially synonymous. (Davis, 1998, p. 81) It is in His image we were formed which has been argued for some time with evolutionists who state we were formed from animal. Genesis 3:19 states, In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return (KJV). Arguably, if we are taken out of the ground from the dust and we will return to the ground as dust, this leaves out the possibility of returning as an animal.

     Being made in the image of God we know that this image is one that animals do not have. Being in the image and likeness of God “Man can think, reason, make decisions and plan. He can originate and evaluate ideas and bring them to completion. He can communicate and express complex concepts that can be understood by other men. Mankind understands and marks the passage of time.” (Gray, 1996) The ability to reason and choose is the image and likeness of God. We were formed by His hands and breath was breathed into us making us making us a living soul with the unique ability to imagine and desire life after death Ecclesiastes 3:11. (Gray, 1996)

     Furthermore, the image of God cannot be confused with any other image. We are not without reasoning, or moral discernment, which He alone has this same capacity (Davis, 1998, p. 81), thus, in His image!  Through sin, this image has been corrupted, and when we accept Christ Jesus as both Lord and Savior; we are redeemed in His likeness. When the New Testament refers to the new creation, it is speaking of the restoration of the image (cf. 1 Cor. 15:49). Christ is the pattern of the redeemed humanity. (Feinberg, 1972)

 

References 

Feinberg, Charles. “The Image of God.” Bibliotheca sacra 129 (July-September, 1972): 235-46. Retrieved from http://faculty.gordon.edu/hu/bi/Ted_Hildebrandt/OTeSources/01-Genesis/Text/Articles-Books/Feinberg-Image-BS.pdf

 

Davis, J. J. (1998). Paradise to prison. Salem, Wisconsin: Sheffield Publishing Company.

Gray, W. (1996, July). Taking it through the grave. Retrieved from http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/ARTB/k/435/Taking-Through-Grave.htm