How to Understand Being an Image Bearer of God

We are created in the image of God, imago Dei in Latin. (Genesis 1:27). Such a beautiful and profound statement. Yet it is a hard to understand concept. No other of God's creations are said to have been made in this way. We are image bearers of God whether we are a Christian or not. All of us have been created by Him to reflect Him.

Trinity and Our Threefold Being

God is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. While there is only one God, He exists as three co-equal and co-eternal persons. Although you and I have three parts as well, body, soul and spirit, (1 Thessalonians 5:23) it is not a parallel to the Trinity. The Trinity is three persons, not three parts, whereas humans are one person with distinct aspects.

• We have a fleshly body that decays and returns to the ground. At the resurrection our mortal bodies will be transformed and united with our spirit and soul, just as Jesus was physically resurrected from the dead.

• The soul is who we really are. It includes our emotions, our wills and our minds. It is immortal. It is not the material part of you. God has been and will forever be eternal as a part of who He is. We become immortal only because of His actions. God is eternal but our soul had a beginning.

• And lastly a spirit that should be in relationship with God. As God is spirit this is how we become like Him. For the redeemed, the spirit returns to God in peace; for the unredeemed, separation remains.

  
  

  A man whose spirit doesn't belong to God is considered spiritually dead (Ephesians 4:18). One whose spirit belongs to God is considered spiritually alive (Colossians 2:13). It is because of God's mercy and the Holy Spirit working in us that we are brought to life in Christ (Titus 3:5). Have you ever felt this inner longing for the presence of God?

Another way we reflect the image of God is through our characteristics. By God sharing His own breath with us at creation, we are unique in all of His creation.

• Even though we live in a fallen world, humanity still has a universal sense of what is right and what is wrong. This comes from God.

• We are creative beings. God created everything that exists but in our finite way we also create—art, literature, and music.

• We can love and do so in a very altruistic manner. We can sacrifice ourselves for those we love.

• We have been created to live in relationship with others. Just as God desires relationship with us, we are told that it is not good for man to live alone (Genesis 2:18). In Eden we had a perfect relationship with God but now that is marred by sin. The very reason Jesus died on the cross for us.

• God has free will and so do we. Nothing constrains God from doing what He wants (Job 36:23). Our free will is not omnipotent like God's. We live with certain rules because of our physical nature. We can, however, choose evil over good if we desire. The fact that God cannot lie or sin is not a limitation of His free will but is a fact of his very nature.

Fall, Redemption, and Restoration

In the beginning, with Adam and Eve, our image perfectly reflected the image of God but when sin and death came into the world that image was altered. It is harder to see that likeness now than it was back then. In fact, it is impossible to see it clearly without the saving action of Jesus on the cross. Jesus restores us back to that first image. When our sins are forgiven God doesn't remember them any longer. But remember, we all bear God's image.

Whether we are handicapped, of a different racial, political, or ethnic background, or even a different sexual identity, we are all still made in the image of God and thus have value. We should extend love to all. This doesn't mean being accepting of sinful behavior, but remembering that we have all fallen short of the glory of God. We should try to see God in the faces of those around us.

Jesus is our perfect example of an image bearer. He lived in total obedience, perfect love, and complete humility. As Colossians 1:15 tells us, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." Hebrews 1:3 explains that He "is the express image of His person." Jesus says in John 14:9 that if we have seen Him, we have seen the Father.

How To Understand Being an Image Bearer of God

After our salvation, how can we understand being an image bearer of God? How do we live as an image bearer? Paul explains in 2 Corinthians 3:18 that we are being transformed in the same image as Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. And in Romans 8:29 Paul tells us we have been "predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son."

We see the truth in this as we grow in sanctification. Sanctification is the process of being set apart or made holy by the power of the Holy Spirit. We see more fruits of the spirit in our lives. We find it easier to reflect God to the world. Do you see your fruit growing? Do you see more patience, more love, or more faith?

Our purpose as image bearers is to show the glory of God to the world. We are to live in relationship with God and with others. We don't just receive the free gift of salvation and the love of God to keep to ourselves. This gift is to be shared with those around us. We live to serve as He came to serve. We have been created for His glory.

Idolatry Versus True Image Bearing

It is interesting to think about the ancient religions of the time. In these religions, idols of gods were fashioned and worshipped. These idols were in the image of their human makers or sometimes animals. They were actually without any power. As Jeremiah 10:8 tells us, "A wooden idol is a worthless doctrine." But our God created us in His image.

When we create idols we are attempting, in a mixed up way, to imitate God. It shows that we don't understand God. A created idol was believed to contain the essence of the god that it represented. It didn't necessarily look like the god but it contained the god's power and authority. Are we not also a container that God has filled with His Holy Spirit for those who love Him. The indwelling Spirit certainly does not make us divine, but it empowers us to live in union with God through Christ.

But how distorted of an image of God we become when we put ourselves on a throne to be worshipped. Selfishness, pride, ego all point to idolatry of self. How many 'selfies' do we need? We are far from the image we should be. We look for the God who we are supposed to reflect. Yet the promise we have, if we follow Jesus, is that we will have a transformed life becoming the image of the Son of God (Ephesians 1:3, Romans 8:32).

All of us are image bearers of God. This is how we were made. We are the closest the created world will see to what God is really like. No image or idol can be a representation of God because you and I are His image bearer. Not perfectly, of course, but in part. Because we have been made in this way we have value above all of creation.

Future Hope: Becoming Like Him

At the end of the age, when we go to meet God, we can have the same hope that John expressed in 1 John 1:3 when he says, "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." We were created at the beginning in His perfect image, became fallen and sinful, His image marred, and then accepted Jesus and grew in His likeness, to knowing as John says, "we shall be like Him."

As Christians we should be constantly growing in the image of God. We should be imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1). When we look in the mirror hopefully, prayerfully, everyday we will see growth in sanctification. Every day we will see more of God looking back at us than the day before. Every day our lives will give more glory to the God who loves us.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Remind us that we are your image bearer, as are those around us.

Help us to grow to be more like your Son.

Increase our obedience, humility, and love.

We thank you and praise you for our special place in creation.

In your Son's name,

Amen