Genesis 1:27 – So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him

Genesis 1:27 - So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

A popular question many people ask is, “What does it mean to be created in the image of God?” Do we know what God’s image looks like? The prophet, Isaiah, was given a vision of God in heaven and saw God seated, perhaps as a human sits.

Isaiah 6:1 – I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.

The prophet, John, saw something similar

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Revelation 4:2 – behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne

The Bible also describes God as having a hand, eyes, and a mouth. However, it is not essential that we believe anything about God’s shape. Does He even have a shape? Jesus said, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). These references to God’s form may be anthropomorphisms, that is, descriptions of God in human terms so that we can understand. So, back to our question, “What does it mean to be made in the image of God?”

At a minimum, we can conclude that mankind is unique in creation – not in the category of the animals. God gave humans authority over the earth and the animals.

Genesis 1:28 – 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.”

Thus, humans had these characteristics of God: 1) ability to think, plan, and act, 2) responsibility for stewardship over God’s creation, answerable only to the Creator, and 3) ability to reproduce (whereas God could create, humans could procreate). The fact that God created humans in two types, male and female, indicates that it takes the two together to most fully reflect the image of God. It shows that marriage and family are important to God. Adam and Eve are subsequently married in Genesis 2 and developed a family in Genesis 4.

Perhaps a more important way that humans are in the image of God is that we have spiritual senses. The Bible is full of instruction on living righteously. God even commands worship from humans. “You shall fear only the LORD your God; and you shall worship Him” (Deuteronomy 6:13, NASB). God gave His holy law only to humans. The first four commandments define how we are to worship Him, and the last six commandments define how we are to relate to other people.

Deuteronomy 6:5 – You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Leviticus 19:18 – you shall love your neighbor as yourself

Furthermore, humans can be adopted into the family of God. That would not make sense if we were not, in some way, created in His image. Consider this collection of verses:

Galatians 4:4-5 – But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Galatians 3:26 – for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

Romans 8:14 – For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

What difference should it make in our lives to be considered created in the image of God, potential members of His family, sons and daughters? Would we not want to worship Him as He grants us this most wonderful gift? Would we not want to demonstrate our worship by obedience to His commandments, to love Him with all our heart, soul, and might and to show proper stewardship over His creation by loving other humans as ourselves?