What does Imago Dei mean? It is translated “Image of God,” but what does that truly mean for Christians today? In a world full of people searching for identity, Imago Dei is the answer to who we were truly meant to be. In order to better understand this phrase, we need to take a closer look at how the phrase is used throughout the Bible.
Imago Dei: Definition and Significance
Imago Dei, Latin for Image of God, describes the unique connection between humanity and God that is different from all other creation. Mankind was given a moral, spiritual, and intellectual essence so that we could become who we were meant to be: spiritual children living in a loving relationship with our heavenly Father. Adam and Eve had a perfect relationship with God in the Garden of Eden until sin marred the image and separated man from our Father. In order to restore the relationship between God and man, Jesus Christ gave himself as a sacrifice to cover sin. When we accept Jesus as Lord of our lives, he removes sin, but there is still the war between the spirit and the flesh as long as we are in this world.
Where Is the Image of God Found in Scripture?
The first instance of the phrase Imago Dei, or Image of God, is found in the creation story:
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over [g]all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:26-27 NKJV)
In Genesis 9:6, it repeats the importance of man in God’s creation by condemning murder of another human being because man is made in God’s image. The phrase is found throughout the New Testament as well. James 3:9 tells us that all men are made after the similitude of God, so we should show respect to other humans. If we bless God, then we should not curse men seeing we are made in His image. So, why did God create man in his image? A closer look at the creation story gives us some insights into this question.
Why Did God Create Humans in His Image?
Matthew Henry’s commentary on the creation of man in Genesis 1:26-27 makes five points about why man was different from the rest of creation and the purpose behind this difference:
- Man was made last of all the creatures, which was an honor and a favor. The honor was that man was created last as the highest point of creation. The favor is that the world was already finished, like a palace designed just for man. However, because man was made last, he cannot claim any credit in creation.
- Man’s creation was also signaled by a change in tone and wording. For all the rest of creation, God said, and it was so. God said let there be light, and there was light. The phrasing turns from command to consultation with the words, “Let us make man.”
- Image and likeness point to the fact that man didn’t look like the rest of creation because he was made in God’s likeness. Christ is the express image of God, and man is a shadow of that image. Man is like God in three ways:
- He has a soul that has understanding, will, and active powers.
- He has authority over creation as God’s representative.
- He has knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness.
4. God created both male and female, but they became one as a couple and showcase the Imago Dei both individually and jointly.
5. Humans were given dominion over the earth. Even though it has been damaged by the fall, humans still have enough dominion to provide for the safety and support of their lives.
We are made in his image so that we can have a relationship with God. We are made of flesh and spirit, so we are of the earth and of heaven. While on earth, we have dominion over creation as God’s representatives in our flesh. Our spirits, on the other hand, have the capacity for eternal life so that we can live in God’s presence forever if we have made Christ Lord of our lives. In summary, as God’s image bearers, we were made to worship and glorify God as His children, and that is where we find our true purpose and calling.
How is the Imago Dei Affected by Sin and Restored in Christ?
The Imago Dei was marred by sin's entrance into the world. Being created in the likeness of God meant man had free will. When Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, their sin caused a separation between humankind and God from then on. The only way to restore the Imago Dei and reconcile the relationship of God and man was through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Christ became man while still being God so that he could bridge the gap caused by sin.
When we accept the gift of salvation, we must put off the old man of flesh and take on the new man of spirit, which is a restoration of the Imago Dei. This concept is repeated throughout the New Testament:
- Colossians 3:9-10 – put on the new man who is renewed after God’s image, a return to innocence.
- 2 Corinthians 3:18 – we are changed into the same image, but now as in a glass.
- Ephesians 4:24 – We are called to continually put on the new man, made after God’s image.
This side of heaven, the flesh and spirit will always be at war, so it is necessary to intentionally put on the new man each day and to rely on the power of the Spirit to do so.
How Does Bearing the Image of God Shape Christian Life?
So, how does this apply to modern Christians? As followers of Christ, we are called to be more like Christ every day. Ephesians 5:1-2 calls us to be followers or imitators of God and to follow Christ’s example of love to the lost world around us. This is repeated throughout the New Testament:
- Romans 8:29 – we are to be “conformed to the image of Christ.”
- 1 Peter 2:21 – We are to follow Christ’s steps, using his life as an example.
- Phil 2:5 – We are to have the mind of Christ so that we think like Christ and not the world.
Our life should be modeled, like clay, to look as much like Christ as we can. This means living out the fruits of the Spirit and showing love to a lost and dying world so that they will see God in us and want a restored relationship with Him.
Listen to more about being made in God's image below:
Conclusion
We are to be the light of God in this world so that others can see God in us. It is a solemn calling to live in a way that does not mar the Imago Dei in us. We must pray, study the scriptures, and ask the Holy Spirit to make us more like Christ so that we can be the best representatives of God that we can possibly be. Being created in Imago Dei is a gift from God, and living according to this high calling is only possible through his power in us by his Spirit.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia/Creation of Adam (Michelangelo) Detail
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