Sometimes we don’t realize how special something is when we first receive it. My Son Titus has been given the middle name Arthur after my father. At two years old, he doesn’t even know that’s his middle name yet. And it won’t likely be until he’s an adult and ponders with me the significance of this name and what it means to me that it will hit home for him. My dad’s name embodies the years of love he gave me, the character he displayed, and the man he was in my life. “Arthur” is special and I look forward to sharing my dad with Titus as well as my dad to feel honored in the passing on of his name.

Humanity has been imprinted with the exclusive mark of God’s image. We don’t realize how special this is when we are first born into the world, but when we are born again it begins to strike us. It changes our thinking about others. Our hearts swell up with astonishment about ourselves. And our souls give glory to God. The image of God is extraordinarily special. Three areas direct us to unwrapping its remarkable beauty.¹

The Image of God Ontologically

God’s image was given to Adam and Eve upon their creation by Him. He declared it in advance (Gen. 1:26) and then made it a reality (Gen. 1:27). Although Adam and Eve fell into sin and the curse of God’s judgment, God’s image remained as restated after the flood to Noah (Gen. 9:6). Thus, God’s image resides in all human beings. There is the ontological (inward) reality of God’s image in humanity despite the curse of sin.

God’s image gives humanity certain and unremovable value. God’s image translates into an inherent worth of dignity, value, love, and protection, no matter what ethnicity, gender, age, physical or mental capability a person may be. God has declared people incredibly valuable!

God’s image also gives humanity certain characteristics. Scripture does not spell these out in the three verses it mentions the image of God,² but we may reason it has to do with attributes unique to mankind. Wayne Grudem describes these as moral aspects, spiritual aspects, mental aspects, and relational aspects.³ Humans are set apart from animals in their inner sense of ought, their ability to relate to God, process and create at a higher level, and have the depth of marriage.⁴ The New Illustrated Bible Dictionary says, “It [the image of God] refers to qualities or attributes present in the person. Thus, the image of God is identified as human reason, will, or personality.”⁵ Gladd says, “God possesses certain qualities or attributes that he passes along to Adam—love, peace, justice, ability to rule, and so on.”⁶

God has been gracious to give us humans unaltering value and inner attributes like Him.⁷ What a blessing to share in having and reflecting a measure of His great characteristics.

The Image of God Functionally

God’s imprinted image defines not only our value, but also directs our actions and purposes on this earth. After God declared that He would make man in His image (being His representative), after His likeness (although not exactly like Him), He unveiled an action corresponding to that image. God said (Gen. 1:26), “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.”

Mankind was given the privilege and responsibility of dominion over the rest of God’ creation.⁸ Gladd states, “Fundamentally, being created in God’s image means that Adam and Eve represent him on the earth in all their thoughts and actions. It is the divine imprint of God in humanity that reflects his divine attributes and functions in the threefold office of king, priest, and prophet.”⁹ Thus, God’s image is an inherent gift that is to be lived out in action. Humanity is to rule, procreate, fill, and love on this earth as a worshipful representative and reflection of God to all creation.

The Image of God Redemptively

However, humans have failed to live up to the image of God, both ontologically and functionally. The curse of sin has not erased God’s image, but it has infected our entire beings. We don’t represent God nor reflect Him like we were designed. Nevertheless, God planned to redeem humanity from their fallen state.

God’s Word became flesh, took on the name Jesus, fulfilled the old testament law, fulfilled the old testament promises, and sacrificed Himself as a sin offering to God in humanity’s behalf. Three days later He rose from the dead, broke the curse of sin and death, revealed Himself to His disciples, and then ascended to the right hand of the Father where He awaits to return and rescue those who trust in Him as well as judge those who reject Him.

Through Jesus Christ the image of God was represented and reflected perfectly. We saw what we were supposed to be. And in Jesus Christ, the image of God was redeemed and restored. We are given a second chance to become what we are supposed to be.

Jesus Christ is the true image of God and the true and only savior of the image of God. And God calls humanity to turn from their sinful rejection and image distortion of Him and to believe in the true image of Him—Jesus Christ—so we may once again be with God and live His restored image before Him and for Him.

The image of God is remarkably special! It is a call to worship God in creation (for how He has made us), a call to turn to Him for salvation (to restore that image), and now a call to live for Him in sanctification (to represent that image), as we look forward to His image being fully restored in glorification.

As honoring as it is for my son Titus to be named after my dad, the main honor belongs to my dad. Similarly, as honorable as it is for us to bear God’s image, the upmost honor belongs to God who shared it with us. May God’s image ultimately drive us all to honor Him!

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