What does it mean that humanity is made in the image of God?

What does it mean that humanity is made in the image of God? We're going to answer that question.

On the last day of creation, God said let us make man in our image, in our likeness.

Thus, he finished his work with a personal touch. God formed Adam from the dust and gave him life by sharing his own breath.

Because of this, humanity is unique among all of God's creations, having both a material body and an immaterial soul.

Spirit Having the image or likeness of God means simply that we were made to resemble

God. Adam did not resemble God in the sense of God's having flesh and blood. Scripture says that God is spirit and therefore exists without a body.

However, Adam's body did mirror the life of God insofar as it was created in perfect health and was not subject to death.

Imago Dei, Latin for the image of God, refers to the immaterial part of humanity.

It sets human beings apart from the animal world, fits them for dominion God intended for them to have over the earth, and enables them to commune with their maker.

It is a likeness, mentally, morally, and socially. Let's break it down a little further.

Mentally, humanity was created to reason and make choices. This is a reflection of God's intellect and freedom.

Anytime someone invents a machine, writes a book, paints a landscape, enjoys a symphony, calculates a sum, or names a pet, he or she is proclaiming the fact that we are made in God's image.

Morally, humanity was created in righteousness and perfect innocence, a reflection of God's holiness.

Our conscience, or moral compass, is a vestige of that original state. Whenever someone writes a law, recoils from evil, praises good behavior, or feels guilty, they are confirming the fact that we are made in God's own image.

Socially, humanity was created for fellowship. This reflects God's triune nature and his love.

In the Garden of Eden, humanity's primary relationship was with God. In fact, God made the first woman because it is not good for man to be alone.

Every time someone marries, makes a friend, hugs a child, or attends church, they are demonstrating the fact that we are made in the likeness of God.

Part of being made in God's image is that we have the capacity to make free choices. Although they were given a righteous nature,

Adam and Eve made an evil choice to rebel against their creator. In doing so, they marred the image of God within themselves and passed that damaged likeness on to all their descendants.

Today, we still bear the image of God, but we also bear the scars of sin.

Mentally, morally, socially, and physically, we show the effects of sin.

The good news is that when God redeems an individual, he begins to restore the original image of God, creating a new self created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

That redemption is only available by God's grace, through faith in Jesus Christ as our savior from the sin that separates us from God.

Through Christ, we are made new creations in the likeness of God. That answers the question, what does it mean that humanity is made in the image of God?

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