A Thumbnail Theology – Peter Lundell, D.Miss.
The image of God, or imago Dei, is most clearly and fundamentally about our having a spiritual nature like God (Gen. 1:26–27).
It can be said that bearing the image of God also means that humanity represents God, or “images” God.
When God created things in nature, he spoke to those things. When he created humans, he spoke to himself.
The image was severely corrupted ever since the Fall, but it was not completely lost or destroyed (Gen. (9:6).
By extension of this spiritual nature, we have relationship with God and/or a likeness in our nature (though corrupted) based on this causal connection, as no other creature has (1 Cor. 11:87; Jas. 3:9).
The image of God in us is redeemed by Christ (Rom. 15:12–19).
And in this relationship, or likeness, God intends us to grow to be like him (2 Cor. 3:18).
We continue to grow in this image as we become Christlike—that is, the image of God in us becomes increasingly conformed in nature and practice to the image of God himself (Col. 310).
A Summary:
- Humanity is created in the image of God, especially having a spiritual nature.
- Humanity is God’s image bearer / representative.
- Sin did not destroy the image of God in humanity, but it severely corrupted it.
- Jesus is the perfect image bearer / representative.
- In the New Testament, we are growing into, or being made perfect in, Christ’s image.
