what does the image of God mean?

Question

Maybe image is short for imagination. Perhaps God imagined the world. and gave us the power to create our own reality. I am interested in your answers. As for me, I don't know and thats the truth according to me. Mawdy

Answer 1

Since God is not physical, He has no true physical image. Human being made in God's image - in His likeness - means that unlike any other creature in God's Creation, we have souls. Along with that comes consciousness, free will, true emotions and the ability to discern right from wrong.

Answer 2

"Created in His image" or "in His likeness", to me, means that God gave us (our souls) a human body. The body is a physical matter that is not made in His image. It's our soul, the spiritual level of our essence. He puts our soul into a body when we are conceived inside our mother's womb. It's the soul that longs for it's Creator. It's the soul that searches for the Truth. It's the soul that longs to be reunited with it's Creator. The soul is our spiritual being, our spiritual essence that is like God's image. Because God isn't a physical form, He is a spirit, a spiritual force, energy.

This is my opinion based on my Catholic faith and what I've been reading about in the past 4 yrs. And from my prayers. I hope this make some sense to you.

Answer 3

Genesis 1:26 & 27 says, "Let us make man[kind] in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

"So God created man[kind] in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them."

From these two verses, we see that the replication is of a single image. And into three forms. Since God is a spirit, we are, primarily, spiritual replicas, at least apart from sin.

man[kind], collectively
man or woman, the individual and
man & woman, the married union

The first use of the word "man" is necessarily plural, because the second clause refers to man as "them". I would hazard a guess that the diversity of human personality can be attributed to the fact that God is replicating His infinite nature in finite creatures, so that each of us represents a different facet of Him.

I take it when God says we're in His image that we're like a photograph or a mirror reflection. (Figurativly speaking) God and the spiritual realm are the REAL substance and man and his physical kingdom are merely a flat one dimensional representation of what is REAL.

The awesome thing is that one day we get to step out of the photographic limitations of the physical and into the Real world.
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Answer 4

Having the “image” or “likeness” of God means, in the simplest terms, 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 a spirit” (John 4:24) 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.

The image of God refers to the immaterial part of man. It sets man apart from the animal world, fits him for the “dominion” God intended (Genesis 1:28), and enables him to commune with his Maker. It is a likeness mentally, morally, and socially.

Mentally, man was created as a rational, volitional agent—in other words, man can reason and man can choose. This is a reflection of God’s intellect and freedom. Any time 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, man was created in righteousness and perfect innocence, a reflection of God’s holiness. God saw all that He had made (mankind included) and called it “very good” (Genesis 1:31). 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, he is confirming the fact that we are made in God’s own image.

Socially, man was created for fellowship. This reflects God's triune nature and His love. In Eden, man’s primary relationship was with God (Genesis 3:8 implies fellowship with God), and God made the first woman because “it is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). Every time someone marries a wife, makes a friend, hugs a child, or attends a church, he is demonstrating the fact that we are made in the likeness of God.

Answer 5

Well, you can't be sure, that's for sure. But, that's a very good question. Why did God create all this? Maybe He didn't have the ultimate power to control his power? Maybe we are an essential part of Him from the start. The countless souls "separated" and now exist in an illusory reality. Or everything around us is currently a part of Him. When you look at yourself and ask yourself "Who am I?" - What do you see? Is it you, or a binded soul, seeking God?

Answer 6

Like.......God made man in His own image, that kind of thing?
My belief is God created every single solitary thing, including the vast endless universe. On top of that, even though I think it would be cool if there was other life on other planets. I don't believe there is, yes I believe that we are that special, to God that we are it.
God gave us free will. He gave us choice, because he didn't want puppets. So yes, I agree with creating your own reality, creating your own life ect. But the whole idea of all of Life was His doing. MLJ

Answer 7

"image of god" let's people have their own imaginations about a higher power. That way they feel like their imaginary friend is all their own & it's tailor made. In this way they are less likely to stray from the herd. Your own personal jesus.

Answer 8

When God spoke of man being in His image and likeness, it means that man is a spiritual being and God commentates through man by His Spirit.

Answer 9

Most often, people seem to assume that as humans are 'made in the image of God' that we actually look like God.

However, I believe this statement instead means that aspects of our being as humans reflect God. Specifically, I speak of our faculties of reason, our creative drives, and our capacity for love.

Answer 10

God the Father Word & Holy Spirit.

When we are born of God, we are made into Christ righteousness and also in the image of God restored (almost). We are a body, soul & spirit. God is also a body, soul & spirit. God the Father, Word & Holy Spirit.