Through unpacking Holy Scripture find out what it means to be created as the embodied image of God.
by Jamie Admire
Embodied Image of God
Understanding ourselves as the embodied image of God has far-reaching implications for how we live and relate to one another.
In this article, we'll explore ten scriptural references that affirm this central tenet and how this profound truth speaks to our identity, purpose, and value in the eyes of our Creator.
1 - Book of Genesis
Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness...So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:26-27
This passage from Genesis establishes the fundamental truth that human beings are created in the image and likeness of God, both male and female.
2 - Book of Psalms
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:13-16
This psalm highlights the intimate involvement of God in the formation of each individual, emphasizing the unique and purposeful creation of every human being.
3 - 1st Book of Corinthians
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
This verse underscores the sacredness of our physical bodies, which house the Spirit of God. It emphasizes our responsibility to treat our bodies with reverence.
4 - Book of Colossians
...and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Colossians 3:10
This passage speaks to the process of spiritual transformation, wherein believers are renewed in the knowledge and image of the Creator, reflecting His character.
5 - Book of Ephesians
For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
This verse affirms that we are God's masterpiece, created with a purpose to carry out good works that He has ordained for us.
6 - Book of James
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness.
James 3:9
James cautions against using our speech to harm or demean others, reminding us that all humans bear the likeness of God.
7 - 2nd Book of Corinthians
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
2 Corinthians 4:4
This verse highlights the transformative power of the Gospel, which reveals Christ as the ultimate embodiment of God's image.
8 - Book of Romans
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Romans 8:29
Believers are conformed into the image of Christ, reflecting the character and love of God in the world.
9 - 1st Book of John
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
1 John 3:2
This verse points to our future transformation, culminating in a likeness to Christ when He returns.
10 - Book of Revelation
They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
1 John 3:2
In the heavenly realm, the redeemed will behold the face of God, bearing His name, signifying an intimate union with the Divine.
Closing Thoughts
The scriptural references above affirm the profound truth that humans are created in the image of God. This reality shapes our understanding of identity, purpose, and how we relate to others. As we internalize this truth, may it lead us to honor God with our bodies, treat one another with dignity, and strive to reflect the character of our Creator in all we do.
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