Image and Likeness of God

Call To Prayer 

Title: Image and Likeness of God 

By: Njuacha Hubert 

Date: 13.02.2023 

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” Genesis 1:26 

An image represents a person. It indicates what the person is like. As we read in our opening verse God initially created us in His image and likeness. What does this really mean? Does God have an eye? Does He have a nose? If you say yes, then is He a man or a woman? After careful thinking, surely, we all can conclude that the image and likeness of God is not about our physical form but our spiritual identity. The spirit has no form. (What will it need that for?). So, the image and likeness of God talks about the attributes of God who is spirit.  

Exodus 7:1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. 

When we are walking in the authority God gave us then we are reflecting that likeness of God. 

When you show mercy then you are reflecting the likeness of your heavenly father who is merciful. (Luke 6:36)  

Psalm 82:6 addresses us as gods, sons of the Most high. OfCourse if you are made in the likeness of God what else are you but a god. But as you read psalm 82 you see that there is an expectation from this statue of being a god, you ought to act like Him; again, showing kindness and defending the oppressed, teaching the ignorant the truth etc. Else, you have renounced your statue to be a mere mortal or never were aware of it.  

When we hear all these Godly attributes; kind, merciful, defending the orphans and widows, loving… it all sounds good to the ear and I bet even those who are unbelievers try to emulate these things. But there’s caveat. Our initial likeness of God was corrupted after the fall of Adam and Eve. And, we can’t restore ourselves to the likeness of God by human effort. (Ephesians 2:8) 

However, the good news is that through Jesus Christ who died for the atonement of our sins, we are restored back to our nature in Him the moment we accept and profess Jesus as Lord and Savior.(John 3:1-19) Although our spirit is restored immediately, the mind(soul) needs to renewed progressively through the word of God. (Romans 12:2). As saint Paul puts it, we “work out our salvation…”.( Note that it is not the same as working for your salvation). This requires collaboration with the Holy spirit who guides us in all truth (John 16:13).  As we are renewed then we progressively express more and more the nature of God. Liking what God likes(love) and hating what He hates(sin). Now when you are tempted you have to profess your new reality in Christ. And when we do fall into sin, like David or Peter (Proverbs 24:16) Get up and continue on the path of light (path of the glorious immortals)!

Prayer Point:  

Let’s thank God for His word. Let’s pray a hunger for His word and prayer.