Charts - Index

Made in the Image of God

Before the fall: "So God created man in His own image...." Genesis 1:27

After the fall: "For in the image of God He made man." Genesis 9:6

Jesus Christ, our Lord -- the eternal image of God: "But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

The Image of God in man

Before the fall:

Pure & holy

After the fall:

Corrupted & defaced

Through the cross:

Renewed in Christ
Holy, innocent: "God created man in His own image....  God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good." Gen 1:27, 31 Driven by guilt and fear, quick to blame: "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” Gen 3:12 The exchanged life: Christ's purity replaces our marred image: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." Gal 2:20
Enjoyed the amazing blessing of God's holy presence and provisions "...without Christ... and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." Eph 2:12

 "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." Eph 2:13

   "There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."  Rom 8:1
"...they were both naked... and were not ashamed." Gen 2:25 Adam felt shame: " I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." Gen 3:10 No shame: "...you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us... righteousness and sanctification and redemption — that... “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”  1 Cor 1:30-31
Had received perfect, uncorrupted life from God -- spiritual as well as physical Spiritually dead: "you... were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to... the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience ...." Eph 2:1-2 New life in Christ: "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ." Eph 2:4-6
God's special creation, called to be God's friends and stewards of the rest of creation. Under a curse: "...we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath." Eph 2:3 Freed from the curse: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." Eph 2:8
No separation. Walked and talked with God, and wanted to do His will.

 

 Separation from God: Unbelievers "walk in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God...." Eph 4:17-18
 

Separation unto God: "do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."  Rom 12:2     "...put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him." Col 3:10
Had original knowledge. No understanding: "Professing to be wise, they became fools.... as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind...." Rom 1:22, 28

Spirit-given knowledge: “'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard... the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.' But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit." 1 Co 2:9-10

  "...renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him...." Col 3:10
Motivated by love for God. Sought to please Him. Driven by lusts: "Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves." Ro 1:24 Freed from lust: "...as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.... reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom 6:4, 11
Fully satisfied, all needs met. Never satisfied: "...have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." Eph 4:19 Fully satisfied: "my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Phil 4:19
Jesus -- eternal, pure, holy and righteous - manifests that image: "He is the image of the invisible God...." Col 1:15  "our gospel is... veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." 2 Co 4:3-4 Our new image must be like Jesus: "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son." Rom 8:29

 

"... as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another... even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

    "But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

    "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."  Col 3:12-17

"It is the soul... that does especially bear God’s image." Matthew Henry

The soul

Humanity - Made in God's image
 In Christ  Apart from Christ
Heart

“the law written in their hearts....” Rom 2:15

“out of the heart proceed evil thoughts... fornications... blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man.” Matt 15:19-20
Mind

“.those who live according to the Spirit, [set their minds on] the things of the Spirit.” Rom 8:5

     “But we have the mind of Christ.” Cor 2:15

“...those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh.” Rom 8:5

       “You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Matt 16:23
Conscience

“being convicted by their conscience...” John 8:9

     I... strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.” Acts 24:16

“having their own conscience seared...” 1 Tim 4:1

     “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! ...Nor did they know how to blush.”  Jer 6:15
Will

“let us draw near with a true heart... our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience.” Heb 10:22

  “Set your mind on things above...” Col 3:2

“...they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction....who set their mind on earthly things.” Phil 3:18-19

Emotions

 

“fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace...” Gal 5:22

“works of the flesh [human nature]: hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath...” Gal 5:19-21

 

“...you shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart,

with all your soul,

with all your mind,

and with all your strength.”

 Mark 12:30

Matthew Henry's Commentary:

"Man was not made in the likeness of any creature that went before him, but in the likeness of his Creator; yet still between God and man there is an infinite distance. Christ only is the express image of God’s person, as the Son of his Father, having the same nature. It is only some of God’s honour that is put upon man, who is God’s image only as the shadow in the glass...."

"Adam was made in the image of God; but, when he was fallen and corrupt, he begat a son in his own image, sinful and defiled, frail, mortal.... consisting of body and soul, but a sinner like himself, guilty and obnoxious...."

"Such remains of God’s image are still even upon fallen man as that he who unjustly kills a man defaces the image of God and does dishonour to him."
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