The Image and Likeness of God

On the sixth day, God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness." What does the image and likeness of God look like? Did that image and likeness of God pass from Adam to all his descendants? Are we today in the image and likeness of God?

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Adam was created in this image and likeness but he sinned prior to procreating a son. Genesis 5:1 says, "In the day when God created man [Adam], He made him in the likeness of God." But, "When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth" (Genesis 5:3).

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Seth was not in the image and likeness of God but instead was in the image of his fallen father Adam. Each one of us was born into the same sinful image and likeness. The Psalmist wrote; "I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me" (Psalm 51:5).

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The only way for man to be remade into the image and likeness of God is through Jesus. This all takes place on the inside. The Psalmist understood this and wrote; "Thou dost desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part Thou wilt make me know wisdom... Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (Psalm 51:6, 10).

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This is exactly what the New Testament teaches, "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). How does God do this? By His Spirit! Ezekiel foresaw that when Messiah would come we could receive His Spirit. Then the Lord declared; "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances" (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

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Today you can begin your journey to being remade into the image and likeness of God through Christ, "being transformed into the same image [of Christ] from Glory to Glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18).