Imago Dei Part 1 Creation

Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion… So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 1:26-27 NKJV.

The picture above is part of a painting called The Creation of Adam, painted by Michelangelo Buonarroti as part of his enormous fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Imago Dei, (pronounced “E-mago Day-e”), directly translates from Latin to mean the “image of God.” It is that defining concept that humans mirror God’s nature. It comes from the Biblical teaching that human beings were created in the image and likeness of God.

Imago Dei is one of the most foundational Bible truths about what it means to be human.

Our text for this Brief Word is key.

  • Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion…
    Genesis 1:26

Then Genesis 1:27 repeats the idea three times:

  • So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
    Genesis 1:27

This is amazing, extraordinary, phenomenal. Of everything God created, humanity receives this unique description: We are made in the image of God. The Bible does not say that the mountains, oceans, animals, angels, or stars were made in God’s image. Humanity and only humanity bears the image and likeness of God.

And notice something else: this is said before the fall.

Our identity does not begin with sin. It begins with God’s creative intention.

Some folk have difficulty in the fact that God created us Amago Dei, “image of God.” In this Brief Word, Part 1, let’s have a look at that.

Paul says this.

  • For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

The writer of Psalm 145 says this.

  • 5I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,
    And     (On the words of your wonderous works) on Your wondrous works.
    6 Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
    And I will declare Your greatness.
    7 They shall     (eagerly utter, literally bubbled forth) utter the memory of Your great goodness, And shall sing of Your righteousness.
    Psalm 145:5-7

I love that. … I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,
And (On the words of your wonderous works) on Your wondrous works …

God’s Activity reveals His Identity. What God does speaks volumes. The works, the acts, the amazing things God does, they speak! They have a voice. They can’t help but herald the wonder of their creator. They have God’s mark, His stamp, His branding upon them. Everything God does has His mark, His ID upon it, and it speaks, it can’t help it. (See Psalm 19:1).

That’s us too because we are made in the image of God. We are a living witness. We are His workmanship. We have His mark, His style, His brand, His stamp upon us. We are a trophy of His grace.

Just as;

  1. Baking gives away the identity of the baker — you know what I mean; that fruit cake was definitely made by Mrs Smith.
  2. Driving style gives away the identity of the driver — my family reckon they could tell it was me coming home when I was a block or two away, just by the driving style. (I wasn’t speeding though, I promise).
  3. Writing gives away the identity of the writer — it’s true. every writer has a certain style which marks their work.
  4. Craftsmanship gives away the identity of the craftsman — when we get to know somebody’s work, it becomes obvious whose work it is.

So too, what God does, His activity, His wonderous works, gives away the identity of God who did it. They can’t help but herald the wonder of their creator. That’s us! Yes. We can’t help but declare, or herald, the wonder of our Creator.

Because who we are, just speaks. We are his creation. We are his workmanship. So we just walk out the door and we are witnessing. Just being filled with the Holy Spirit, walking in His joy and love, filled with His word and hope, we are a living billboard of God. As some have said; “We are the only Bible many people will read”.

But what does Imago Dei, “image of God” actually mean?

Imago Dei describes humanity’s unique created relationship, resemblance and responsibility to God. We don’t look physically like God — because “God is Spirit” (John 4:24). But we reflect God in ways appropriate to creatures.

We have rational, moral, and responsibility abilities – God is a rational, moral and responsible Being, and humanity reflects something of that character.

We have creative skills. God creates. And humanity, made in His image, also creates. We build, write, compose, design, cultivate, organise, invent and develop. Of course, God creates ex nihilo — out of nothing — whereas we create from what God has already provided. However, our creativity reflects something of our Creator.

The ultimate destiny of man is included in the account of his beginning. He who made him in His image, “one of us,” will one day call him upward to be with others also called heavenward, surrounding the throne of God the Creator. The possession of a divine image is the pledge of an eternal location with the Divine Presence.

Man’s location and vocation on the earth (See Genesis 2:15), reveals an immediate connection to God and His likeness. He is ruler here that he may be prepared for higher rule elsewhere.

The resemblance must also be in spirit, as well as intellect and morality. Man was made as the supreme creation of a Holy God, to be a companion of God. So in man’s earthly existence there is also a spiritual affinity. … “Also He has put eternity in their hearts” … (See Ecclesiastes 3:11). God gave people a natural sense of things that go beyond this physical world. People have a deep inner sense of time without end and a spiritual world.

The image is therefore not only about what we are; it also concerns what we were created to do. Humanity was commissioned to represent God’s rule within His creation. We are God’s image-bearers and His appointed stewards.

Remember these three words: Relationship, Resemblance, and Responsibility.

Obviously, the fall messed things up a little bit, but we’ll get onto that in the next Brief Word.

Imago Dei. Made in the image of God. … we are His workmanship … God created man in His own image …

That’s you and me.

Issue #171 September 2026. Brief Word will come out about every month. Feel free to forward, photocopy and/or post this Brief Word to your Friends. You may be the very means God uses to impact someone’s life with the reality of the love of Jesus and the life changing power of God’s Word. If you wish to be on our regular E-Mailing list, please use the SUBSCRIBE form . If you would prefer to receive this E-Mail in Plain Text, please inform us. If you no longer wish to receive the Brief Word, you can unsubscribe at any time. Check out www.goodwords.nz for free articles, archive copies of Brief Word and other resources.