What is the image of God in which man was created?

If the Bible tells us that man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), it does not say that man looked like God physically. We must not think of the body of man, the colour of his skin or hair, etc. God is Spirit (John 4:24) and a body of flesh and bones cannot resemble a spirit in the true sense of the word.

No, we must think about it in another way:

1. Man is gifted with a mind and intelligence. God is the Supreme Intelligence in the Universe. He gave man some intelligence when he created him. Man can think and reason.

2. Man has the power of choice. He has a free will. God created him with the power to live a true life that is upright and holy (Ephesians 4:23-24). He was created with a happy and prayerful spirit which can rejoice in his Creator.

3. Man was created with the power to rule over nature. God is the King of the Universe. He gave man the faculty to be able to rule over part of it (Genesis 1:28).

4. Man was created an immortal being. God is immortal. It is a sad story that sin robbed man of immortality. Jesus had to come to restore that happy immortality for all who believe in Him (John 10:28). The unbelievers shall die the second death (Revelation 20:14-15).

5. Man has the capability to create. He manufactures wonderful things. Sad to say, because of sin, he also destroys.

6. God is love (1 John 4:7-8), and therefore He created mankind to love Him and to love one another (Matthew 22:37-40).

In the new heaven and new earth the image of God shall be completely restored in the saved people. (Read Revelation 21-22.) Allow God to change you in order to make you more of an image of God, even today!