Genesis 1:27, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
You are an image bearer of God. The Bible teaches that God created us in “His own image,” in Latin this is called the, “imago dei.” Though biblical scholars have taken different positions on what exactly being made in God’s image altogether entails one thing is clear; humanity is the pinnacle of God’s creation.
Never let a day go by without expressing your gratitude for the privilege of being made in God’s image. No other creation has the honor that we have because we can freely know and love God by being partakers of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).
Consider the following two ways you are fearfully and wonderfully made; first, you are a spiritual being living in a physical body. The physical body is just a shell that your spirit and soul reside in. Think of your body as an “earth suit.” Though your spirit is influenced and limited by the body, when the body dies your spirit lives on. Then after Judgment Day, if you’ve been born again, you will be given a glorified body to rule and reign with Christ on the earth (2 Corinthians 5:4).
Second, you are a spiritual person who has a soul. Your spiritual life is what gives you existence and your soul is what gives you expression of your personhood. The soul consists of your mind, will and emotions. Though all humans are created alike as spirits with souls, your soul is one-of-a-kind. No one else has a soul like yours because each person’s soul is uniquely developed through your life’s experiences (Genesis 2:8).
Sadly, now because of Adam’s sin, you are a spiritual soul that lives in a sinful body. This may be hard to swallow, but it is no less true. When Adam and Eve sinned humanity was cursed. Now all people’s nature is born in sin (Genesis 2:17). That is why we must be born again in our spiritual soul (John 3:3), face physical death (Hebrews 9:27) and then be resurrected in perfection at the renewal of all things in our body (Revelation 20:6). Alistair Begg wrote, “Within each of us exists the image of God, however disfigured and corrupted by sin it may presently be. God is able to recover this image through grace as we are conformed to Christ.”
Now that you know who you are, God commands you to be born again (if you haven’t already). To be born again is to be made new spiritually and renewed in your soul. Then once you have been born again you are to live for Jesus in the sinful body (flesh) until either your body dies or Christ returns. If you die and go to heaven before Christ returns, when He comes back on Judgment Day you will come back with Him and receive a new resurrected body (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
Take responsibility for who you are and live for Jesus. Consider what Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Make this your prayer everyday; to be wholly holy in your spirit, soul and body.
Reflection
Do you believe you are who the Bible says you are?
Action
- Come to Jesus and be born again if you haven’t already (John 3:3).
- Daily be renewed in your soul (mind) (Romans 12:1-2).
- Consider your sinful body and its desires dead because it was crucified with Christ (Galatians 5:24).
