God tells us in the very first chapter of the Bible that he created man to be like him. "Then God said, Let us make man in our image, in our likeness' . . . So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them" (Gen 1:26-27).
In these verses we see two similar phrases, "in his image," and "in his likeness." These are translations of two similar Hebrew words, both of which are probably used for literary emphasis. These words primarily mean "a pattern," in the sense of specifications from which an actual item is made. The second meaning is "shape" or "form," referring to the objects made from a given pattern. All of this means that man had enough of God's features to closely resemble him. God created two genders, male and female, yet each person closely resembled each other and their creator.
"When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth" (Gen 5:3). Again we see the phrases "in his likeness" and "in his image," the same two Hebrew words. Adam was Seth's father and they had the same basic features they both had physical bodies, human natures and spirits; they had the same needs. We make such statements as, "Like father, like son" or "He's the spittin' image of his dad." That is what these Hebrew words imply about Adam and Seth.
Since these words also appear in Genesis 1:26-27, what does this suggest about man's nature compared to God's? Man in his original form was a lot more like God than many of us realize. Man is a human trinity (spirit, mind and body) as God is a spiritual trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). God has authority over his environment, and he created man to do the same. Man was to have such a relationship with God that he was virtually one with God, as the members of the Trinity are one. We can only speculate about other ways in which Adam was like his creator.
Consider another place where one of these Hebrew words occurs, Ezekiel 1:22 "Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked like an expanse, sparkling like ice and awesome." The phrase, "looked like," is one of the same Hebrew words used in Genesis 1:26-27 and 5:3. Seth looked like Adam his father, and Adam looked like God his creator. They had enough of the same features that one reminded you of the other. Based on this, consider how far mankind has fallen and how much potential mankind has in God.
When the New Testament refers to images, it uses the Greek word eikon. One meaning of this word is "an artistic representation." Some computer programs use icons, small pictures representing available program options. This is the same concept, that of a pictorial representation, and the English word, "icon," is derived from the Greek word eikon.
The Greek word also suggests a mental image. Obviously, a mental image does not have the same substance as its subject, but it has the same features and qualities. In other places the word refers to a likeness, manifestation or revelation. It's primary translations are "image," "likeness," and "reality."
Let us consider a few verses that translate eikon as "image." Second Corinthians 4:4 refers to "Christ, who is the image of God." Colossians 1:15 reads, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." As the eikon of God, Jesus was not only in the form of God but was equal to God. Philippians 2:6 also says that he, "being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped." The resemblance between Jesus and God was so strong that Jesus could say, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (Jn 14:9). Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God; he has the same nature, represents him in every aspect and is equal to him. Jesus was and is a perfect representation of the Father.
The word eikon is also translated "image" in verses that describe the process of your spiritual growth. For example, Colossians 3:10 says you have "put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image (eikon) of its Creator." Notice that your new self "is being renewed," which is in the present tense and describes a continuing process. You have taken off your old self with its sinful practices and put on your new self, yet your new self is being renewed; it is not in a state of perfection. Your goal is perfection, becoming an exact replica of Jesus, your Creator, and you have taken an important first step by exchanging your old nature for a new one. But your new nature needs to be developed, to have Jesus' features molded into it, to have his nature matured in it, to have his attitudes fostered in it. Your salvation experience was not an arrival, but a beginning, and you should continue developing on a daily basis into the image of Jesus.
This verse also tells how you are developing into his image: "in knowledge." The Greek word describes the process of coming to a full understanding of something as it really is; not just forming an opinion about it. You know how easy it is to form a wrong opinion about something and believe it to be true. Instead, this refers to an accurate and complete knowledge, but even more than having facts it implies a thorough understanding of the facts. How do humans come to a complete understanding of a subject? By experiencing it first-hand. People learn better by personal experience, which is why lab sessions are such important additions to classroom training, for example.
Now back to our original thought: being renewed in knowledge in the image of your Creator. Personal, experiential knowledge of Jesus is crucial to your being renewed in his image. Each time you experience him, your understanding of him becomes a little more accurate and complete, and you can become a little more like him. As you increasingly become more like him, you are able to experience more of his nature, which in turn increases your understanding of him, which refines you more into his image, and so on.
First John 3:2 supports this concept: "But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." You cannot see him as he is unless you are like him. You must have the same nature to recognize his; "It takes one to know one." Your nature and those of everyone around you are so radically different from his that you cannot even imagine what he is really like; you have never experienced anyone like him. If he were to show you everything about himself, you simply could not comprehend what you saw; it would be too much for you, though you are his child and he lives within you.
That is why God uses two related processes and causes them to work together: understanding him fully, and becoming fully like him. As we stated earlier, when you see his nature and understand him better, you become more like him. As your nature becomes more like his, you are able to see and understand him better. I think that is one reason Paul said, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Php 3:10- 11). Jesus' sufferings, death and resurrection were the ultimate expressions of God's character. Paul recognized that by experiencing these, he had opportunity for God's character to be developed in him. Knowing Christ, sharing the same experiences and becoming like him are all interrelated experiences.
You have "put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image (eikon) of its Creator (Col 3:10)."
The word eikon also means "likeness," as it appears in First Corinthians 15:49: "And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven." In this verse the word occurs twice, describing your similarity to earthly man and your similarity to the heavenly man Jesus. Now, do you simply look like mankind? No. Since you have all the features of humanity, everyone considers you human. Even if you were missing some features, you would still be human; deformed maybe, but human.
What does this suggest about your bearing the likeness of Christ? Going back to the concept of an icon, the more your nature becomes like his that is, the more of his characteristics you develop the more fully you will represent him and participate in his work on earth.
The Book of Acts describes an incident that reveals some of the danger inherent in trying to do the work of God without the nature of God.
Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. The evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know and Paul I know about, but who are you?" Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and over-powered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding (Acts 19:13-16).
Demons have had first-hand exposure to Jesus because they served him in heaven before he expelled them with Satan. The demon described in this passage said, "Jesus I know." He had not encountered Paul, although he had heard about him; "Paul I know about." I would never want to confront a demon-possessed person, and have him look me in the face and say, as this one said to the sons of Sceva, "Who do you think you are?" Trying to do the work of God without his nature is not only hazardous, it is foolish. A true icon of God not only has his likeness, but also represents his power.
This article is a brief excerpt of a book chapter which addresses the following topics: