4 Aspects of Being Made in God’s Image

What does it mean that God created us in his image? The Imago Dei is a topic that has been debated throughout church history. I do not expect this post to answer all the questions or be the final thought on the matter, but perhaps it may be helpful to prime the pump. In reading theologians, you find that God has attributes, some of which he alone possesses (incommunicable attributes) and others he has shared with us in creating us (communicable attributes). In considering the image of God in man, four categories of communicable attributes rise to the top.

1. We Are Rational Beings

Humans possess mental capabilities that set them apart from other creatures. The cognitive capabilities include the advanced ability to learn, reason, and think logically. Additionally, we have the gift of language. This ability to know and communicate truth in language is also one of the reasons it is so significant that Jesus himself, the true God-man, is called the Word (Logos). We are also rationally aware of eternity, as Ecclesiastes 3:11 suggests, indicating that God has placed a sense of the eternal in the human heart. Our likeness to God concerning our rational abilities is also evident in our creativity. This creativity extends to various forms of artistic expression, such as music, literature, and scientific inventions. We have the capacity to innovate and produce, reflecting our divine creative nature. Though there are distinctions between God’s rational abilities and ours, for instance, God does not learn; he already knows, our mental capabilities are considered part of God’s image.

2. We Are Spiritual Beings

Humans are spiritual beings. We believe that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. This truth means we can exist apart from the body, though we are not complete without it. We also have a spiritual self-conscious life, which is much more than chemical reactions in the brain, that sets us apart from animals, which do not engage in contemplating their existence. This spiritual conscious life plays into our awareness of eternity, which was mentioned in point one. We do not die at death.

3. We Are Moral Beings

As moral beings, we are expected to live in accordance with God’s moral standards. It is inherent in human nature to have a moral compass and an understanding of right and wrong. Scripture says his law is written on our hearts. All human beings come into existence with the requirement to live a certain way in alignment with these moral standards. These moral standards are expressions of God’s good nature. In our innate moral life, we see the image of God. Even when we pervert it with sin, the fact that we know we have perverted it shows his image remains.

4. We Are Social Beings

In addition to these aspects, there is a social dimension to being made in the image of God. God himself is a social being. He is one being, comprised of three persons—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He has eternally existed in a loving social relationship. We are designed to live in relationships with both God and others. Our social nature is why Genesis 2:18 says, “It is not good for man to be alone.” As Augustine famously said, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord and our heart is restless until it rests in you,” highlighting the inherent human need for social connection with his creator.

Though there is much more we could unpack, these four categories should always be considered when pondering the Imago Dei.

-D. Eaton