The word “image” in Hebrew is “tselem”, which refers to a representation or likeness. Being made in the image of God means that humanity uniquely reflects God’s character, attributes, and authority. It does not mean we are divine or possess God’s infinite qualities, but it does mean that we were created to mirror aspects of His nature.

1. Relationality: God is a personal and relational being. As humans, we reflect this by our ability to form relationships—with God and with one another.
2. Rationality: God is a God of order and reason, and we reflect this through our capacity for thought, creativity, and problem-solving.
3. Moral Agency: God is holy and just, and we reflect His image through our ability to discern right from wrong and make moral choices.

The Trinity and Our Design

God’s statement, “Let Us make man in Our image” (Genesis 1:26), reveals the relational nature of God as a Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is one Being, yet three distinct Persons, eternally co-existing in perfect unity. As humans, we reflect this triune nature in our own being. While we are not divine, we are what some theologians call a “mini-trinity,” consisting of body, soul, and spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Just as God’s triune nature emphasizes community and relationship, we are created to thrive in relationship—with God and with others. This reflects the eternal love and unity of the Trinity.

The Coin and God’s Ownership of Us

In Matthew 22:20-21, Jesus asked the Pharisees, “Whose image and inscription is this?” when referring to a Roman coin. They replied, “Caesar’s.” Jesus then responded, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

The deeper truth here is profound: just as Caesar’s image on the coin represented ownership and authority, God’s image is imprinted on us, signifying His ownership and authority over our lives. If we bear His image, we belong to Him, and we are called to submit and yield ourselves fully to His will. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10).

Satan’s Counterfeit: The Image of the Beast

In the end times, Satan, the ultimate deceiver, will attempt to counterfeit everything God has done, including the creation of humanity in His image. Revelation 13:15 warns, “He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.”

Just as God created humanity in His image to reflect His glory, Satan will demand that humanity worship his image. This is a perverse distortion of the Imago Dei, as Satan’s goal has always been to usurp God’s rightful authority and replace it with his own counterfeit kingdom. Those who worship the image of the beast will bear its mark, symbolizing their allegiance to Satan’s rebellion rather than submission to God.

Living as God’s Image Bearers

Understanding that we are made in God’s image should profoundly shape how we live. We were created to glorify God, to reflect His attributes, and to represent His authority on earth. As image-bearers, we are called to:

• Love God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37).
• Reflect His character through holiness and obedience (1 Peter 1:15-16).
• Represent Him on earth, exercising stewardship over creation and proclaiming the Gospel (Genesis 1:28, Matthew 28:19-20).

To live in rebellion against God is to deny our purpose and mar the image we were created to bear. Conversely, to submit to God is to live in alignment with the design He intended for us, fulfilling our ultimate purpose.

My Final Thoughts

Being made in the image of God is both a privilege and a responsibility. It reminds us of our unique place in creation and calls us to live in submission to our Creator. While Satan will always seek to counterfeit God’s work, those who bear God’s image and walk in His ways will ultimately reflect His glory for eternity. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:18, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Let us live as those who bear God’s image, yielding ourselves fully to Him and glorifying Him in all we do.