How are we made in God's image?

"Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man's nostrils, and the man became a living person." —Genesis 2:7 (NLT)

Genesis 1:26-27 tells us that humans are made in God's image. That means that we have things like free will, a sense of morality, and a desire for community with others. We were created with the ability to love, have rational thoughts, and be creative with our intellect and imagination. These are all properties of having a spiritual soul made by God.

Humans have a unique quality that only WE have though. Our soul—our being and personhood—is comprised of both a spirit and a body. Since God is a spiritual being, why did He also give us physical bodies? A physical body is not what we usually think of as a part of God's nature, though He CAN take physical form whenever He wants (Genesis 3:8; 18:1-33; 32:22-30). And of course, He took on a physical form as Jesus (John 1:1-3; John 10:30).

The Bible doesn't specify why God chose to give us bodies, but we can trust that God specifically designed physical bodies in a physical world to be the context in which we can love Him and love others. Unfortunately, human beings are quick to use their physical bodies to sin against God and hurt others—rather than loving them.

Using Bodies for Sin

"Their feet run to do evil, and they rush to commit murder. They think only about sinning. Misery and destruction always follow them." —Isaiah 59:7

We're inconsistent in using our bodies for good. Our mouths praise Him and curse Him (Psalm 150; Leviticus 24:10-12; James 3:9). Our hands lift in prayer and make idols (Psalm 63:4; 115:4). Our feet travel to spread the gospel and rush to do evil (Isaiah 52:7; 59:7). This is all a result of sin.

Using Bodies for Good

While sin may have become a part of our nature, God gives us personal inspiration through the Holy Spirit (John 14:26) along with powerful tools to take control of our bodies and fight the sin we fall into so easily. These tools are the Bible, Jesus, and the local church.

The Bible.

Scripture includes what God wants us to know so we can live a good, fulfilling life. The Bible reveals our sin and leads us back to the right path (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16).

Jesus.

The Son of God came to earth as a human (Philippians 2:7). He was tempted in every way we are, but He didn't sin (Hebrews 4:15). He kept His focus on what God wanted Him to do and spent time with God regularly to keep that connection. He promises to give us that same ability if we abide in Him (John 15:1-8).

The local church.

Jesus also gave us the church—a local group of believers with whom we can find fellowship. We're to teach, support, and pray for each other (Acts 2:42). We correct each other with gentleness and patience (Galatians 6:1-2) and welcome sinners home when they repent (2 Corinthians 2:5-11). Community is so, so good for the body and soul.

Broken People in a Broken World

Because we live in a sinful, broken world, our bodies and spirits are broken as well. Our bodies incur injury and disease. They grow old, and they eventually die. Our spirits are crushed by mental illness, addiction, isolation, and the heaviness of existing in such a broken place (Proverbs 18:14).

This was not God's plan for us; it's the result of sin—Adam and Eve's, our own, those who sin against us, and the accumulated sin of generations. For those who trust in Christ, brokenness isn't the end (John 3:16-17). Jesus physically rose from the dead, and we will too (John 20:27; Philippians 3:21). Our bodies, like our hearts, will be renewed.

"[Jesus] will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control." —Philippians 3:21

God gave us both a spiritual soul and physical bodies so we could love, honor, and worship Him and express His love to others. Because humans are fallen, we don't do that very well on earth. One day, though, God's followers will be resurrected into whole, glorified bodies—designed to love and worship God for eternity (1 Corinthians 15:42-53; Revelation 21:27).

"Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again." —1 Thessalonians 5:23

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