Some Clarification on the Image of God in Man

God’s bitter providence in 2020 revealed a significant theological problem that still exists—a misunderstanding about the image of God in man. Though various concerns motivated pugnacity toward masks, some Christians thought that being told to wear masks was unacceptable on the basis of concealing the image of God in man. Some Christians seem to align with Mormonism more than historic Christianity. Maybe the idolatry of the Sistine Chapel is influencing them more than they know!

Do we see God’s divine image in our eyes, nose, mouth, complexion, and so forth? Is wearing sunglasses a partial obstruction of the glory of God in our eyes? Whatever you thought about masks during the pandemic, what does it mean for human beings to be created in the image of God. The theology is most important.

Setting the consideration of Jesus and 2 Corinthians 4:6 aside, the moment we say the image of God is reflected in the face of mere human beings, we are arguing that the image of God is physical or temporal. Right? Should we be thinking of God in physical or temporal ways? Scripture uses anthropomorphisms to talk about God (e.g. God’s hand, face, etc.), but does that mean we should think of God in physical or temporal ways? I don’t think it’s wise.

For one, as the Children’s Catechism states, “God is a spirit and does not have a body.” [1] In John 4:24, Jesus clearly stated, “God is spirit.” In Luke 24:39, after the resurrection, Jesus said, “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” Make no mistake, Jesus is the God-man, but he was referring to his resurrected human body. God is a spirit and does not have flesh and bones. The divinity of Jesus is not the humanity of Jesus. The two natures shouldn’t be mixed, mingled, confused, or separated from his one person. Let’s try to avoid Monophysitism and Nestorianism! Certainly, the God-man Jesus has flesh and bones because he is one person with two natures, a divine nature and a human nature. Contrary to Word of Faith theology, we are simply human.

Additionally, the Bible teaches that God is invisible. 1 Timothy 1:17 states, “To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” Paul also said in Colossians 1:15, that Jesus is the “image of the invisible God.” So, God is invisible. Should we then think of God’s image in man in a physical way?

In his excellent commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism, Zacharias Ursinus argued, “The image of God, in which man was created, consisted not in the shape or form of the body, but in the essence of the soul, in its powers and integrity.” [2] Spot on Ursinus!

Consider Paul’s line of thought in Ephesians 4. In verse 22, Paul says, “put off your old self” that is “corrupt through deceitful desires.” Is he talking about shedding our skin like a snake? No. He’s talking about our sinful nature or the corruption within us. Not physical, spiritual. He then adds “to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self.” Is this renewal and new self physical or spiritual? It’s spiritual. We are not putting on a new layer of skin. That’s creepy. We’re putting on a new spiritual self. And Ephesians 4:24 makes it all plain. This new self is “created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” There it is. The likeness of God is righteousness and holiness, not beautiful skin complexions and high cheek bones, because the image of God in man is spiritual, immaterial.

With human depravity in mind, Heidelberg Catechism 6 asks, “Did God, then, create man so wicked and perverse?” Listen to how the answer talks about the image of God in man:

No, on the contrary, God created man good and in His image, that is, in true righteousness and holiness, so that he might rightly know God his Creator, heartily love Him, and live with Him in eternal blessedness to praise and glorify Him.

The image of God in man is not physical, and we should not think of God in physical terms. That would be idolatry. Heidelberg Catechism 121 warns us “not to think of God’s heavenly majesty in an earthly manner” (HC 121). We ought not to think of God as a pale white muscular man with flowing gray hair and beard as the Sistine Chapel grossly depicts Him. Again, God is an invisible spirit who cannot be depicted accurately with any level of reverence. The image of God in man is spiritual. God created man good and also in His image. What image? True righteousness and holiness.

I think the Westminster Confession of Faith is helpful at this point. It says in 4:2 that “[God] created man, male and female, with reasoning minds and immortal souls, having knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after His image.” [3] Could a mask, sunglasses, or makeup inhibit a rational mind? Could a mask, sunglasses, or makeup conceal our immortal soul, our knowledge, our righteousness, and our holiness? No.

God created us in His image, as rational and relational creatures, as immortal souls with the capacity of knowledge, righteousness, holiness, and love in order that we might rightly know God as our Creator, heartily love Him, and dwell in His presence forever to praise and glorify Him. Your dog doesn’t know and love God like you do. Your cat doesn’t either. No other physical or temporal or earthly creature bears the image of God. Only you and I do (albeit now it is corrupted by sin).

Our bodies will be glorious at the resurrection. Yes, we are human beings who are different from God. We are creature; God is Creator. We are body and soul, and we are also being conformed to the image of Christ – we were predestined unto this glorious end (Rom. 8:29) – and it’s not some miraculous plastic surgery. As our bodies wear out, we are being conformed to the image of God’s Son as we become more like him in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We become more like his beautiful image when more and more the Holy Spirit awakens in us “a heartfelt joy in God through Christ and a love and delight to live according to the will of God in all good works” (HC 90). It’s not physical, but it is gloriously spiritual.

Isn’t it marvelous that as your face gets a little fuller and the wrinkles take over, deep within your heart God is restoring His image in you by the power of the gospel? You are being made like Christ. Yes, your body will be resurrected like Christ’s physical body, but your soul will be perfected, made magnificently beautiful. Though it may be reflected a bit there (e.g., the inner joy of a smile), the beauty of God is not in your face, it’s in the sanctification of your heart. 

[1] Philip Rollinson & Mark E. Ross, The Children’s Catechism: A New, Modern Version (Signal Mountain: Summertown Texts, 1988), 4.

[2] Zacharias Ursinus, The Commentary of Dr. Zacharias Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism, Trans. Rev. G. W. Williard, A. M. Electronic version Ed. Eric D. Bristley, TH.M. (2004), 244. 

[3] The Confessions of Our Faith, Fortress Edition, ed. Rev. Brian W. Kinney (Fortress Book Service & Publishers, 2007), 9.

Quotes from the Heidelberg Catechism are taken from Zacharias Ursinus & Jonathan Shirk, The Heidelberg Catechism (Manheim: Small Town Theologian, 2021).

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