And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth (Genesis 1:26 KJV).

These are the words of the Lord God Himself during the time of creation (Genesis 1:1). God made man in his own image and likeness and He made them male and female (Genesis 1:27). Some may wonder what it means to be created in the image and likeness of God. That is what this article is all about.

To be made in the image of God means we resemble God. It talks about the resemblance between God and man in appearance. Consider identical twins how they look alike, so also it is with God and man. Though we have the semblance of God, we are not entirely the same in power and some other characteristics.

On the other hand, being made in the likeness of God has to do with the similarity in character. Character like holiness (Leviticus 11:45), purity, justice, equity etc. Man was originally created to posses the character of God until the fall of man in the Garden of Eden thereby paving way for sin to come into the world. Since God is holy, then man should be holy; since God is righteous, then man should be righteous also, but this is not the case in this present world because of the effect of sin in our lives.

The “broken” likeness of God that man should have had if not for sin and the fall of man, is the purpose for which Jesus Christ came to the world that by the sin of one man—Adam many were made sinners without the likeness of God, and by the faithfulness of one Man—Jesus many will be made righteous with the likeness of God restored (Romans 5:19).

Though sin slightly affected the similar image between God and man, sin completely affected the likeness of man with God. Sin affect the similar image we have with God by the disabilities and deformities we see in man today which is still as a result of sin. While on the other hand, sin affects our complete likeness of God in that God is compassionate, holy, God of justice and so many good characteristics. Man does not posses this likeness but rather, wickedness is the major trait of man today (Genesis 6:5) unless being rejuvenated and cleansed by the precious blood of the Lamb (1 John 1:7).

https://www.gospelandtruth.com/2017/12/what-it-means-to-be-made-in-image-and.html?m=1

Its simply means that we possess God's quality such as love, justice,etc these are God's image and likeness d Bible is refering to.

icybeth:
Its simply means that we possess God's quality such as love, justice,etc these are God's image and likeness d Bible is refering to.

That is the point I made, but only those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) because the adamic nature and sin cannot make all man have the the same likeness as God.