Why Does Imago Dei Matter?

Vivian Bricker

Contributing Writer
Updated Jun 08, 2022
Why Does Imago Dei Matter?

This phrase radically changes how we should see ourselves and how we live.

Imago Dei is the Latin translation of “Image of God.” This phrase radically changes how we should see ourselves and how we live. Since Imago Dei means that we are made in the image of God, it demonstrates how deeply God cares about us and loves us. As human beings, we are unique among God’s other creations. We are the only part of creation that God made in His image.

Made in God’s Image

Genesis 1:27 tells us, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Since we are made in God’s image, it means we are made specifically with qualities that reflect our Creator. Similar to God, God created us with the ability to feel, think, love, have morals, and be creative. Morally, mentally, and socially, we are made in God’s image. 

When we understand this, we can know why Imago Dei matters and how it affects us as human beings. The rest of God’s creation is not made in His image. The earth, planets, plants, trees, the sky, the ocean, and animals were not designed to reflect God’s image. Only mankind was formed through Imago Dei, which makes us unique apart from God’s other creations. By knowing that we are uniquely made in God’s image, it should bring great joy to our souls and great purpose. 

Since we are made in God’s image, it means each of our lives is indispensable and of extreme worth to God. Every person is valuable to God. Nobody is here by accident. You have a wonderful purpose for your life filled with love, joy, and service to the Lord. Never doubt that for a second. 

Life-Changing

By knowing that we are made in God’s image, Imago Dei, we are extremely valuable to God. I know when I first learned that all humans are made in God’s image, I felt like I was worth something for the first time in my life. 

The world tries to tell us that we don’t have worth unless we look a certain way, achieve a certain degree, or are extremely successful. Growing up without knowing Christ and without having a knowledge of theology, I believed in what the world taught about our worth. Rather than knowing I have intrinsic worth because, like all people, I too was made in the image of God, I believed my worth came from my grades, my appearance, or my achievements. Needless to say, to try to obtain worth by the world’s standard is exhausting and impossible. It completely changed my entire life when I finally realized my life had worth because I knew I was made in God’s image.

If you too have struggled with worth, know that you have indescribable value because you are made in God’s image. You are beautiful, wonderful, brave, strong, smart, and creative. You are capable of doing great things because of Christ. Don’t listen to the world’s interpretation of worth because it is all lies. The Bible tells us Satan is the “god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Since Satan is the “god of this age,” we need to be very hesitant of the world’s teachings, such as finding our worth in the things man deems valuable.

Freedom

A crucial part of the importance of Imago Dei is the fact that since we are made in God’s image, we have free will. Every human being is created with free will. This means that we have the freedom to think, make decisions, and act. In the beginning, Adam and Eve too were made in God’s image, and they had the freedom to think, make decisions, and act. With their free will, they chose to disobey God rather than to obey Him.

In our lives, we too must make the right decision to obey God. Our free will gives us the option to do right or to do wrong. The sinful nature urges us to sin and disobey God, but we have to actively go against the sinful nature. God made us with free will because He didn’t want to create us as “robots” who only obeyed Him because we were programmed to follow orders. God wants us to obey Him and come to Him because we love Him.

As one can see, our free will is a wonderful thing, but it can also be dangerous if we are not careful. With our free will, we literally can think of anything, make any decision, and act in any way. Sinful nature can lead us to do terrible things with our free will, but God wants us to make the right decisions with our freedom. With this liberty, we need to make sure we glorify God in the way we think, make decisions, and act. 

Future Image

Even though we are presently made in the image of God, throughout our lives, God is constantly conforming us to the image of Him (Ephesians 4:24). Once we become a believer, God begins molding us to better reflect His image to others through His work in our lives. Throughout our lives, God will consistently use bad situations, good situations, and everything in between to shape us into His image. 

In the future, God will transform our current bodies into our glorious bodies (Philippians 3:21). We will never be exactly like God, such as being divine, omnipotent, omnipresent, or omniscient, but we will receive our glorified bodies. Our glorified bodies will be freed from sin, pain, and death. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’”

Imago Dei Matters

Imago Dei matters because it tells us that we are made in God’s image. Since we are made in God’s image, we are loved, cared about, and are extremely valuable to God. By being made in God’s image, we have intrinsic worth given by the Creator. We don’t have to strive after other things to find our worth because our worth is already found in Imago Dei.

In addition to this intrinsic value, Imago Dei also tells us that we are special among God’s other creations. God has made many great and beautiful things, such as the ocean, plants, and the sunset, yet God only made us in His image. This makes us special.

If you are questioning your worth as a human being, know that you have immeasurable value and purpose because you are made in God’s image. By being made in God’s image, we can think, make decisions, and act freely. Often we take these things for granted, yet they are great privileges given to us by God. Thus, Imago Dei allows the incredible opportunity for us to lean into and live out our value.  

Remember, you are worthy, beautiful, and amazing just as you are because God created you in His image. 

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Anawat_s



Vivian BrickerVivian Bricker loves Jesus, studying the Word of God, and helping others in their walk with Christ. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master's degree in Christian Ministry with a deep academic emphasis in theology. Her favorite things to do are spending time with her family and friends, reading, and spending time outside. When she is not writing, she is embarking on other adventures.