The Bible continues to speak of the image of God in humanity even after the Fall, which leads me to believe that the image of God was not totally lost in the Fall. However, we should not underestimate the powerful effect of the Fall on our human nature. The mirror that would reflect God has been shattered, but it is not obliterated. God is still able to be seen in humanity, through the shards of glass that remain.
When we are saved, we become a “new creation.” Christ has set us free from the chains of sin and death and has showed us how to embody a renewed humanity. As we become more and more like Christ, the image of God we bear becomes more and more pronounced. We leave behind the addictions, perversions, and ambitions that make us “less human,” less than what God originally created us to be. Then, through the Holy Spirit’s power, we grow in our renewed state, striving for the day when God will complete the work He began in us – when our humanity will be sin-free and renewed through and through.
The image of God in humanity is a subject that should awaken in all of us a desire to understand how we are like God and how we can better reflect His glory in our world. The image of God in human beings can be seen in substantive, functional, and relational aspects.
Ultimately, Jesus is the key to understanding the image of God, since He is the perfect reflection of God.
