MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD

God created man in His own image. GENESIS 1:27

Why must we be born again? The answer lies in the scriptural account of the creation. We read that the three-one God said, “ ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. …’ So God created man in His own image” (Genesis 1:26–27 NKJV). This image was, first, a natural image, a picture of His own immortality, a spiritual being, with understanding, freedom of will, and various affections. It was, likewise, a political image, the governor of this lower world, having dominion over the fish of the sea and over all the earth. But it was chiefly God’s moral image in which man was created, which, according to the apostle, is “righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:24 KJV). In this righteous and holy moral image of God, man was made. “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16 KJV). Accordingly, man, at his creation, was full of love; it was the sole principle of his tempers, thoughts, words, and actions. God is full of justice, mercy, and truth; so was man as he came from the hand of his Creator. God is spotless purity; and so was man, in the beginning, pure from every sinful blot. Otherwise, God could not have pronounced him “very good” (Genesis 1:31 KJV). There is no medium: An intelligent creature not loving God, not righteous and not holy, is not good at all, much less to be pronounced by God “very good.” So our state at creation was very good.

Wesley, John (2011-02-01). Renew My Heart (Classic Insights) . Barbour Publishing, Inc.. Kindle Edition.