The Image of God in You

In this article, we explore issues of identity and self worth. What does it mean to be made in the image of God, and what should that tell us as we endeavor to quit using porn? We invite you to read as guest author Ben challenges us to examine our self worth in light of our creator.

The Image of God in You

What defines you? What makes you, you? Is it a set of personality traits or is it a set of certain skills? Is it your job? Is it your passion? Is it your relationships? One thing that is often telling is to read someone’s bio on various social media platforms. What does yours say about you?

When I was going through the Reclaimed 10-Week Journey, this was a question I really had to wrestle with. Who am I? I was longing to be significant and valuable. I desperately wanted to be desired and liked. I wanted people to look up to me. I wanted to be perceived as strong. I was starving for affirmation. 

At the same time, I was (and still am to some extent) very critical of myself. I have told myself things I would never tell another person. 

You’re a failure. 

You will never accomplish anything. 

You’re weak. 

You will never be free from porn. 

You are worthless. 

All of these thoughts are issues of identity. When you dislike who you are, and at the same time desperately want others to like you, porn becomes an easy solution. In porn you can be desirable, powerful, accomplished, and worthy of love and respect. Porn provides a “solution” but it is an empty solution that just makes the problems worse. Porn can never settle the issues of identity that we struggle with. 

During my journey through Reclaimed, I had a breakthrough moment. I had taken the afternoon to be with God and reflect on my past. I was sitting on a bench (pictured above) and in prayer I was beating myself up. I was sitting there telling God how horrible of a person I was, until these thoughts entered my mind: Stop insulting my creation. You are made in my image, and what I have made is good. 

As those words soaked into my soul, I started to perceive the connection between my turning to porn and the questions about my identity. I realized that all those things I was longing for were mine through being made in God’s own image and likeness (Gen. 1:26).

Created in God’s Image

If you haven’t read Genesis 1 in a while, go read it. You will see the glory of God’s creation.  One of the things that should stand out to us is that God’s creation is said to be “good.” In many ways the culmination of this creation account is when God makes man. In verses 26-30 we read that we are made in his image and likeness. We read that man is blessed and he is given a purpose and place of honor in creation. The account is wrapped up with the words, “God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” (Gen. 1:31, emphasis added) Don’t forget that you are a part of that “everything.” You are seen by your creator as very good. 

Being made in God’s image means that you have value and worth. It reminds us that God didn’t make junk. You are made by God and you have dignity, significance, and honor, as an image-bearer of God. 

Recreated in Christ’s Image

You might be thinking, “that’s great and all, but I am not ‘very good.’ I have ‘fallen short of God’s glory.’ I am an unworthy sinner.” You’re right! We are all unworthy sinners who have marred and disgraced the image of God in us. We deserve nothing but condemnation and punishment for our sins, not the least of which is our use of pornography. 

Here is where we must believe the power of the gospel. The image of God is so valuable and powerful in you, and in me, that God chose to do something to redeem that broken image. In Jesus Christ we not only find forgiveness of sins and the hope of heaven, we also find a restored identity. In Jesus, we find that we are not only made in the image of God, but also the image of Christ. Consider the following passages: 

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8:29 ESV)

“Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust (Adam), we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven (Jesus).”(1 Corinthians 15:49 ESV)

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”(2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV)

“…put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”(Colossians 3:10 ESV)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”(2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)

In these passages, we can see that a key part of the gospel message is that we are a new creation made (and continually being made) in the image of Christ. Along with this concept is the idea that Jesus has given us his standing as the perfect son (see 2 Cor. 5:21). When God sees us, he sees the new creation bearing the image of his beloved son. Words God spoke over Jesus can also now be spoken over us, “This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Mat. 3:17)

This is the truth that should define us. Yes, there are a lot of things that make me who I am, but the greatest thing is that I am made in the image of God and am being remade in the image of Jesus. This means that we don’t need to go to porn to solve the issues of our identity, God has already solved them. When I am tempted, or even when I have relapsed into porn, I have made a commitment to remember all that being made in Christ’s image means for me. 

You are loved. You are loved so much that God sent his only son. 

You are valuable. You are so valuable that Christ was willing to pay the price of his life for you. 

You are worthy. You have been given the righteousness of Jesus. 

You are significant. You are now a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. 

You are strong. You have been given the strength that God alone can provide.

You are desirable. You have been pursued by God himself. 

You have been forgiven, cleansed and set free. 

You are made in God’s image, and what God has made is very good!