Understanding Our Identity as God’s Image-Bearers

In my last post, I introduced some of my thoughts on the topic of identity, laying out some foundational truths about God, the Gospel, and humanity. Today, I want to build on that by exploring what it means for us to be image-bearers of God and how that reality shapes our understanding of ourselves and others.

We Are Image-Bearers of God

At the core of our identity is this truth: we are created by God, in His image, and for His glory. Genesis 1:27 tells us, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (English Standard Version, 2001).

Every single one of us—no matter our beliefs, feelings, experiences, or struggles—has intrinsic worth and dignity because we bear God’s image. As Sam Allberry writes in What God Has To Say About Our Bodies, “Being handcrafted means none of us has come about by accident. Our body is not random or arbitrary.” While some pregnancies might be a surprise to the parents or be “unplanned,” Allberry goes on to say, “But when it comes to God, no one is unplanned. Every one of us is the product of God’s deliberate choice. However, many people there turn out to be in the whole of human history, not one of them will have been an accident. The Bible doesn’t just affirm that we are all, in some way, the result of God’s work, that we have come about because of him. It says much more than that. We’re not just the outcome of God’s activity; we are the product of God’s intention.^”1

This means that none of us is a mistake, and none of us is beyond the reach of God’s purpose. We were intentionally created, not randomly assembled. God’s care and intentionality extend even to our bodies. As the psalmist reminds us, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:13-14, ESV).

So if God made people intentionally, without mistakes, male and female, then the only response that doesn’t accuse God of “messing up” is to praise Him for our bodies.

I recently read an interesting thought from a transcribed interview with Dr. Gregg Allison, author of Embodied: Living as Whole People in a Fractured World. Allison says,

If we look at Genesis 1, we see a pattern of binarity woven into the narrative of creation. Heaven and earth, day and night, dry land and water. This includes God’s creation of us as his image-bearers as male and female. We are a part of this binary pattern of creation. Learning to accept that and be thankful to God for our embodiment and our genderedness as male and female is extremely important for us to live before God in a way that honors and glorifies him.²

Embodied Souls: Why Our Bodies Matter

We are not just souls inhabiting bodies, nor are we merely physical beings. We are embodied souls—our physical and spiritual selves are inseparably linked. You can’t have one without the other. Our bodies matter because they were intentionally designed by God to be part of who we are.

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:23, ESV)

In 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Paul describes a person as having three distinct parts: the spirit (πνεῦμα, pneuma), which connects us to God; the soul (ψυχή, psyche), representing our personality and emotions; and the body (σῶμα, sōma), which refers to our physical form. While sōma generally means any material object, in this context, it specifically refers to the intricately designed and purposeful physical parts of our being. To sanctify means to set apart or to make holy; sanctification is the process of being made more like God in character and actions through His transforming work in a person’s life. Paul is praying that the God of peace would sanctify our whole being.

This means that as integrated, embodied souls, each part of our self is essential to our true identity, with our bodies being intentionally designed by God as a vital expression of who we are. This truth directly challenges cultural narratives that disconnect physical realities from personal identity. God’s design for our bodies is purposeful, even when we struggle to understand or accept it.

Our bodies matter because they are a vital part of who we are, intentionally created by God and inseparable from our spiritual and emotional selves. Our whole being was created to reflect the image of God, to live in relationship with Him, and to fulfill His purpose for us by embodying His love, truth, and grace in our lives and relationships. Each of us has a unique design as an embodied soul that allows us to worship, serve others, and grow more like Christ, living with purpose and meaning according to His will.

Who We Are in Christ

For those of us in Christ, our identity is rooted not in our past, our feelings, or even our struggles but in who God says we are. I love that the Bible says, “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 Christ, we are:

• Loved beyond measure (Romans 8:38-39, ESV).
• Chosen and adopted (Ephesians 1:4-5, ESV).
• Forgiven and redeemed (Ephesians 1:7, ESV).
• Empowered by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 2:20, ESV).
• Being transformed into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV).

This is our truest identity—not what the world says, not what our experiences dictate, and not even what we might feel about ourselves.

A Compassionate Response to Gender Confusion

When it comes to gender dysphoria and the disconnect between biological sex and feelings of being male or female, we often feel uncertain about how to respond and struggle with complicated emotions and societal norms. Emotionally aware individuals recognize that each person’s experiences and understanding of themselves, as well as their relationship with God, are unique and different. This calls for compassion and a non-judgmental attitude, acknowledging that everyone’s journey is personal. As we engage in these delicate discussions, we should aim to foster an inclusive atmosphere that respects each person’s individual struggle, recognizing that we are all on a path of self-discovery and acceptance and that none of us fully understands our identities or related experiences. By showing empathy and support, we can encourage healing and unity among various viewpoints. It is essential to remember that those facing confusion or identity struggles are, above all, people created in God’s image with inherent dignity and worth.

Compassion and inclusion should not be mistaken as affirming behaviors that oppose our design as embodied souls. We are image bearers of a perfect God who is wholly loving, just, holy, merciful, righteous, kind, and patient. And we simply cannot get away from that factual reality. Understanding God’s character shapes how we view ourselves and others.

Rightly Knowing God Leads to a Right Response

Many years ago, I read A.W. Tozer’s, The Knowledge of the Holy. It really helped to shape my understanding of God. This quote was particularly formative for me:

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”³

He further expands this thought, saying:

“The divine attributes are not isolated traits of God’s character, but facets of His unitary being. They are not things in themselves; they are rather thoughts by which we think of God. Love, for instance, is not something God has, which may grow or diminish or cease to be. His love is the way God is, and when He loves, He is simply being Himself.”⁴

“All of God’s acts are consistent with all of His attributes. No attribute contradicts any other, but all harmonize and blend into each other in the infinite abyss of the Godhead.”⁵

This truth reassures me that I can rely on God as the ultimate source of stability and meaning. His consistent, unchanging character serves as a model. It shows us how to extend compassion and truth to others, even in challenging circumstances.

The more I come to know God, the more I am compelled to reflect His character. When I understand who God is and why He created me, it becomes easier for me to extend compassion. I find it simpler to show compassion not only to others but also to myself.

By rooting our identity and actions in God’s unchanging character, we can confidently navigate the complexities of the world with both truth and grace. In doing so, we become a reflection of the love of our Creator, pointing others toward Him.

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1. Allberry, Sam. What God Has to Say About Our Bodies: How the Gospel Is Good News for Our Physical Selves. The Good Book Company, 2021. ↩︎
2. Allison, Gregg R., and John W. Kleinig. “Video Interview with Gregg R. Allison, Author of Embodied: Living as Whole People in a Fractured World, and John W. Kleinig, Author of Wonderfully Made: A Protestant Theology of the Body.” Interview by Books at a Glance. May 7, 2021. https://www.booksataglance.com/video-interviews/video-interview-with-gregg-r-allison-author-of-embodied-living-as-whole-people-in-a-fractured-world-and-john-w-kleinig-author-of-wonderfully-made-a-protestant-theology-of-the-body/. ↩︎
3. Tozer, A. W. The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God, Their Meaning in the Christian Life. Harper & Row, 1961. ↩︎
4. Tozer, A. W. Ibid. ↩︎
5. Tozer, A. W. Ibid. ↩︎

Although I didn’t reference it in this post, if you want to learn more about the God of the Bible, I highly recommend Knowing God, by J. I. Packer.

Note: I am not affiliated with Amazon or any of those authors or publishers. I don’t get any commissions if you buy those books. I also want to clarify that I have not yet read Embodied or Wonderfully Made. However, I found the interview with Allison and Kleinig compelling. I do have both books in my “to read” list.