In The Image Of God: Restoring God’s Image in Humanity 

A Meta-Narrative of the Bible in a Gospel Presentation

PDF: In the Image Of God (Gospel Presentation) & WEBPAGE: En Español 

by Raimer Rojas

I wrote this Gospel presentation to help the church understand not only what God accomplished for us individually and corporately through the life, death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ, but also to help us capture and enter into the aim He created us to fulfill (and so perfectly modeled for us through His Son) - to image God on the earth. 

In The Image Of God

Created To Reflect God’s Image > The Distortion Of God's Image Through Sin > Restoring God's Image Through Christ  > God’s Invitation To Be Transformed in Christ > Perfected in His Image at His Return

1. Created To Reflect God’s Image

From the beginning, humanity was made in God's image to reflect His glory in every aspect of life and to extend His presence, ways, and blessings throughout the earth. 

  From the beginning, humanity was created in God's image with the purpose of reflecting His glory on the earth. Our purpose was clear: to live and rule over creation in such a way that made God's presence known and His ways evident to the world. We were meant to live–think, feel, speak, act and react–in such a way that would point to the brilliance of God's gloryour Maker. In this way we would model right relationship with God and others, leading to His presence, ways and blessings spreading throughout the earth. We were blessed to be a blessing!


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2. The Distortion of God’s Image Through Sin 

 Through rebellion, sin severed our relationship with God and corrupted our ability to reflect Him. Instead of spreading His presence and goodness, humanity spread sin, suffering, and brokenness across creation. 

However, our image-bearing has become distorted by our sin, rebellion and rejection of God. Tragically, we turned away from God and towards false idols of our own making. Our sinful rebellion to God and His ways separated us from Him. This separation meant that we could not refresh ourselves with His glory. As we did so, the image of God within us became tarnished and distorted. Sin disrupted the very essence of our image-bearing, and as a result, the world has suffered a deficit of God’s glory.  As an illegitimate replacement, what's multiplied on the earth is sin and rebellion against God, along with the inevitable increase of suffering and brokenness for both humanity and creation.


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3. Restoring God's Image Through Christ 

As part of God’s rescue plan, Jesus Christ, the Son and perfect image of God, became human and lived a sinless life. He bore our sins on the cross to offer salvation, restore our relationship with God, and renew His image in us.

To restore the degraded image of God within humanity, a divine encounter with the original image of God was necessary. Jesus, the Son and perfect image of God, took on human flesh as part of God's rescue plan for the entire universe. He lived the perfectly sinless life we could NOT live and paid the penalty we could NEVER pay for our sins, on our behalf. At the cross, Jesus covered over our sin fully and foreverpast, present and future. God resurrected him on the third day, ascended him to the highest throne, enthroning him as rightful King over all creation. King Jesus now offers us salvation, the opportunity to be restored back into a life-giving relationship with God, and renews His image in us. When we receive His salvation we are given a place in God's family as His sons and daughters. 


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4. God’s Invitation To Be Transformed in Christ 

Through Christ, God invites us into a lifelong journey of Spirit-empowered apprenticeship—to be with Jesus, become like Him, and do as He did. As we are gradually being transformed, we reflect more of His image, bringing healing, justice, and reconciliation to the world as ambassadors of His Kingdom. 

 God’s invitation to you and me is not just to believe in Jesus, the perfect image of God, but to become His apprentices.  After His resurrection and ascension, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within those who trust in Him. This apprenticeship involves a lifelong journey where we get to be with Jesus, become like Him, and do as He did. Through the Spirit’s power, we are gradually being transformed into true image-bearers, aligning our thoughts, emotions, motivations, and actions with His. His grand plan is to restore and make all things new in creation, starting with and through His people.  

As we grow in Him, we become His hands and feet on Earth, bringing healing, justice, and reconciliation to a broken world. In doing so, we reflect His glory once more—demonstrating His love, proclaiming His gospel, and serving as faithful ambassadors of His Kingdom. We get to live out this calling until the day He returns and makes all things new.


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5. Perfected in His Image at His Return 

Until Christ returns, the Church’s mission is to testify that He reigns as the victorious King, spreading God’s salvation to the lost and advancing His Kingdom throughout the earth. When He comes again, we will see Him as He is, and His image in us will be fully restored.

One day, when we see the returned King in His full splendor, the image-bearing of the Church will finally be perfected. Until that glorious day, our mission is clear: as apprentices of Jesus, we are to function as image-bearers, testifying in word, character, and deed that Jesus is the victorious King. This is the only way for God's plan of salvation to reach the lost and his Kingdom to spread throughout the earth. When the Church reflects the image of the King perfectly, our image-bearing will be complete, and God's glory will shine forth for all eternity. In this way, we participate in God's grand plan to restore His image in us and throughout creation, ultimately fulfilling the purpose for which we were created.


Bible Texts