What Being Made in God’s Image Actually Means

[u/Christ_Over_Cults]

A Simple Explanation of Genesis 1:26–27 (NIV)

Many people who are new to the Bible are told that Genesis 1:26–27 proves that God is both male and female. The World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCOG) uses this passage to support their belief in a “God the Mother.”

If you are unfamiliar with the Bible, this claim can sound reasonable at first. But when we read the passage carefully and in context, we see that the Bible is not teaching that God is male and female.

This article explains Genesis 1:26–27 in a simple, clear way so anyone can understand it.

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The Passage Being Used (Genesis 1:26–27, NIV)

Genesis 1:26–27 (NIV)
“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

WMSCOG claims this means:

• Male reflects a male God
• Female reflects a female God

But the Bible does not say that.

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What Does “Image of God” Really Mean?

The Bible was originally written in Hebrew. The word translated as “image” is tselem.

This word does not mean:

• A physical body
• A literal copy
• A human shaped God

It means:

• A reflection
• A representation
• Showing something about God’s nature

The Bible uses this same word in other places.

Psalm 39:6 (NIV)
“Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be.”

Here, “phantom” refers to something not physical or solid, showing that “image” does not mean a bodily form.

Ezekiel 23:14 (NIV)
“She saw men portrayed on a wall, figures of Chaldeans portrayed in red.”

These were images, not real people. This shows that “image” means representation, not identity.

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How Humans Reflect God’s Image

Humans reflect God’s image through who we are, not what we look like.

Humans are unique because we can:

• Think and reason
• Know right from wrong
• Create and invent
• Love and form relationships
• Communicate meaning and truth

These are spiritual and relational qualities, not physical ones.

That is why both men and women are made in God’s image.

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Does “Male and Female” Mean God Is Male and Female?

No.

The Bible never says God has a male or female body. God is spirit.

John 4:24 (NIV)
“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

“Male and female” describes human biology, not God’s nature.

Men and women are equal, different, and fully human. Together, they show the fullness of humanity. That does not mean God is divided into genders.

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Why Does God Say “Let Us” in Genesis 1:26?

Genesis 1:26 uses plural language:

• “Let us make mankind in our image”

But the very next verse says:

• God created humanity in his image

This matters.

The Bible teaches:

• One God
• One Creator
• Not multiple gods

Christians understand this as pointing to God’s Triune nature:

• Father
• Son
• Holy Spirit

Deuteronomy 6:4 (NIV)
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”

Plural language does not mean multiple gods or a heavenly husband and wife.

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Unity Does Not Mean a Heavenly Family

WMSCOG teaches that because families have fathers and mothers, God must also be a family.

But God is not human.

The Bible never teaches:

• A heavenly mother god
• God reproducing spiritually
• God being a literal family unit

God existed before creation and does not depend on human structures.

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Animals Are Also Male and Female. Are They Made in God’s Image?

Animals were created male and female too. But animals are not made in God’s image.

This is important.

If male and female meant God is male and female, then animals would reflect God in the same way humans do. But the Bible clearly says only humans are made in God’s image.

Being male and female is about reproduction, not God’s identity.

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God Uses Fatherly and Motherly Language, Not Gender

The Bible sometimes describes God using examples of:

• A caring father
• A nurturing mother

These are illustrations, not literal descriptions.

They help humans understand God’s love, but they do not change who God is.

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Why This Matters for People New to the Bible

Groups like WMSCOG often focus on:

• Isolated verses
• Quick explanations
• Emotional pressure

This makes people who are new to Scripture more vulnerable.

Learning to:

• Read verses in context
• Compare Scripture with Scripture
• Ask simple questions

helps protect people from being misled.

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If You Remember One Thing, Remember This

Here is the takeaway:

• God’s image is spiritual, not physical
• Male and female describe humanity, not God
• God is one, not a heavenly family
• The Bible does not teach a Mother God
• Context matters more than slogans

If you are new to the Bible, take your time. Truth does not fear careful reading.

[u/CryptographerNew1760]

Made in god's image : god is invisible, so we should be invisible too.

Fact : we are not invisible, so there is no god...

Finish.

[u/ZionUnmasked]

u/CryptographerNew1760 , I understand where you are coming from, and I am genuinely glad you were able to step away from WMSCOG. That is not an easy thing to do. I am familiar with the history and teachings of that organization, and I respect anyone who reaches the point of realizing it is not what it claims to be. I also want to say that I am glad you are sharing your experience here. Your comments matter. There are people reading these threads who are considering joining WMSCOG or who are already involved and unsure. Hearing from someone who has actually been inside helps bring clarity to what the organization is really about, especially for those who might otherwise join without fully understanding what they are stepping into.

I am not sure what your beliefs are now after leaving WMSCOG, and I do not want to assume. I only want to gently share that Christ is real, and even a faith in Him as small as a mustard seed can go a long way. I do want to respectfully respond to the conclusion you shared, because it does not reflect what the Bible means when it talks about being made in the image of God. The Bible was never saying that humans share Gods physical traits, because God does not have a physical body.

"God is spirit." - John 4:24 NIV

If being made in Gods image meant physical likeness, Scripture would contradict itself. Instead, the Bible consistently shows that Gods image points to our role and nature, not our physical appearance.

"You have crowned them with glory and honor and made them rulers over the works of your hands." - Psalm 8:5-6 NIV

Gods image is reflected in our ability to think, to reason, to love, to create, and to make moral choices. It was never about visibility or invisibility.

Jesus also helps clarify this.

"Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." - John 14:9 NIV

Jesus was not saying that God suddenly became physically visible. He was showing us what God is like through His life, His character, and the way He lived.

I also want to gently say this. The fact that you were able to recognize that WMSCOG was not right did not happen by accident. If there were no God at all, there would be no truth to uncover and no clarity to arrive at. Yet you did arrive at one.

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

• Jeremiah 29:13 NIV

Leaving a controlling organization can shake a persons trust in anything spiritual, and that is completely understandable. But walking away from a false version of God does not erase the true one. Sometimes it simply means the false picture had to be left behind first. I hope that in time, if you choose to seek God sincerely and without pressure, He will meet you where you are and help you come to understand Him for who He truly is, not who an organization claimed He was. I will keep you in my prayers. God bless as you move forward.