2 Corinthians 3:17–18 (NIV)

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

“Whom am I?”

This is one of the most profound questions a person can ask. And how we answer it shapes how we live. Often, our sense of identity gets wrapped up in things like our job, social influence, relationship status, income level, or personal struggles. And when those things shift, our sense of self often shifts with them.

But what if I told you that this question has already been answered—long ago, by the One who made us?

When God created humanity, he made male and female as his image and likeness (Gen 1:26–28). This was a revolutionary idea in the biblical world. Back then, “image” referred to a physical idol or statue—a representation of a god or king’s presence and power. “Likeness” implied family resemblance. Only kings or pharaohs were thought to bear family status with the gods. Ordinary people? They were considered slaves of the gods.

But Genesis flips that script. According to the Bible, every human being is created as God’s image. That means you were made to be a living, breathing representative of God’s presence—to enact His authority on earth, to steward creation, and to reflect His goodness—as his family.

This truth applies to every human being: every color, every tribe, every age or stage of life, every physical or cognitive ability, every background. Rich or poor, male or female, strong or weak—you bear the image of God. You were created not to be a slave, but a child of God.

But then came the fall (Gen 3). Instead of living into our God-given identity, we reached for self-definition. The result? Brokenness and estrangement. We became enslaved to sin and death—and tragically, we enslaved each other.

That’s why Jesus came.

The Son of God took on full humanity—not just to rescue us, but to restore us to the Father. Hebrews 2:14–18 tells us that through His suffering and sacrifice, Jesus broke the power of death. Sinless, He became the perfect image of God. As Hebrews 1:3 puts it: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.”

And here’s the amazing part: through Christ, we are being remade.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:17–18: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Did you catch that? In Christ, you are not only freed—you are transformed. As you fix your gaze on Jesus, God begins to reshape you into the image you were always meant to be.

So today, let go of every lesser label. Let go of the self-definitions that fall short. Instead, embrace the truth: You were made as the image of God. You are being renewed as the image of Christ. And in Him, you are free and his.

Listening Prayer:

Take a minute to breathe and quiet yourself. Ask the Holy Spirit:

  • Is there any part of my identity that I’ve built on something other than You?
  • Are there labels I’ve accepted—from culture, from others, or even from myself—that are out of alignment with who You say I am?
  • Have I clung to success, status, pain, or performance as my core identity?

Pause and listen. Be still. Pay attention to what comes to mind—a word, a memory, a feeling, a name.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, thank you for speaking truth in grace to me. I surrender every false identity, every broken label, every self-definition that competes with the truth of who I am in You. I embrace again Your love, Your freedom, and my identity as Your image and child. Continue Your transforming work. Make me more like You. Amen.

Resources:

Image of God by BibleProject (6m17s)

https://bibleproject.com/videos/image-of-god/

 

Bible verses on the image of God:

Genesis 1:27 (NIV)

27 So God created humans in his image,

in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them.

 

Colossians 1:15–16 (NIV)

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

 

Hebrews 1:3 (NIV)

3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

 

Hebrews 2:14-18 (NIV)

14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them,  fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

 

2 Corinthians 3:17–18 (NIV)

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

 

Worship Song: