The Image Of God

In this study, we will answer the question “What does God look like?” and not just God, but even the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The reason for this study is because many have hyper-spiritualised what the Bible is plainly teaching in regards to the image of God. This is mainly because humans find it too hard to imagine that God would look like us. However, we will show that we do indeed look like Him!

God is a spirit

The verse most widely misunderstood in this doctrine is John 4:24 “God is a Spirit…”. From this verse, it is implied that God doesn’t have a form. In the Bible, just because something is a spirit, doesn’t make it formless. For example, angels are spirits. Psalm 104:4 “Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire.” Does this mean angels don’t have bodies? No! In fact when Gabriel visited Daniel, he looked like a man. Daniel 9:21 “Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.” Currently, as men, we are made from the dust of the earth, but in the image of God. Genesis 3:19 “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” We therefore look like God who is a spirit, just made from dust. Allow me to illustrate this concept by viewing the image down below:

This creation was made in the image of man. Do the attributes of the sculpture negate our features? Let’s break this down. This sculpture has hands, because we have hands. This sculpture has a head, because we have a head. We have a head, torso, legs and hair because God has all those things. The sculpture’s inability to fathom that their Creator would share their form doesn’t delete the fact that he looks like Him. God meant what He said in Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Women were created in the image of man. 1 Corinthians 11:7 “For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.”

What do God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit look like?

When Ezekiel saw a vision of the Lord, notice what he saw: Ezekiel 1:25-26 “And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings. 26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.” Ezekiel saw what looked like a man. This makes sense because Genesis 1:26 says “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” The same Hebrew word is used just a few chapters later on in Genesis 5:3 “And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth.” It’s clear from the context that the verse is telling us Adam had a son who looked like him, the same way Adam was created to look like God. Luke 3:38 “Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.” It’s not that God looks like a man, we look like God (but in a very terrible state due to sin, Adam would’ve looked far superior to us now).

Does Jesus have hair?

Revelation 1:14 “His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow…” Hence why in Song of Solomon Jesus is described as white (hair) and ruddy (health of complexion). Song of Solomon 5:10 “My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.”

Does Jesus have eyes?

Revelation 1:14 “…his eyes were as a flame of fire”

Song of Solomon 5:12 “His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.” These doves are known for having red eyes.

Does Jesus have a mouth?

Song of Solomon 5:16 “His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”

Does Jesus have cheeks?

Song of Solomon 5:13 “His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.”

Does Jesus have feet?

Revelation 1:15 “And his feet like unto fine brass…”

Genesis 18:3 “And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: 4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:”

Daniel 10:6 “…his feet like in colour to polished brass.”

Does Jesus have hands?

Revelation 1:16 “And he had in his right hand seven stars…”

Song of Solomon 5:14 “His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl…”

Does Jesus have a chest?

Revelation 1:13 “And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.”

Does Jesus have a thigh?

Revelation 19:16 “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.” (Note: This isn’t written directly onto the skin like a tattoo but on his garments which cover his skin)

Does Jesus have legs?

Song of Solomon 5:15 “His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.”

Does Jesus have arms?

Daniel 10:6 “…and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass”

Does Jesus have a face?

Daniel 10:6 “… his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire…”

God meant what He said!

We conclude after all these verses that when the Father told the Son and Holy Spirit “let us make man in our image”, it signified that man was made to look like God. This makes sense as God can sit down on a throne the same way a man can. If we expect to see a throne in heaven, will we see a ball of light hovering above the throne? No. Even the unbelievers will see a being sitting on a throne at the second coming. Revelation 6:16 “And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.”

The invisible God

In scripture there is mention that Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15), so one may ask, “If God has a form why does scripture say he’s invisible?”. He’s invisible because we haven’t seen him. There are created things which are invisible, not because they can’t be seen under any circumstance but because we can’t see them with the naked eye or they are too far away. Romans 1:20 “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” The word “invisible” can also mean “unseen”. If “invisible” meant “can’t be seen”, then how can the invisible things be “clearly seen”? Angels are invisible, but we know angels have a form/body. God has hidden the angels from our eyes so we don’t live in fear. When an angel appeared, they often tell humans to not be afraid because we’re not used to seeing them. However, if God wants, he can unhide the angels. Numbers 22:31 “Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.” The angel of the Lord (being Jesus here) always had a hand and a sword but he was invisible to Balaam.

Therefore, God isn’t invisible because He can’t be seen, as the angels always see his face. Matthew 18:10 “…That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” God is invisible because we haven’t seen him. 1 John 4:12 “No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.”

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

We are given a brief description of the Father in Daniel chapter 7. We notice there’s a similarity between how He looks and how Jesus looks. Daniel 7:9 “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.” Like Jesus, God has a head. His head is full of white hair! The Father looks like the Son. The Holy Spirit also looks like them both. Hebrews 7:3 “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.” We explain how Melchizedek is the Holy Spirit in this study.  

All three people in the Godhead look like one another. That is, they have the shape of a man. In fact, when we resurrect or are translated without death, we will be given bodies like Christ. Philippians 3:21 “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” Now here it doesn’t mean we’re all going to have the same hair or height necessarily, but we will have the same human form we have now, that is, a head, eyes, torso, legs, etc. If Jesus has no body, how can we be given a body like his?

Earthly body vs spiritual body

When we are resurrected we will be given spiritual bodies, but it will still be a body. We will not be mere dust. Little needs to be said in this regard apart from showing 1 Corinthians chapter 15.

1 Corinthians 15:39-49 “All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” This speaks to what Jesus mentioned; when we are resurrected, we will be as the angels for we will have spiritual bodies. Hebrews 1:13-14 “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”

Continuing in 1 Corinthians chapter 15. 1 Corinthians 15:50-51 “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,” Here Paul is referring to how some will be alive to see the second coming of Christ, whilst the rest of the Christians throughout time from Adam will be resurrected. The living and the resurrected will all be changed. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:52-54 “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”

In conclusion, it has been demonstrated throughout this study that God is a spirit but He has a spiritual body, and that we will also have a spiritual body in the resurrection. However, the scriptures are plain, we are made in the image of God. God has a body and we will behold His face when we are fully saved. Revelation 22:3-4 “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.” Christ will write the name of His God our Father on our foreheads, that is to say, He will impress the character of God in our minds and hearts. Revelation 3:12 “Him that overcometh will I [Jesus] make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.”