The image of God is a spiritual likeness—an invisible personality of mind, will, and emotions—not a physical bodily resemblance.
Les Feldick teaches that God is Spirit and never had a body to copy, so Genesis 1:26-27 is about the invisible, eternal part of man. Scripture calls man body, soul, and spirit, and Les locates God's image in the soul and spirit area, not in the physical body. He describes that image as mind, will, and emotions, attributes that are invisible yet real and eternal.
Genesis 1:26-27 — The direct creation account where God says He will make man in His image and then does so.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 — Shows man as spirit, soul, and body, which Les uses to locate the image in the invisible part.
The opening chapters of Genesis record that God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness," and that He created man in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27). The New Testament clarifies that the God whose image is in view is invisible: Christ is the image of the invisible God, and by Him all things were created, visible and invisible (Colossians 1:15-16). Paul also prays that the Thessalonian believers would be sanctified wholly, and that their whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Hebrews 4:12 states that the Word of God pierces even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, distinguishing between the two. These verses show that man is a three-part being of body, soul, and spirit, and that God's image is tied to the invisible realm rather than to a physical body.
Les Feldick teaches that Genesis 1:26-27 does not describe God making a creature that looks like Him. The triune God is Spirit and invisible; He did not say, "We're going to make a creature that looks like however a spirit looks" (Clip 1). Rather, the image of God is something spiritual and eternal, the part of us that is invisible even today—the personality (Clip 1). Les divides man into body, soul, and spirit, noting that Scripture does divide soul and spirit even though they are closely related (Clip 0). The body is the only part of man that is tangible and visible; the soul and spirit are invisible (Clip 4). Inside the temporary tent of the body, man bears the image of God in the invisible personality—mind, will, and emotions (Clip 5). When God breathed into man the breath of life, He gave him those three invisible entities, which are attributes of God, and man became a living soul, meaning an eternal being (Clip 6). Because the invisible part of man is where the image resides, Les concludes that only God can do anything with it; it cannot be laid on an operating table or fixed by a miracle drug (Clip 7).
No. Les says the first thing to understand is that God was not in the form of a man; the triune God is Spirit, so the passage is not about making someone who looked like God (Clip 1). He adds that God never had a body with the five senses to pattern man after; the image is in the area of the personality—mind, will, and emotions (Clip 5). Colossians 1:15 speaks of Christ as the image of the invisible God, showing that the image belongs to the invisible realm.
Paul's benediction asks that the whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless, which Les uses to establish that the Bible speaks of man as a three-part being (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God divides asunder soul and spirit, showing they can be distinguished even though they are closely related (Clip 0). Les describes the soul as comprised of mind, will, and emotions—real and definite, yet invisible and not subject to physical examination (Clip 5).
Les teaches that the body is only the visible, temporary part—a tent—while the soul and spirit are the invisible, eternal part of the person. It is in that invisible realm that the image of God is borne, because God gave man mind, will, and emotion when He breathed into him the breath of life (Clips 5, 6). Since the image and the problems of the inner man are invisible, Les concludes that no human surgery or drug can correct the invisible part; only God can work there (Clip 7).
Body, Soul, and Spirit Distinct Yet One Man
Les points to 1 Thessalonians 5:23 and Hebrews 4:12 to show the Bible calls man body, soul, and spirit, and that soul and spirit are closely related but divided by the Word of God.
The Image Is Not Physical
Les explains that the triune God is Spirit, so being made in God's image cannot mean looking like God; it points to the invisible, eternal personality.
Genesis 1:26-27: The Image of God
Les reads the creation text and shows that "let us" is a plural pronoun, set in the context of God creating man in His own image.
The Image of the Invisible God
Les identifies Christ as the visible image of the invisible God and notes that all things, visible and invisible, were created by Him, connecting the image to the invisible realm.
The Body Is Visible; the Rest Is Invisible
Les explains that in man's creation the body is the only tangible, visible part; the rest of man is invisible yet real, like the wind.
Mind, Will, and Emotions
Les describes the personality as mind, will, and emotions—invisible entities inside the temporary body—and says that is where God's image is found.
Breath of Life and the Living Soul
Les teaches that when God breathed into man the breath of life, He gave man mind, will, and emotion—three invisible attributes of God—and man became an eternal living soul.
Only God Can Fix the Invisible
Because soul and spirit are invisible, Les concludes that no human surgery or drug can correct the invisible part of man; only God can work there.
Genesis 1:26-27: 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. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
The foundational text for the question, explicitly saying man is made in God's image.
1 Thessalonians 5:23: And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul's prayer uses "spirit and soul and body" as the components of man, supporting the three-part structure Les uses.
Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Shows the Word of God can divide soul and spirit, confirming the two are distinct yet closely related.
Colossians 1:15-16: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Declares that the image of God is the image of the invisible God, reinforcing the non-physical nature of the image.
Les says the triune God is Spirit, so the image is not a physical likeness. The image is in the invisible personality—mind, will, and emotions—which are attributes of God as well. God breathed these invisible entities into man when He made him a living soul.
The Bible speaks of body, soul, and spirit in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, and Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God divides soul and spirit. Les acknowledges they have a very close affinity, but the Scripture does divide them.
God gave man mind, will, and emotion when He breathed into him the breath of life, and man became a living soul. These invisible entities are the image of God in him, not the physical body.
Watch the Teaching: Genesis 1:26-27: Who Are "Us"? The Trinity in Creation