Yes, humans are made in God's image, but that image is spiritual and inward—not a physical resemblance.
According to Les Feldick, being in God's image refers to the invisible part of humanity—the soul and spirit—not the physical body. This includes mind, will, and emotion, which are attributes of God. The body is a temporary tent that houses the eternal, invisible person.
Genesis 1:26-27 — This is the foundational passage declaring that God made man in His own image.
In Genesis 1:26, God says, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." The next verse confirms, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." This passage establishes that humans bear a likeness to God, but it does not specify a physical form. The Bible elsewhere reveals that God is Spirit (John 4:24), implying the image is not bodily. Furthermore, 1 Thessalonians 5:23 mentions the whole spirit, soul, and body, indicating a tripartite nature.
Les Feldick teaches that being made in God's image is not about physical appearance, because God is an invisible Spirit. Instead, the image lies in a person's inward, invisible makeup: the soul and spirit. He explains that God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each have mind, will, and emotion—forming personality—and that humans were created with these same attributes. Thus, the real you is invisible and eternal, while the body is a temporary tent. Les emphasizes that humans are three-part beings—body, soul, and spirit—and that the soul and spirit are eternal, continuing into the afterlife as a complete entity.
No, Les clarifies that the image is not in the physical body because God has no physical appearance. The body is merely a tent or dwelling place for the real, invisible person. The five senses are exercised through the body, but the true likeness is in the soul and spirit.
Les divides humans into body, soul, and spirit. The body is for exercising the five senses, while the soul and spirit are invisible and eternal. The soul and spirit include mind, will, and emotion, which mirror God's attributes. This three-part makeup is not a trinity but a tripartite human design.
In Genesis 1:26, "us" refers to the Trinity—God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each person of the Godhead possesses mind, will, and emotion, and humans were created in that image, sharing those attributes. Thus, the plurality and personality of God are reflected in humanity.
What the Bible Really Says About the Old Sin Nature
All right, now then let's go back, if you will, to 1 Thessalonians, turn ahead rather, to 2 Thessalonians, no, 1 Thessalonians, 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. Now I want you to drop down to verse 23, and of course I'm still in Paul's letters, remember Thessalonians, and so the Apostle Paul, by inspiration, writes in verse 23 of chapter 5, "...
Image in Soul and Spirit
Les teaches that the image of God is not in physical appearance but in the invisible soul and spirit, which include mind, will, and emotion.
Body, Soul, and Spirit
Les explains that humans are divided into body, soul, and spirit, and that God is an invisible Spirit being, so the image must be in the invisible parts.
Body as a Tent
Les describes the body as a temporary tent that exercises the five senses, while the real person is invisible and eternal.
Mind, Will, and Emotion
Les shows that God has mind, will, and emotion, and humans were created in that area of personality, which constitutes being in God's image.
Trinity in Creation
Les points out that "us" in Genesis 1:26 refers to the Trinity, and that the Triune God created man in their image.
Genesis 1:26-27: Who Are "Us"? The Trinity in Creation
God puts him on the scene with that opportunity of living forever. He could have been the progenitor of a perfect race of beings. It was his potential. All right, now then, in verse 27, we're introduced to a thought that I think a lot of people can't quite comprehend. And that is that when God created Adam, within Adam were both the male and the female. Look what the next verse says.
Eternal Soul
Les emphasizes that when God breathed life into man, he became an eternal being with mind, will, and emotion, making every human eternal.
Genesis 1:26: 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.
This is the initial declaration of creating man in God's image.
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.
This reiterates that both male and female are created 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.
This shows the three-part nature of humans, which relates to the image of God.
No, Les Feldick teaches that God is an invisible Spirit and has no physical body, so the image is not about physical appearance. The image is in the invisible soul and spirit, which include mind, will, and emotion.
Les explains that the image of God is in the inner personality—the soul and spirit—which are invisible and eternal. These include mind, will, and emotion, mirroring God's attributes.
Les teaches that the body is a temporary tent for the five senses, while the soul and spirit are eternal. This three-part makeup allows humans to have fellowship with God and to continue into eternity as a complete entity.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About the Old Sin Nature