Jesus, the
Christ as 'the image of the invisible God' (Colossians 1:15) and 'the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person' (Hebrews 1:3) — the perfect revelation of the unseen God.
Humans were made in God's image (Genesis 1:27). Jesus is THE image of God — not just bearing it but being it. Colossians 1:15 — 'the image [Greek eikōn] of the invisible God.' Hebrews 1:3 uses a more technical word — Christ is 'the brightness of his glory, and the express image [charaktēr — exact stamp] of his person.' Several truths flow. (1) The invisible God is seen in Christ. Whoever wants to know what God is like looks at Jesus. John 14:9 — 'he that hath seen me hath seen the Father.' (2) Christ is not a partial revelation but the complete revelation. Colossians 2:9 — 'in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.' (3) Knowing God comes through knowing Christ. 2 Cor 4:6 — God's glory shines 'in the face of Jesus Christ.' (4) Christians are being conformed to this image. Romans 8:29 — predestined to be 'conformed to the image of his Son.' (5) The image rejected. 2 Cor 4:4 — Satan blinds people to 'the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.' Jesus is what God looks like in human form. To see him is to see God.
“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.”
“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power.”
“The light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.”
“Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father.”
“God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Look at Jesus to know God. Read the Gospels often. Don't construct God from imagination — see him in Christ. Be conformed to his image (Romans 8:29). Reflect Christ to others — by his Spirit you become a living image-bearer.
Colossians 1:15 calls Christ 'the image [eikōn] of the invisible God.' Hebrews 1:3 calls him 'the express image of his person.' He is the perfect, full revelation of who God is. John 14:9 — 'he that hath seen me hath seen the Father.' To know Jesus is to know God.
By being God in human form. Colossians 2:9 — 'in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.' He shows God's character (love, justice, mercy), his mission (seeking and saving the lost), and his nature (God is one in three persons). The Gospels are the clearest revelation of God's heart.
Yes — Genesis 1:27. All humans bear God's image and have inherent dignity. But Christ is THE image — the perfect, full, eternal image. Humans bear it partially and broken (by the Fall); Christ bears it perfectly. Christians are being conformed back to this image through Christ (Romans 8:29; 2 Cor 3:18).
(1) We see God through Christ. (2) We are being shaped into Christ's image — daily transformation (2 Cor 3:18). (3) We reflect him to others. (4) We hope for the day when we will be fully conformed (1 John 3:2 — 'we shall be like him'). The Christian life is image-restoration.