In Genesis 1:27, God said “Let us make man in our image…” God was talking to the Logos (Jesus’ name before he became a human) and the angelic family. God is the great architect of His plan and He used the Logos and the angels to help carry out the work of the natural creation. “…there is but one God, the Father, of whom (as the architect) are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom (as the instrumentality of creation) are all things, and we by him.” 1 Corinthians 8:6 (KJV). The Gospel of John also supports that the Word (Logos in Greek) directed the creation of all things. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God; the Word also was a god. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made.” John 1:1-3 (RVIC)
The angels were created before the natural universe and they helped the Logos with the creative work. When God spoke with Job, we receive more insight into the angels’ status and their great joy in the creative process. “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Job 38:4-7 (NKJV) The sons of God were all the angels. (They could not have been man because man had not been created.)
The concept of “our image” does not refer to a body image. It refers to a character image. God is all loving, all just, all wise, and all powerful. Man was created with love and justice written in his heart. Romans 2:14, 15, “Gentiles…by nature do the things in the law…who show the work of the law written in their hearts…” Man was also given intelligence (developing into wisdom) and power or dominion over the animals and plants. He was given management of the earth.
