God-likeness
Like God vs. Image of God
Two Paths, One Choice
Sicut Deus reflects the temptation in Eden, where humanity sought to grasp divinity on its own terms, leading to a fall marked by pride and separation. It is the path of self-exaltation and forgetfulness of God. Imago Dei, however, calls us to embrace our true nature as image-bearers—created not to replace God, but to walk with Him in humility and love. Through Christ, this image is being restored, drawing us into communion, transformation, and the joy of being fully human in God’s presence.
Sicut Deus — “Like God”
This term originates from the serpent’s temptation in the Garden of Eden:
“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” — Genesis 3:5 (NIV)
Dietrich Bonhoeffer reflects on this moment in Creation and Fall:
“The deceit, the lie of the devil consists of this, that he wishes to make man believe that he can live without God’s Word.” — Creation and Fall Temptation: Two Biblical Studies, p. 124
This is the essence of Sicut Deus—the alluring but deadly idea that we can define reality, morality, and identity apart from God. It is not merely about disobedience, but about a fundamental shift in posture: from receiving life as a gift to grasping it as a possession.
To live as Sicut Deus is to choose autonomy over intimacy, to seek control rather than trust. It is the path of self-deification, in which the creature attempts to ascend and dethrone the Creator in the heart. Though it may appear empowering, it ultimately leads to disintegration, alienation, and spiritual death, as it removes us from the very Source of life.
Imago Dei — “Image of God”
In contrast, Imago Dei speaks of identity rooted not in power or autonomy, but in relationship and reflection. From the very beginning, Scripture affirms the dignity and intentionality with which God created humanity:
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” — Genesis 1:27 (NIV)
To be made in the Imago Dei is not to become God, but to mirror His character — to embody love, mercy, holiness, creativity, truth, and relational capacity. It means we are created with purpose and worth, designed to live in communion with our Creator and with one another. The image of God is not a badge of superiority, but a sacred responsibility to live in a way that reflects His goodness and glory to the world.
Though sin has distorted that image, it has not destroyed it. In Christ, the image is being restored. Redemption is not just about forgiveness; it’s about transformation — the Spirit of God actively renewing us into what we were always meant to be.
“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” — 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)
This is the hope of Imago Dei: that through grace, we become more like Christ—not by striving to be God, but by surrendering to God. We are not self-made, but Spirit-shaped, reflecting the glory of the One in whose image we were formed.
Temptation and Forgetfulness of God
Bonhoeffer insightfully captures the subtle power of temptation when he writes,
“At this moment God is quite unreal to us… Satan does not here fill us with hatred of God, but with forgetfulness of God.” — Temptation
Temptation rarely begins with outright rebellion; more often, it starts with simple neglect—forgetting who God is, what He has said, and who we are in Him. In that forgetfulness, we begin to trust our own reasoning, our own desires, and our own will. This is the quiet but devastating shift toward Sicut Deus—the belief that we can flourish apart from God’s presence and word.
When God becomes unreal to us, even temporarily, we attempt to fill the void with self-rule, independence, and the illusion of control. What seems like freedom quickly becomes bondage. The serpent’s ancient whisper still echoes today: “You will be like God.” But to seek fulfillment apart from God is to step away from the only true source of life, love, and identity. Forgetfulness becomes rebellion, and rebellion leads to ruin.
Two Ways to Live
Sicut Deus and Imago Dei are more than theological concepts—they are lived realities. One way says, “I will rise. I will ascend. I will take control.” The other says, “I was made for love. I am not my own. I belong to God.” It’s the path of self-sufficiency, driven by pride and fear. In contrast, Imago Dei says, “You were made in love, for love. You are not your own—you belong to God.” This is the path of humility, trust, and surrender.
To live in the Imago Dei is to embrace our dependence on the Creator, to reflect His nature rather than replace Him. It means choosing obedience over control, joy over anxiety, and relationship over rebellion. It is not weakness—it is fullness of life.
Let us resist the illusion of being our own gods. Instead, may we return to the truth that we are beloved image-bearers of the Living God. Not in the striving of Sicut Deus, but in the grace and transformation of Imago Dei, we find our true identity and purpose.
