Image and likeness indicate that man is created in such a way that he will radiate the image of God in creation—not physically, but in his way of living. When man lives as God’s image on earth, it means that he rules the earth in the right way. God has fully equipped man to rule as viceroy over everything on earth and has enabled him to do so in holy communion with and in deep love and dependence on his God, Creator and King. God created man in such a way that he is full of love for all that is good and holy according to the Lord (see Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10).
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.