So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Reader! mark the peculiarity of expression. Here is not, as before, a command to create, but a council is first called. The Holy Persons of the Godhead consult, as it were, before the formation of man. 'Let us make man in our image:' What image? what likeness? I desire to speak with all possible reverence while I propose the question. I do not presume to say what that image or likeness is, but only most humbly to enquire. Not the likeness of the invisible God, I conceive. For what likeness can man, even in a state of perfection and innocency, bear to God? What likeness hath a body to a Spirit? What similitude is there between a creature and his Almighty Creator? But doth not the Holy Ghost, by his servant, the Apostle, give some information to this most interesting inquiry, when, speaking of the human nature of Christ, he saith, 'he is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature:' Colossians 1:15. Supposing, then, Adam to have been created in this likeness of the first-born, what a sweet and delightful view is then opened to our meditation on this subject. And when we call to mind what other scriptures have said concerning Jesus as set up from everlasting, and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, it should seem that here, as in all things, Jesus hath the pre-eminence. Proverbs 8:22-23; Revelation 13:8; Micah 5:2.