Likeness

The similarity between objects or persons. Humanity is created in the likeness of God. Jesus Christ possesses a likeness to both God and humanity, which is expressed and safeguarded by the doctrine of the incarnation.

Human beings are created in the likeness of God

Genesis 1:26–27 See also Genesis 5:1, Genesis 9:6; Colossians 3:9–10; James 3:9

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Redemption includes being conformed to God's likeness

The likeness of God the Father

Matthew 5:48 See also Ephesians 4:20–24

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.[’’]

The likeness of God the Son

Romans 8:29 See also 1 Corinthians 2:16; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:11–13

For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

Jesus Christ was in the likeness of God and humanity

Jesus Christ is like God

Colossians 1:15 While stating that Jesus Christ is like God, Scripture also insists that this likeness is grounded in the fact that Jesus Christ is God. See also 2 Corinthians 4:4; Philippians 2:6; Hebrews 1:3

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Jesus Christ is like human beings

Romans 8:3 While stating that Jesus Christ is like humanity Scripture also insists that this likeness is grounded in the fact that Jesus Christ is human. Yet Christ did not share human sinfulness 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15. See also Philippians 2:6–7

For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,