The Relationship of Missio Dei, Imagio Dei, Imitatio Dei.

It seems the three concepts of missio dei; imagio dei and imitatio dei are

primarily focused on the idea of relationships. The imagio dei speaks of a relationship

of dignity because humanity bears the image of its Creator even though sin has

distorted that image. The missio dei addresses the idea of an active relationship

involving both divine invention and human participation. The imitatio dei articulates a

visible relationship whereby the out working of the other relationships becomes

observable to others. For the Christian these relationships are interdependent but are

also empowered by God’s activity. That is to say, each relationship depends on the

other and all depend on the God’s work in the world. This brief paper will explore

each relationship individually and attempt to demonstrate their dependence upon one

another.

Any discussion of humanities being made in the image of God must ask the

crucial question of, “Why man was created?” Was humankind created to satisfy some

felt need for companionship on the part of God? One need only look at the nature of

the God to realize none of these answers would suffice as plausible causes for human

creation. Isaiah reminds the Jewish captives they, and all who are called by the name

of God, were created to bring glory to the One who had made them (Isaiah 43:7 New

International Version). If the purpose of humankind is bringing glory to God then

inherent in this purpose is a sense of value. Humanity has value because God created

it. It demonstrates the purpose of that value as it glorifies God. Human beings find

meaning because the Creator treasures them. The inference may be drawn that

because people are created with purpose and have value they also have an innate

dignity.
 Theologically, however, the question is to what extent this innate dignity

resident in all humanity has been distorted by the fall and how much can restored

through salvation. Though all humanity bears the image of God it also carries the

inheritance of original sin. The use of the term original sin should not be interpreted

as the original act committed by Adam and Eve. It should be viewed in light of the

resultant personal consequences brought on by this action. For Adam and Eve the

immediate the outcome was spiritual death and expulsion from Paradise. In the long-

term it set in motion their physical death and an inheritance of guilt passed along to

their progeny.

Most of Christendom would agree that the fall of our first parents had great

impact on the rest of human history. The disagreement comes as to what degree

original sin has affected the whole person. No matter which side of the debate one

may fall on there is common ground to share. Chiefly that humankind is made in

God’s image and that image has been distorted by sin, and the remedy for sin is only

found in God’s missio dei. That is, God’s sending activity of the Son provided the

means of expiation for the whole of the human race but this is not the sole aspect of

missio dei.

The dignity of humankind is protected in the imagio dei and the distortion of

sin that has impacted humanity can only be remedied by missio dei. Paul illustrated

this movement to the Church at Galatia when he wrote, “…when the time had fully

come, God sent his Son …” (Gal. 4:4). But what was the purpose of this sending?

Paul offers us insight to God’s intention further in Galatians by stating the Son was

sent to “redeem” humans and make them sons (Gal. 4:5). The penalty to atone for sin

ascends back to the Father and with the Son sends the Spirit who works to apply the

benefit of redemption to human beings. Humans who have placed their faith in the
works of Christ having been baptized, by the Spirit, into the Body (1 Cor. 12:13) are

now empowered to be sent into the world to imitate God in mission and are provided

a model in the life of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the believer participates in an already

active mission with Christ through the Spirit.

Paul encourages the Ephesians to, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly

loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for

us…” (Eph. 5:1-2). Imitating God is accomplished as the believer looks to the

example of the Son who gave himself. Paul employs the Greek verb paradidōmi to

express how Christ gave Himself over to the will of the Father even though it meant

suffering.1 Jesus Christ modeled for believers a willing surrender of self in order that

the will of God would be done. As followers and imitators of Christ, believers also

surrender their lives into the will of the Father. Christ also modeled this act of

surrender by loving those who did not love Him. He told the disciples, “Even 'sinners'

love those who love them” (Luke 6:32). Even the unregenerate human will express

love when love is expressed to them. Christ modeled a love that was without

conditions by offering Himself as a perfect “ransom” even for those who were guilty

of killing Him (1 Tim. 2:6). By doing this He provided a real life illustration of His

words, “love your enemies, do good to them…” (Luke 6:35). Believers empowered

by the Spirit are sent into the world to become the visible image of the love of God.

The attempt of this paper is to express how imagio dei, missio dei, and imitatio

dei work together in partnership. The unregenerate human, created in the image of

God to bring glory to Him, becomes keenly aware of his or her sinfulness as the Spirit

convicts. When they place their faith in Christ they are adopted into the family of

God. The believer is then sent into the world as an “ambassador” (Eph. 6:20) who

1
Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for paradidōmi (Strong's 3860)". Blue Letter Bible.
1996-2010. 6 Nov 2010. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=G3860 >
imitates Christ so as to bring glory to God. Like the Son the believer submits to the

will of the Father and can do so by the power of the Spirit. Like the Son the believer

acts in love even to his or her enemies because they are empowered by the Spirit and

thus bring glory to God. Love is certainly not the only characteristic of Christ to

imitate but it does seem to be the chief out of which the others flow.