"There is a distinction to be made between being created by God and being a child of God. While we are all created by God, not everyone is considered a child of God according to the Scriptures. In the book of Galatians (3:7), it is highlighted that only those who have faith in God can be called His children.
In the beginning, God created the first man, Adam, in His own image, as mentioned in Genesis (1:26-27). However, after the fall of man, humanity lost that original likeness and began to resemble their earthly fathers (Genesis 5:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:49). In Genesis 9:6, reference is made to God's original intent for humanity, but subsequent scriptures do not refer to fallen mankind as being in the image of God. In fact, in the New Testament, Jesus Himself referred to the Pharisees, who claimed to be children of God, as 'children of the devil' (John 8:41-44).
The only exception to this is Christ, who is described as the exact image of God and the firstborn among God's children, the born-again Christians (Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3; 2 Corinthians 4:4). When references are made to children being in the image of God in scriptures like 1 Corinthians 11:7 and James 3:9, they are addressing those who are in the faith, specifically Christians. These verses are not applicable to unbelievers.
As believers, we are called to put on our new selves, which have been made in the image of the Father (Colossians 3:10; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 8:29; Ephesians 4:24). When someone is in Christ, they become a new creation, shedding their old self for the new (2 Corinthians 5:17). This new image reflects God and His likeness, rather than the old fallen image."
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