The first chapter of Genesis states that "God created man in his own image,"Gen. 1:27; after His own likeness. An image is the likeness of the original in every detail, but it has no substance of its own and can do nothing of itself. It does, however, reflect the substance of the original. As the sun constantly manifests its properties, light and heat, through its rays, so God is expressing His substance and activity through His image and likeness, man. In this connection Christ Jesus said, "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise."John 5:19;
According to Christian Science the real universe is mental and spiritual. It must consist of thought and ideas manifested spiritually, and individual spiritual man exists as idea, or image, in the Mind of his creator. Thus man as idea is what God sees and knows as His creation. Because God is ever active, the image, to be a true reflection, must likewise be active. As the individual perceives the activities of the image, or reflection, he sees God's expression of Himself.
Because man exists only as idea, or image, he remains in the consciousness of God, is inseparable from God; and since man actively expresses God, he coexists with Him. God is ever radiating the true sense of being, and we in our real, spiritual selfhood as the sons of God have the divine right to claim and experience what He imparts. It is our prerogative to utilize the power and faculties of God in everything we do. God has made available to us everything we need to accomplish our God ordained purpose in being. Mrs. Eddy writes, "Man is God's image and likeness; whatever is possible to God, is possible to man as God's reflection."Miscellaneous Writings, p. 183;
