3:10 new man. Man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Even though that image was badly marred by sin, it is still a part of man’s nature (James 3:9), in contrast with the nature of animals. Man still has a moral and spiritual capacity, as well as many other attributes not present in the animals (abstract thought, esthetic sense, etc.). The marred image can therefore be made new again when a man becomes a new creation in Christ (II Corinthians 5:17). Through faith in Christ and His redeeming work on the cross, he “puts off” his “old man” and “puts on” a “new man,” much as one would discard old clothing, and don new clothing.

3:10 image. The “image of God” was both “created” (Genesis 1:27; I Corinthians 11:7-9) and “made” (Genesis 1:26; Colossians 1:16-17) in man. That image was marred because of sin (Genesis 9:6; James 3:9), but is “renewed in knowledge” through saving faith in Christ (Colossians 1:10; Ephesians 4:23; II Corinthians 3:18. Our “image” will eventually be “conformed to the image” of the Son of God when Christ returns (Romans 8:29; I Corinthians 15:49).

3:10 him. We are to be conformed to the image of Christ, and Christ is Himself the incarnate image of the triune God (Colossians 1:15; 2:9; II Corinthians 4:4). He is especially called “the express image of His person” in Hebrews 1:3.