The Image of God

[FaithfulPilgrim]

Man was made in God's image, so does Calvinism teach that the image of God is still in man, or is that something man lost during the Fall as part of Total Depravity?

 

[TaylorSexton]

Reformed theology, at the most basic level, teaches that man indeed still possesses the image of God, but that it is severely marred and deformed. Observe what Calvin himself says:

"There is no doubt that Adam, when he fell from his state, was by this defection alienated from God. Therefore, even though we grant that God’s image was not totally annihilated and destroyed in him, yet it was so corrupted that whatever remains is frightful deformity."

—John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, I.xv.4.

 

[Deadworm]

The Hebrew words for "image" and "likeness" ("tselem" and "demuth") primarily refer to statues erected by powerful kings in subject lands to represent their presence and authority there, despite their physical absence. As applied to Genesis 1:26-27, this means that humanity represents God's presence and authority on earth and this meaning is then applied in the next verse to God's authorization of humanity to "subdue" and "take dominion over" the earth. So there can be no question of the "image of God" being "defaced." This theological point applies to our responsibility to be good stewards of the earth and therefore is a power grounds for Christian involvement in the environmentalist movement.

 

[Rodite]

Let's be careful about how we use the word "image." This might be the best word we have for understanding what God meant, but this doesn't mean it must be an 'image' like we undestand other images.

 

[twin1954]

The Hebrew words for "image" and "likeness" ("tselem" and "demuth") primarily refer to statues erected by powerful kings in subject lands to represent their presence and authority there, despite their physical absence. As applied to Genesis 1:26-27, this means that humanity represents God's presence and authority on earth and this meaning is then applied in the next verse to God's authorization of humanity to "subdue" and "take dominion over" the earth. So there can be no question of the "image of God" being "defaced." This theological point applies to our responsibility to be good stewards of the earth and therefore is a power grounds for Christian involvement in the environmentalist movement.

This is the ask a Calvinist forum not the ask a Methodist forum. What you have said is against the understanding and teaching of Calvinists.

 

[twin1954]

Man was made in God's image, so does Calvinism teach that the image of God is still in man, or is that something man lost during the Fall as part of Total Depravity?

The image of God in which man was made is His moral nature. Man is separated from the brute beasts by the fact that he is a moral creature and when he acts immorally it causes him pain in his conscience. Brute beasts have no moral conscience. A cat can eat her young and never feel the slightest pang of remorse. Our morality has been defaced and turned into immorality by the Fall but still we do have a moral nature.

Also I have considered that the image of God is the very likeness of man which is also what the Lord Jesus would come to possess.
(Heb 2:9) But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

(Heb 2:10) For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

(Heb 2:11) For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

(Heb 2:12) Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;