The Image of God in Man: Sin Corrupted That Image - Essay Example

? The Image of God in Man: Sin Corrupted that Image Wilton Beamer Dr. Steven W. Ladd 12/12 Table of Contents Part of the Paper Page Number Introduction……………………………………………………………… 3 Main Part of the Paper/Body……………………………………………...3- 14 Conclusion………………………………………………………………..14- 15 Bibliography………………………………………………………………16 Introduction According to the Christian account of creation, as recorded in the book of Genesis, God created man in his own image. But what exactly does it mean to say that man is created in the image and likeness of God? The notion of man being the image of God obviously indicates the presence of God in every individual human person. But in what manner is God really present in the human person, in what way is man the image of God (Imago dei)? This is the question that this paper seeks to answer. The paper delves into the motif of man as being the image of God and also shows how sin corrupted God’s image in man. According to the research findings in this paper, man is created in the image of God in the sense that man has the ability to commune with God and to relate with him at an intimate and personal level. Man’s sin has however broken this ability of man to communicate and to relate with God, thus corrupting God’s image in man. The paper also discusses the relevance of this knowledge of man being the image of God, to the lives of the Christians. Main Part of the Paper/Body On the meaning of the notion of man being the image of God, it can be postulated that God’s image signifies God’s character in Man’s being and disposition in the sense that it is through Man that God manifest His will and presence to the rest of creation. Before we explore the actual manner in which God expresses his will and presence on earth through man, it is important that we first look at the common characters of God according to the Bible, and also look at the common characters of man. This will help us in understanding how God is able to express his will on earth through man. According to the Bible, God is inherently pure, good and righteous and that everything pertaining to His actions is for the greater good of creation. Man, on the other hand, is born with the ability to be both good and/or evil, a choice given to Man after what is regarded as the big fall. The big fall was Man’s first committal sin or disobedience against the will of God under the influence of the Devil. The Bible teaches that the image of God in Man was marred by sin, following the disobedience of man against God. This led to man being equipped with the ability to make choices regarding right or wrong. The knowledge of man as being the image of God is quite important to the lives of Christians. There is indeed the need for more research on this topic because the availability of more information on the aspect of sin in Man’s life would help Christians to better understand their role and responsibility in reinstituting God’s divine gift1. The research should help us to better understand the correct theological meaning of the notion of being made in the image and likeness of God. Theological interpretation of the scripture therefore is the key to understanding the concept of Man being created in the image of God. But for us to be able to get the correct theological interpretation of this notion of man being the image of God, we must first, of necessity, answer the question of, “what is man? 2 .Answering this question will help us to know the purpose and the mission of man according to his creator, God. This knowledge will in turn help us in better understanding the meaning of the concept of man as being created in the image and likeness of God. In his reflections on the meaning of the concept man as having been created in the image and likeness of God, Elwell said that the term imago Dei translates to the ‘image of God in man’ 3.This is vital in understanding the essence of this concept. Elwell’s clarification of the concept of man being imago Dei sends a lot of light in the correct theological interpretation of the concept of man being the image of God. Elwell’s clarification on the meaning of the concept of man being the image of God can be paraphrased as, “there is something ‘godly’ in man”. This is quite an important step towards correct interpretation of the concept of man as being an image of God. In his reflections on the meaning of the concept of man being the image of God, Walton is of the view that the concept of man as having been created in the unique image of God is something that should prompt an individual to seek the exact meaning and purpose of this concept 4. Walton therefore is of the view that the concept of man as having been created in the image and likeness of God can spur us on to seek more meaning of our lives. Walton therefore is of the view that the concept of man being Imago Dei is quite important in our lives. On the actual meaning of the concept of man being an image of God, the Bible does not explicitly explain what this image is. The Bible merely acts as a guide towards the correct understanding of the meaning of this concept. The Bible however is a very powerful guide towards correct understanding of the meaning of the concept of man being the image of God. A reflection on the writings in the Bible coupled with the reflections on the unique characteristics of man can help us a great deal interpreting the concept of man as being the image of God correctly. Unlike other animals, man is a unique creature endowed with rationality that sets him apart from the rest of creations. On the uniqueness of man in relation to the understanding o man as being an image of God, McGrath says that there are several characteristics in the uniqueness of man that aid in understanding the meaning of the image of God in man5. McGrath views therefore imply that the image of God in man is what sets man apart from the rest of animals. On the same note, Burghardt is of the view that man’s uniqueness, in comparison to the rest of the animals, of being spiritual requires us to study more on the impact of the image of God and the repercussions that the image of God in man has in the lives of human beings 6. McGrath and Burghardt are agreed that the uniqueness of man, in comparison to the rest of animals, is what constitutes the image of God in man. Arguing on the same lines, Wharton said that, the personal nature of man illustrates God’s personal attributes of self-consciousness and immortality7. Just like Burghardt and McGrath, Wharton also sees man’s uniqueness in comparison to the rest of the animals as image of God in man. Wharton saw some similarities between man’s personal nature and the self-consciousness and immortality of God. Morality is a vital component of man’s life, which is implicitly founded in the bible. Morality is one of the areas which clearly distinguish human beings from the rest of creations. In morality, human beings are required to act in the morally right way and to avoid acting in a vicious way. On this view, Waldron argued that man’s effort to act in the morally right way is an illustration of God’s holy nature, an aspect that warrants further elucidation in order to further the understanding of morality and the functioning of human society8. Waldron therefore saw morality as having its origin in God. Waldron views therefore also imply that the image of God in man is the uniqueness of man from the rest of God’s earthly creations. In his efforts and struggles to act in the right way, Waldron saw man as resembling God, as it were, in pursuing holiness and justice which are absolutely in God. In this sense, Waldron saw man as having been created in the image of God. Apart from being spiritual and moral beings, human beings are also emotional and relational beings who are guided by their internal understanding and perceptions to create interactions that further their essence as human beings. Dunavant saw human rationality as the characteristic that sets human beings apart from the rest of creations. On rationality, Dunavant said that the rationality of human beings is the characteristic that is attributed to God’s benevolence in endowing man with knowledge that he applies in his daily life 9. Peterson had a similar view on rationality and he saw human personality as the image of God in man. Peterson said that rationality in human beings means that man has the ability to transform beings around them; an aspect that can explain man’s creativity that is illustrated in everything that is visible in the world both manmade and natural 10. Stewart also had similar views on human rationality and he also saw human rationality as the image of God in man. Stewart was of the view that the ability of man to transform his natural environment to benefit him is clearly an illustration of God’s presence in man, an indicator of God’s continual desire to create just as God created the world11. Stewart therefore saw human rationality as the aspect of man that enables him to be a co-creator with God. And for him, this is the image of God in man. The image of God in man is the unique characteristic in man that separates man from the rest of creations and that enables man to do things that other animals aren’t able to do. Gonzalez and Perez are of the view that research and more knowledge on these aspects that make human beings unique and therefore bear the image of God can further the understanding of man’s nature and his relationship with God and fellow man12. Gonzalez Perez were convinced that human beings can relate better amongst themselves and even with their creators through concentration on their image of God in them. Having looked at the various views of scholars on the meaning of image of God in man, let us now turn to the theological interpretation and meaning of the concept of man as having been created in the image of God. Theological interpretation and translation of the Bible can offer us useful and significant insights with regard to man’s nature and his potential. The correct meaning of the concept of man as having the image of God can be achieved only through reflection on the Scriptures in regard to the theme of man being the image of God. There have been controversies and theorems regarding the significance of man being created in the image of God. Correct interpretation of this concept is important and it can influence a great deal our views about ourselves and the whole world. The world’s history is centered on this with the majority of the world’s past and present events regarded as a translation of events documented in the scripture. Of utmost importance is the fact that having been created in the image of God serves to illustrate that man should strive to live up to God’s benevolence and nature despite the implication of the big fall, which was mitigated for through salvation. In the Bible, the concept of man being the image of God is closely tied with the concept of sin, the correct understanding of the concept of man as being the image of God therefore will require us also to review the biblical meaning of sin and its implications on the lives of human beings. According to the book of Genesis, sin entered in the world when Adam and Eve choose to disobey God by eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3). Adam and Eve had been deceived by the devil to disobey God by going against his precepts. Through this disobedience, the relationship between God and human beings became sour, and man was cursed for disobeying his maker. Some of the curses that man faced as the result of his disobedience include: the labour pain for the woman was increased, man was cursed to a life of hard work and toil as the only mean to get his food, and ultimately man was cursed that at the end of all his toils he will face death. As we can clearly see therefore from the book of Genesis, the main consequence of sin of Adam and Eve was breaking the good and the intimate relationship that existed between Adam and God. Having looked at how sin entered into the world and the consequences of sin in the life of man, let us now look in details the other biblical teachings on the meaning and consequences of sin in the life of human beings. In Isaiah 59:2, Prophet Isaiah tells the Israelites that their iniquities, or in other words their sins, have separated them from their God. Prophet Isaiah went on to say that the Israelites sins had hidden God’s face from the Israelites so that God did not hear the pleas and the cries of the Israelites for help. Isaiah’s understanding and interpretation of the meaning of sin to the life of the human beings is perfectly in line with the book of Genesis’ interpretation of the same; just like the book of Genesis, Isaiah saw the main impact of sin as separation and severing of the intimate relationship between God and his people. In Psalms 66:18, the psalmist says that if he had harboured iniquities in his heart, the Lord would not have listened to him. This again shows that sin separates man from God. Sin alienates man from his creator. In Mathew, 25:41, Jesus teaches that on the final day, the sinners will be cast into eternal fire, where they will live eternally with the Satan and his angels. This teaching of Jesus Christ also confirms the Old Testament teachings on sin, in which sin causes separation between God and the sinner. According to Jesus Christ therefore, on the judgment day, the sinner will be eternally separated from God, their creator. In John 15, Jesus Christ again says that He is the vine, and that his followers are his branches. Jesus went on to say that His father is the vine dresser. Jesus then said that those who do not remain with him and bear fruit will be thrown away into the fire like branches. Through the use of this powerful metaphor of a vine and its branches, Jesus emphasized the impact of sin on man. Sin separates man from God and makes man to be completely fruitless. It is only through an intimate relationship with God that man will be able to bear fruits, or in other words to accomplish his God-given mission and objectives in life. Apart from severing the good relationship between man and his creator, sin also causes sufferings to the sinners. The Bible is replete with the teachings on how sin causes sufferings to the sinners. The following are some examples of the biblical teachings on how sin causes sufferings to the sinners. In Ezekiel 18:20, prophet Ezekiel teaches that the soul who sins shall die. Prophet Ezekiel also teaches that no person shall suffer for the iniquities of another person; the father will not suffer for the iniquities of his son, no will a son suffer for the iniquities of his father. Ezekiel also taught that the righteousness of a righteous person will be upon him, and the iniquities of a wicked person will be upon him too; the main point in this teachings of prophet Ezekiel is that sin causes sufferings to the sinner, while righteousness brings blessings from God. In Psalms 38:3, the psalmist recounts his sufferings because of his sins; the Psalmist says that there is no healthy bone in his body because of the sins that he has committed. The Psalmist therefore believes that sin causes sufferings to the sinners. In the New Testament, in the book of Romans, 6:23, St. Paul teaches that the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ. St. Pau therefore saw sin as causing total destruction to the life of human person. In the book of Jude, 1:7, St. Jude gives an example of how sinners will be punished for their transgressions against God. St. Jude says that just as Sodom and Gomorrah were punished for sinning against God through indulging in unnatural sexual immoralities, the sinners will also be punished for the sins that they commit against God. St. Jude therefore also teaches that sin causes sufferings to the sinners. In 2 Peter:2:4, St. Peter teaches that since God did not spare even the angels when they sinned against him, God will not hesitate to punish whoever sins against him. St. Peter emphasizes the point that all the sinners will be punished for their sins and that no one will be spared irrespective of their social, political, religious, or any other position in the society. God is the fair judge who will repay each person according to their work. In Philippians 3:18-19, the Bible teaches that for those who have disobeyed the teachings of Jesus Christ and live as though they were enemies of the cross of Jesus Christ, their end will be total destruction. These two verses in the book of Philippians castigates, especially, those who have made their bellies their gods, those who glory in their shameful iniquities, and those whose minds is set on the fleeting earthly pleasures. The author of the book of the Philippians therefore teaches that sins against God causes human sufferings and the author is advising that in order to avoid transgressing against the will of God, the believers should not over-indulge in earthly pleasures and they should not set their minds on earthly things. Setting one’s minds on earthly things draws one away from God and this will eventually cause immense sufferings to the believers. In 2Thessallonians 1:9, the Bible teaches that the sinners will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the lord and of His mighty glory. The book of Thessalonians therefore teaches that sin causes both destruction and separation from God. This teaching on the nature and the impact of sin on the lives of human beings is perfectly in line with the previous biblical teaching on sin that we have just looked at, i.e. sin causes both separation from God and human sufferings. In Matt.25:46, Jesus Christ taught that the sinners will ultimately go into eternal punishment while the righteous people will go into eternal life where they will eternally live with God, their creator. Jesus Christ’s teaching on the Bible therefore confirms the Old Testament teaching on the impact of sin in the lives of human beings in which sin was seen as causing suffering to the lives of the sinners. Jesus teaches that the greatest suffering that will come out of sin is the eternal damnation in which the sinners will be eternally separated from God, and they will eternally suffer in the torments of hell. Having looked at the biblical teachings on the impacts of sin to the sinners, let us now look at the biblical teachings on how God took the initiative to mitigate the impacts of sin in the world. The biblical teachings on how God initiated a plan to overcome sin in the world, and to restore human dignity as children of God, able to intimately relate with him, will help us to see the relationship between the concept of man being the image of God, and the concept of sin. The following are the biblical teachings on how God, through His son Jesus Christ, initiated the process of reconciling the sinful human beings back to him. In Romans 5, we are told that just as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin, through Jesus Christ justification and life have been reclaimed for man. This chapter of the book of Romans teaches that through Adam’s disobedience, sin entered into the world and man lost the intimate relationship that he had with his creator God. Through Jesus Christ, therefore, the severed relationship between God and the human beings was restored. Just as sin entered and spread to the whole world through the disobedience of one person, Adam, justification of human beings came through the obedience of one man, Jesus Christ. According to this teaching therefore, acceptance and obedience to Jesus Christ is the sure way to overcome sin in the world and to restore the lost dignity of human beings as the children of God. In this sense Jesus is seen as the new Adam, the New Adam who unlike the Old Adam willingly obeyed God thus becoming the link between God and humanity. Through Jesus Christ human beings are able again to have an intimate relationship with God their creator. In the Gospel of John 3:3, Jesus Christ taught that unless a human person is born again through the baptism, one cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Through this teaching, Jesus meant that Baptism is the only gateway for one to accept him and therefore enter into the life of God, the life of graces, the kingdom of God. Through the sacrament of Baptism therefore, we are united with Jesus Christ, and therefore, we are able to maintain intimate relationship with God our creator. In the Gospel of John 3: 16, we are again told that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, so that whoever believes in may not perish, but may have eternal life. This teaching serves to emphasis the point that through Jesus Christ, the broken relationship between man and God was restored. In John 11:25, Jesus again taught that he is the resurrection and the life, and that whoever believes in him, though he dies, he shall live forever. In this teaching Jesus Christ was talking of the eternal life that the believers in him shall live with him eternally in heaven. The Gospel of John therefore presents Jesus Christ as the only way of restoration of the severed relationship between God and humanity. In Mark 9:45, Jesus Christ taught that the consequences of sin to the lives of human beings are so grave, and He advised his followers to do everything within their power to overcome sin. Jesus Christ advised his followers to go even to the extent of cutting off their legs if it is the leg that can cause one to sin. Jesus Christ therefore advised his followers to accept him and to avoid sin for sin will cause them great pains and sufferings. In recapitulation, the New Testament presents Jesus Christ as the New Adam through whom the broken relationship between man and God is restored. The New Testament teaches that through Jesus Christ the believers are given the power of the Holy Spirit who enables them to remain in an intimate relationship with God. Without the gift of the Holy Spirit, one is not able to overcome the sin that came to the world through the sin of Adam and Eve. Having looked at the Biblical teachings on the concept of man as being the image of God, and also at the concept of sin, let us now look at the relationship between the concept of man as the image of God, and the concept of sin. To begin with, we have seen that according to the Bible, sin entered the world through the disobedience of Adam and Eve against God. Through sin, the intimate relationship between God and the human being became sour. Man in other words became alienated from God, owing to his deliberate action to disobey his creator. The book of Genesis also clearly tells us that man was created in the image of God but does not tell us what exactly this image is. A review of the biblical concept of sin and the biblical teachings on man as being the image of shows that the image of God in man is no other thing than the ability of man to commune with God his creator and therefore to have an intimate relationship with him. As we have seen, the disobedience of Adam and Eve distorted the image of God in man. Through the disobedience of Adam, Adam could no longer relate with God at a personal and intimate level as before. Through the sin of Adam and Eve, the life of human beings also became miserable in many ways through the sufferings that befell human beings as the result of their sins. In the New Testament, we have also seen that through Jesus Christ, the broken relationship between God and humanity was restored. What this means, as we have just seen, is that through Jesus Christ, man was again able to relate with God at a personal and intimate level. This therefore shows that the image of God in man that was distorted and corrupted by sin was restored through Jesus Christ. Conclusion In conclusion, all the scholars that we have reviewed on the meaning of the concept of man being the image of God are agreed that the image of God in man is the uniqueness of man in comparison to the rest of worldly creatures. And this uniqueness is nothing other than the rationality of human beings and the attendant ability of human beings to communicate and to relate with God at a personal and intimate level. The review of both the Old Testament and the New Testament have also shown us how sin corrupted the image of God in man, and how Jesus Christ restored this image through his birth, death, and resurrection. Our review on the meaning and impacts of sin to the lives of human beings has shown us that sin distorts the image of God in man through breaking the good relationship between God and man, and also through causing sufferings and misery to the lives of human beings. The image of God in man therefore is the ability of man to commune and to relate with God intimately, and this image of God in man has been corrupted by sin, through man’s deliberate choice of disobedience against God. Bibliography Burghardt, W.J. The Image of God in Man: Alexandria Orientations.” Proceedings of the Catholic Theological Society of America.”16, 2012. Dunavant, D. “Man – Made in the Image of God”. SBC LIFE: Journal of the Southern Baptist Convention. 2009.Retrieved From://www.sbclife.org/Articles/2009/10/sla6.as p Erickson, M. J. Christian Theology. 2nd Edition. Boston: Baker Academic, 1998. Elwell, W. A. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. Revised Edition. New York: Baker Academic, 2001. Faber, T. T. A Critical Examination of the Biblical Teaching on the Image of God, and It’s Implications for Christian Living. New York: Liberty University, Seminary. 2008. Gonzalez, J. L. and Perez, Z. M. An Introduction to Christian Theology. London: Abingdon Press, 2011. McGrath, A. E. Christian Theology: An Introduction. 5th Edition. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2011. Peterson, R. S. “Image of God”. The Encyclopaedia of Christian Civilization, 2011. Stewart, A. “The Image of God in man: A Reformed Reassessment”, 2009. Waldron, J. “The Image of God: rights, reason, and order.”NYU School of Law, Public Law Research Paper, (10-85), 2010. Walton, J. H. Human Origins and the Bible. Zygon®, 47(4.), 875-889,2012. Wharton, A. God: The Supreme Example of Man. London: West Bow Press, 2012. Read More