[TruthTalk] The Image of God

[Judy Taylor]

jt: Jonathan, Please tell me you don't think that all the "image of God" consists of is being human with a positive orientation of life toward God. Is this remaking God in our own image - or is it humanism?  David Miller would probably be more qualified to discern.  judyt   The basis for this is the �loss� of the imago Dei as a positive orientation of life toward God through the Fall, and the renewal of the imago Dei through the whole work of Jesus Christ as the incarnate and thus the original imago.  �He is the image of the invisible God,� says Paul, �the firstborn of all creation��   Col. 1:15. �Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature..."   When we talk about the image of God we are speaking of that quality that distinctly identifies us as human, that separates us from the animals.  This image that God stamps upon us cannot be thrown away, even through sin.  It is who we are.  To remove the image of God from us is to remove our humanness which, of course, is impossible.  I believe the biblical texts above (the 3 from Genesis and the two from the NT) are sufficient evidence for us to proclaim that the image of God did not disappear from humankind as a result of the Fall.  I hope you will concur.  Jonathan