1. Systematic Theology II The Doctrine of Man
The Image of God in Man
&
The Original State of Man

2. The Definition of the Image of God in Man
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” (cf. Gen 1:27; 5:1).
“The image of God in man is man’s personal, spiritual and moral resemblance to God, including, but not limited to, God’s communicable attributes” (McCune, p. 25).
“Man was so created that there was a creaturely likeness of God in him, that there was a reflection of the perfections of God in man” (Herman Hoeksema, Reformed Dogmatics, p. 204).

3. The Delineation of the Image of God in Man
The image consists both of that which makes man man and of the moral perfections of a true knowledge of God.
Man’s Personal Resemblance to God – Like God, man is a personal being.
Especially significant in this is “an intellect that, originally, carried with it an innate, uncorrupted, knowledge of God” (McCune, p. 26).
Col 3:9-10 implies that “the new birth restores what man possessed originally, before the Fall” (McCune, p. 27).
Man’s Spiritual Resemblance to God – This is his capacity for fellowship with God, including his capacity for worship and for possessing eternal life.
Man was originally righteous and holy.
Regeneration restores man to a state of moral purity, according to which the first humans loved God with their whole being.

4. The Delineation of the Image of God in Man
The image consists both of that which makes man man and of the moral perfections of a true knowledge of God.
Man’s Moral Resemblance to God – This refers to those capacities and powers that make man a moral creature, that fit him for right or wrong action.
Originally, man was disposed to obedience.
This resemblance also includes man’s conscience, a built in warning system that either commends or condemns (Rom 2:14-16).
Man’s Physical Resemblance to God (?) – Is man’s body an aspect of the image of God?
McCune answers “yes”. See his discussion on pp

5. Excursus: Was the Image Lost in the Fall?
“The image of God was marred by the Fall, but it was not obliterated; it was defaced but not erased” (McCune, p. 29). Several lines of argument support this:
God’s image in man continues to be the basis of capital punishment (Gen 9:6).
God’s image in man continues to be the basis for functional distinctions in the home and church (1 Cor 11:7).
God’s image in man continues to underwrite appropriate social behavior (Jam 3:9-10).
Some theologians argue that it was lost in the fall, and that the image was turned into the very opposite: the image of the devil

6. The Differences between Man and Beast
One of the best ways to understand the image of God is to contrast humans with animals. Several differences are obvious:
Self-consciousness
Concepts and language
Judgments and reason
Self-determination – animals do not consciously formulate purpose nor are they capable of self-improvement.
Moral conscience
“In sum, man is qualitatively different from animals. The gulf between the highest form of animal and the lowest specimen of humanity is still infinite. This is singularly due to man’s resemblance of and relationship with God via man’s image-bearing capacity, a capacity no animal ever has or is every capable of having” (McCune, p. 30).

7. The Original State of Man
This is a little different from McCune.

8. Man’s Moral Nature Man’s Moral Nature
Man’s Nature: Neutral or Positively Holy?
Some argue that man was innocent but not righteous.
A stronger case can be made that Adam and Eve’s original wills and affections were inclined towards good.
They were made in the image of God, which includes moral and spiritual aspects.
They were pronounced “very good” by their Creator (Gen 1:31).
Adam was created morally upright (Eccl 7:29).
Adam was treated as morally responsible (Gen 2:16-17)
It was Adam’s duty to obey God by not eating of the forbidden true or face the death penalty.

9. Man’s Moral Nature Man’s Character was not Positively Holy
Adam had what has been called an undeveloped or unconfirmed creaturely holiness.
While he was created with a disposition towards righteousness, he failed when he was tested.

10. Man’s Mental Endowment
A Free Intellect
It was originally completely free of the debilitating effects of sin, as demonstrated by his naming of all the land animals on Day 6 of creation (Gen 2:19-20).
The Use of Language
This linguistic ability enabled man to communicate with God and his fellow man.
Creative and Aesthetic Capacities
Man had the capacity to invent, manufacture and use various tools for cultivating the garden (Gen 2:15; cf. Gen 4:20-22). Adam and Eve also had the ability to appreciate beauty (Gen 3:6).

11. Other Aspects of Man’s Original State
Man’s Dominion over Creation
Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.“ (cf. Gen 9:1-2, 7; Psa 8:6-8).
This mandate underwrites all true science and technology, to the glory of God.
Though this is being done imperfectly today, it will be done as originally intended first in the millennial kingdom, then in the new heavens and new earth.
Man’s Original Diet
Originally it was only plants (Gen 1:29); this changed after the Flood (Gen 9:3).
Man’s Original Purpose
Adam and Eve were originally created to glorify their God and Creator. Redemption is the process of restoring this purpose (Isa 43:6-7; Rev 22:3-5).

12. Next Week:
The Fall of Man