Define and discuss what it means to be created in the Image of God.
To be made in the image of God means man was created to reflect God in knowledge, righteousness, holiness, and dominion under Him (Gen. 1:26–28; Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10). Man is not divine, but he is uniquely made to know God, represent Him, and live in covenant fellowship with Him.
What does God require of humanity?
God requires perfect, personal, perpetual obedience to His revealed will—to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18; Matt. 22:37–40). This obligation is rooted in creation and summarized in the moral law.
What is sin?
Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God (1 John 3:4; James 4:17). It includes both omission and commission, both inward corruption and outward acts. Sin is rebellion against God.
Do human beings retain God’s image after Adam’s fall? If so, how so?
Yes. Fallen man still bears God’s image, though it is marred and corrupted, not destroyed (Gen. 9:6; James 3:9). This is why human life retains dignity and why murder and cursing are so serious. The image is renewed savingly in Christ (Col. 3:10).
Discuss the guilt and corruption of sin.
Sin brings both guilt and corruption. Guilt is our legal liability before God because we have broken His law (Rom. 3:19; 6:23). Corruption is the inward pollution of our nature, by which our mind, will, affections, and body are all touched by sin (Jer. 17:9; Rom. 8:7–8).
Define and discuss original sin. Is this fair?
Original sin is the guilt of Adam’s first sin imputed to his posterity, together with the corruption of our whole nature derived from him (Rom. 5:12–19; Ps. 51:5). Adam acted as the covenant head of humanity. This is fair because God deals with men covenantally, and we confirm Adam’s rebellion by our own sins. We are saved by the same principle in Christ, the second Adam.
Is there any good remaining in a fallen human? Explain.
There remains created goodness in the sense that man is still God’s creature and still bears His image. By common grace, unbelievers may perform outwardly beneficial acts and display civic virtue (Rom. 2:14–15). Yet spiritually, before God, no fallen man does true good from a right heart, for God’s glory, in faith (Rom. 3:10–12; Heb. 11:6).
What are some consequences of sin?
Sin brings guilt, corruption, alienation from God, spiritual death, misery in this life, physical death, and eternal judgment apart from Christ (Gen. 3; Isa. 59:2; Rom. 5:12; 6:23; Eph. 2:1–3). It disorders the soul and fractures relationships.
Is man’s will free? Explain.
Man’s will is free in the sense that he chooses voluntarily, not by coercion. But the will is not morally neutral. It acts according to the nature of the person. After the fall, man is free to choose according to his sinful nature, but not free to please God savingly (John 8:34; Rom. 8:7–8).
Can a sinner do anything good? Explain.
A sinner can do outward acts that are useful, kind, disciplined, and socially commendable by common grace. But he cannot do truly spiritual good in God’s sight apart from faith and a renewed heart (Heb. 11:6; Rom. 14:23).
Is a sinner’s will free to believe? Explain.
No, not in the saving sense. Fallen man is dead in sin, hostile to God, and unable to come to Christ unless drawn by the Father (John 6:44; Rom. 8:7–8; Eph. 2:1–5). Saving faith is the gift of God.
Does a believer have free will? Explain.
Yes, in a renewed sense. In regeneration, the Spirit frees the believer from slavery to sin, so that he is increasingly able to will and do what is pleasing to God (Rom. 6:17–18; Phil. 2:12–13). Yet indwelling sin remains until glory.
