04.1. Man Innocent
MAN INNOCENT
Image-Bearing The nature of man as the image-bearer of God is what sets him apart from the rest of creation, and gives him a unique and dignified role among all God’s creatures. It is a difficult task to define concisely what is meant by the “image of God” in man, but it is at least possible to observe several characteristics or predicates of that divine image. For example, man possesses moral agency, that is, his decisions and actions are directed to some end, either positively good or negatively evil, and are motivated by a heart attitude that is likewise either good or bad; hence, he is justly responsible for the reward or punishment due to all of his actions. Man is likewise characterized by perpetuity, so that, once created, he will exist in some state forevermore; by creativity, so that, just as God brought all things into existence according to the idea of his own mind, so man is able to shape existing material intelligently and artfully according to his fruitful imagination; by speech-capability, so that, just as God through his Word brought his intentions into being, so man through his word is able to express his thoughts and ideas; by rationality, so that, man’s actions are not the mere product of brute instinct, but vested with the qualities of deliberation, desire for the highest good, and wisdom in how to pursue that desire; by dominion, so that, just as God rules over all his creation, man rules over all that is under him, subduing all kinds of animals and putting the earth to fruitful use; and by society, so that, just as God is in ceaseless and joyful fellowship with the members of the blessed Trinity, so man is ever in society with others of his kind, and is not complete without this fellowship.
1. The Image of God
Moral Agency
Genesis 4:7 Deuteronomy 11:26-28 Deuteronomy 30:15-16 Ezekiel 33:14-16
Hebrews 2:1-3 Hebrews 10:28-39.
Perpetuity
Luke 20:34-38 Revelation 20:11-15.
Creativity
Exodus 31:1-6 Ecclesiastes 7:29 5.
Speech-capability
Proverbs 18:4 Matthew 12:34-37
Isaiah 55:8-11 Hebrews 1:1-14.
Rationality
Dominion
Society
Psalms 127:3-5 Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 Song of Solomon 2:1-4
[See the rest of the Song of Solomon as well.]
Romans 8:14-17 Ephesians 5:22-32 Revelation 19:6-9
Good
Genesis 5:1-2 Ecclesiastes 7:29 God made man upright
Susceptible Ecclesiastes 7:29 but they have sought out many schemes
Responsible 1.To his Creator
Malachi 2:10 Romans 9:20-33. To exercise dominion
Exodus 23:11-12 Deuteronomy 22:6-7 Deuteronomy 22:10 Deuteronomy 25:4
Isaiah 65:25 Hebrews 2:5-18. To multiply
Psalms 127:3-5 Proverbs 5:15-21
Matthew 19:3-8 Ephesians 5:22-33
Galatians 3:7 Hebrews 2:9-18. To obey
Genesis 2:15-17 Deuteronomy 28:15-16 Deuteronomy 28:45-48 Deuteronomy 28:58-61
Leviticus 18:5 Deuteronomy 28:1-14
Psalms 119:97 Psalms 119:46-48 Psalms 119:156-158
Privileged The responsibilities that God enjoined upon innocent man were joined with the greatest of privileges. Man’s responsibility to exercise dominion over the earth was characterized by the great privilege of ruling beneath and in analogy to God’s own universal rule; his responsibility to multiply and fill the earth held forth the immense privilege and joy of society with others of his own kind, in the likeness of the blessed relationships within the eternal Trinity; his responsibility to obey God was attached to the unspeakable privilege of walking in fellowship with him, and enjoying the good fruits of the Garden that he had placed him in. Man, when he was first created, was the most blessed of all creatures, given great responsibility and filled with unspeakable joys and privileges, all of which derived from his unique relationship to God, as the one being formed in the image of the Divine.