LIBERTY UNIVERSITY’S WILLMINGTON SCHOOL OF THE BIBLE
God’s Image Bearers Tainted by Original Sin
Coffee Shop Encounter-Essay 1
Submitted to Cody Podor, Rawlings School of Divinity Instructor
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
THEO 109-D01
Theological Survey III
by
Ashley Plandowski
March 25th, 2020
The author of this paper decided to venture out to Tim Horton’s last weekend, her local
coffee shop, to catch up on the weeks reading assignment, concerning the doctrine of Sin for her
theological survey class. As she had gotten settled into the circular table that was overlooking the
city streets, an interesting mid-twenties gentleman, named Conner, approached her table. He
mentioned that he had done some reading in theology over the past couple of years, since he
finished college. At this time, he stated his conclusion concerning his findings and an even more
interesting conversation arose between the two of them, which is depicted throughout, beginning
in the paragraph below. The purpose of this paper is to establish a clear and concise response
addressing the questions raised by Connor, providing relevant Scripture, and supporting sources
to validate the given responses. Equipping the author with a defensible understanding of sin’s
extent, and the ability to impart biblically appropriate concepts from the traditional theories to
formulate a biblical and contemporary reply model for questions pertaining to man, created as
God’s image bearers, and that of original sin.
Created bearing God’s Image
The author offered to buy this gentleman a cup of coffee and invited him to have a seat,
assuring the young man that she would be happy to discuss the topic with him, inquiring relevant
Scripture and supporting academic sources to corroborate her response. Connor stated: “I’ve
concluded that man is basically good, since God created him and God’s image is reflected in
both man and animals.” Authors response: “Well Connor, there is goodness within us all,
however one cannot argue with humanities apparent deeply rooted desire to go at it alone and
rebel.” Connor: “That is true, why do you think that is?” Author’s thoughts: God originally
created mankind bearing His image and intended for us to live within the everlasting reality of
His perfect presence, in the midst of His holiness- given the free will of choice to never be
without the presence of God, or risk it and take the chance…have experience the ravishing
effects of sin and separation from our Heavenly Father.
"God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness... And God created
man in His own image, in the image of God He created him" (Gen. 1:26,27). Theses verses of
Scripture form the key passage for understanding the nature of mankind (as well as v.28). When
God completed creation of this world, man, animals, and everything in it, He leaned in looking
upon his finished masterpiece and said: “everything He created was very Good” (Gen. 1:31).1
God created both angels and men as intelligent creatures possessing moral natures that could
determine and choose between right and wrong. While animals share in the likeness of God, only
humans, like angels, bear God's image. Connor: Weren’t both man and animals made at the same
time? Author: That happens to be a bond of kinship between land animals and humans, revealed
in the fact that they share the same day of creation.2 Man is the only created person that reflects
the divine-image of God, given free-will, the ability to think, feel, act, and choose for ourselves,
from the very beginning.3 Connor: Couldn’t God have stopped or prevented them from sinning?
Author: Had God stopped Lucifer and Adam one second before their sin, he would, in effect,
have violated their moral natures and reduced them to mere walking robots. 4
1 All Scripture quoted from English Standard Version (ESV), unless otherwise noted.
2 Moritz, Joshua M. "Animals and the Image of God in the Bible and Beyond." Dialog 48, no. 2 (2009): 134-146.
3 Deane‐Drummond, Celia. "God's Image and Likeness in Humans and Other Animals: Performative Soul‐Making
and Graced Nature." Zygon® 47, no. 4 (2012): 934-948.
4 Harold Willmington Willmington’s Guide to the Bible, , 30th Anniversary Edition. Retrieved from
https://app.wordsearchbible.com (2018). p. 555.
Man has in one sense lost the image of God Because of Adam’s fall into sin, (the
narrower or functional sense). Instead of serving and obeying God, man is now turned away
from God; he is “man in revolt.” The "image" was not just tarnished, twisted, or subdued The
"image of God" was no longer natural for man. Ephesians 2:12 tells us that we are now "without
God" and "separate from Christ." Herrman Bavinck puts It like this: “The entire world is a
revelation of God, a mirror of his virtues and perfections; every creature is in his own way and
according to his own measure an embodiment of a divine thought. But among all creatures only
man is the image of God--heading Crown of the entire creation.” 5 Authors following thoughts of
an article published by Celia Deane‐Drummond, concerning God's Image and Likeness: Coming
to life in the possibility of hope, in a further transformation of human nature, into the likeness of
God- that depends on Christ- as the one who bears the image of God perfectly, and the Spirit,
who enables such a transformation in human subjects.6 The indwelling of Christ can be
expressed in and through Christian behavior by the evident expression of God's character. Man
was “predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29), "transformed into the
same image from glory to glory"(II Cor. 3:18).7
Where Sin Originates
After giving her response, Conner expressed his gratitude for sharing all of this knowledge with
him. He also had questions regarding where sin originates, implying sin to be something that
only results from the “devil’s activity”, and that since God is an all-loving God, He will most
5 Hoekema, Anthony A. Created in God's image. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1994.
6 Ibid., Deane‐Drummond.
7 Ibid., Hoekema.
likely forgive you of your sins when you die since they were “not really your fault anyway.”
Authors reply: The thing is Connor Sin was not part of the original state of Man, as we already
touched on. Satan is the one who introduced Sin into universe, but Adam is the one who
introduced sin to humanity, seen in man’s Fall, in Genesis 3. God is all-loving, which is precisely
why he gave us the free will to choose the path we will take, love is not forceful but freely give.8
In Dr. Rick Rasberry’s presentation, he spoke on differing theological theories concerning
Adams original state and fallen nature, stating that the federal headship view is one many
Evangelicals hold to. Federal headship view holds: Adam was appointed by God as the official
representative of the human race As humanity entered into a covenant relationship with God. It
was in the Garden that Humanities representation went on probation! Through the covenant, God
promised Adam, our representative, that He would give eternal life to humanity, if he passed the
test of obedience to God. In contrast, he warned him and promised condemnation, corruption,
and death would pass upon all of humanity, “for in the day that you eat[d] of it you shall surely
die” (2:17) Adam, as humanity’s representation failed the probationary test through
disobedience. This view claims Adam failed the test, his failure was imputed to all he represented
in the covenant. As described by Paul in Romans 5:12-19- as the sin of all humanity, when sin
entered the world, death came along with it and spread to all men because all sinned.9 Connor:
Thank you very kindly for discussing these issues, I’ve learned a lot.
Bibliography
8 Ibid., Willmington.
9 Ibid.
1) Deane‐Drummond, Celia. "God's Image and Likeness in Humans and Other Animals:
Performative Soul‐Making and Graced Nature." Zygon® 47, no. 4. 2012.
2) Harold Willmington Willmington’s Guide to the Bible, 30th Anniversary Edition.
2018. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.com 2018.
3) Hoekema, Anthony A. Created in God's image. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1994.
4) Moritz, Joshua M. "Animals and the Image of God in the Bible and Beyond." Dialog
48, no. 2. 2009.
5) All Scripture quoted from English Standard Version (ESV), unless otherwise noted.
