Originally Posted by Anthony
Actually adam was made in the image and likeness of God as a elect, only the elect are made in that image by being in that seed..
I have read through your explanation (proof?) for your view that only the elect are made (possess) the image of God. But, I had some serious problems with it, even from the get go. For example:

  1. I don't see how you are warranted to jump from man (Heb adam, i.e., mankind) being made in the "image and likeness" of God to equating that as a synonym for "seed"? James seems to think that ALL men (mankind), even fallen men still bear the "likeness" (image) of God as he writes:

    James 3:9 (ASV) "Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God:"
  2. The "imago dei", aka: image of God refers to many things, some of which was lost due to the Fall but some which remained. Berkhof puts it like this:

    Originally Posted by Berkhof, Systematic Theology, p.204
    But the image of God is not to be restricted to the original knowledge, righteousness, and holiness which was lost by sin, but also includes elements which belong to the natural constitution of man. They are elements which belong to man as man, such as intellectual power, natural affections, and moral freedom. As created in the image of God man has a rational and moral nature which he did not lose by sin and which he could not lose without ceasing to be man. This part of the image of God has indeed been vitiated by sin, but still remains in man even after his fall in sin. Notice that man even after the fall irrespective of his spiritual condition, is still represented as the image of God, Gen 9:6; 1Cor 11:7; Jas 3:9. The crime of murder owes its enormity to the fact that it is an attack on the image of God. In view of these passages of Scripture it is unwarranted to say that man has completely lost the image of God.
  3. I'm curious to know if you can refer me to anyone else who holds to this view as you do, re: "image and likeness of God = seed"? Can you supply a link to an online source or if that isn't possible, how about a book, author, group, denomination, etc.? Thanks!

In His grace,


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simul iustus et peccator

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