The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum The Mediator of Men not devils

Yes, that is what I believe the Scriptures teach and all of Christendom has believed with very few exceptions. Your error comes from unwarrantably restricting the "image of God" in a very narrow way ignoring all the passages which show otherwise or taking them out of context with some silly hermeneutical gymnastics. For example:

Genesis 9:1, 6 (ASV) "And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth... Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: For in the image of God made he man."

1. This passage directs God's commandment concerning murder to Noah & family AFTER the flood.
2. Not all of Noah's family were elect; some were reprobate and were not destroyed in the flood.
3. Verse 6 clearly states that man (all men) were made in God's image.
4. The punishment for murder is death because all men were and thus ARE bearers of God's image, else the passage is inapplicable and even makes no sense as to why it was given to Noah.

Or, are you going to suggest that this command applies only to the murder of the elect who have been converted since you claim they only have the image of God? Otherwise, there was open season on all reprobate and unconverted elect persons, right? And pray tell, how could one determine who was reprobate and who was an elect; converted or unconverted?

In His grace,