Your "plain meaning" hermeneutic is pitiful, to say the least. Do you REALLY think that those texts you provided actually teach that fallen men are nothing more than animals, beasts? The tragedy is that fallen men ARE made in the image of God and thus the insult to God and their condemnation.

The "beastliness" shown in those passages refers to men's ungodliness NOT to the "imago dei" which they were created in by God. It is referring to the FALLEN STATE of that image. Once again for the last time, some of the image of God was eradicated at the Fall (spiritual death), the remainder, those communicable attributes, such as being a rational being, a free agent, ability to create on a temporal level, a moral being, etc., in distinction to animals survived albeit in a corrupt state to various degrees.

You would do well to discontinue accusing me of holding to views which I do not embrace. For example, I hold to the biblical doctrine of man's "Total Depravity" as taught in Scripture, upheld by the Reformers, taught in all the Reformed confessions and catechisms, defended by the Puritans and held among most of us here. If you hold to something other, then you are outside the camp. wink

Lastly, I do believe it is time to remind you of the Guidelines of this board. You can refresh your memory by reading them in the FAQ under the heading: What are the rules of conduct for the forum?.

In His grace,


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simul iustus et peccator

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