Is the image of God totally destroyed in the unregenerate man?
This text is from a transcript of a talk by David Gooding, entitled ‘An Abundant Entrance into the Eternal Kingdom’ (1985).
I am asked to make a comment on one of the questions that I set for a study session on Genesis, which was about the image of God and whether the image of God is totally destroyed in the unregenerate man. I think we may take some evidence about that from the passage of Genesis.
| Genesis 5–9 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | 5:1–32 | Generations of Adam: Man made in the image of God |
| 2. | 6:1–8 | Perversion of Man: ‘I will destroy man’ |
| 3. | 6:9–12 | Generations of Noah: Noah righteous; begat sons; all flesh corrupt |
| 6:14–7:1 | Make ark: enter | |
| 4. | The Flood | |
| 8:4–20 | Ark rests: exit: sacrifice | |
| 5. | 9:1–7 | God’s Blessing: Death for murder because man is made in God’s image |
| 6. | 9:8–17 | God’s Covenant: Never again destroy all flesh by water |
| 7. | 9:18–29 | The Sons of Noah: Noah drunk and naked; his sons’ behaviour |
As we see in the first section (Genesis 5:1–23), man was made in the image of God. That image became exceedingly depraved. God destroyed man in the flood, except for Noah and his family. Then, when you come to the section dealing with God's blessing, one of the items is the command that whoever sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed. Why is that? And the answer given is because man was originally made in the image of God. It would seem to me, therefore, that if one were to say that that image has been totally destroyed in the unregenerate, well, then it would seem to follow perhaps that it doesn't matter so much if such a man is killed. That couldn't be the message of the passage. Man is originally made in the image of God. Even though he is much depraved, to kill him is an insult against almighty God, and the law must be vindicated. What I take to be the position is perhaps best put in the words of Paul in Ephesians, where he describes the Gentiles that walk 'in the vanity of their mind' (Ephesians 4:17 RV). His description runs as follows.
Being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart; who being past feeling gave themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. (Ephesians 4:18–19 RV)
And so it continues. It is perhaps not unsuitable to be used as a description of the men before the flood. And Paul goes on to say that, as Christians, you are to 'put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, which waxes corrupt after the lusts of deceit' (Ephesians 4:22 RV).
I suggest that phrase might help us in our thinking. Originally made in the image of God but alienated from the life of God, his thoughts and his imaginations were only evil continually; man was 'waxing corrupt'. And God says, 'All flesh has corrupted its way upon the earth' (Genesis 6:12), and it is repeated: 'all flesh was corrupt' (Genesis 6:13). That is, the image was exceedingly seriously corrupted, if you like, but not totally destroyed. And, therefore, murder remains as serious as ever it was because man originally was made in the image of God. The New Testament does talk, however, of God's salvation, not so much as a restoration of man's original state, but of putting on the new man in Christ.
