I'm not exactly sure how Berkhof defines "intellectual power, natural affections and moral freedom" but it appears from your description that he has sorely understated the effects of original sin.
We (Berkhof and myself) believe in a
complete fall, however
not in a complete loss of the image of God. The Bible specifically says that AFTER the fall man did
not lose the
complete image of God:
Genesis 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: For in the image of God made he man.
This verse would have absolutely no meaning if man lost the totality of the image of God! We must humble <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bow.gif" alt="" /> ourselves before the text.
I know you agree that Jesus is the image of God (Heb 1:3), but remember the text where it states that it "behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Heb 2:17). Simply Jesus is not a man if He does not have the “image of God,” which He could not have if born of Mary,
in the Lutheran sense?
Pilgrim is correct, you are allowing your denominationalism (and you are not the only one) to dictate your understanding of Scripture, instead of allowing your exegesis of Scripture to (1) select your denomination (2) to continue to evaluate your denomination (3) to direct your denomination toward the truth, etc. You shall know the truth and it shall set you free,
not you shall know your denomination and it will set you free. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/giggle.gif" alt="" />
1, You're welcome, I think. It was not my intent to prove Traducianism or disprove creationism but to show that God uses means to create souls.
2. Yes.
3. Yes.
4. The image of Adam is that of a man corrupted by sin.
God does use secondary means to create bodies as pointed out by your excellent text, however
not the soul. Speratus re-read these passages.
Genesis 5
1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
2 male and female created he them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
3 And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:
Highlighted area #1 (H1) says Mankind (book of the generations … created man), not just Adam, was CREATED in the likeness of God, reiterating Genesis 1:26-27.
Highlighted area #2 (H2) says that Seth was BEGAT in the likeness of Adam.
Here in these three verses the text is specifically saying something wonderful. First, ask yourself why does God state AGAIN that He created man in His own likeness (H1)? Second, though we are speaking here of Adam's posterity, H1 uses the word CREATE not BEGET? Third, we see Adam who BEGETS (however, not without Divine providence and blessing, “God hath
appointed me another seed instead of Abel” Gen 4:25), but
does not CREATE (H1). Fourth, we know that Adam is ALREADY fallen (Gen 3).
While mankind (Adam) by divine mandate is permitted to procreate (H2) the Bible is extremely clear that mankind does not CREATE (H1). Man may only BEGET (H2). It is proven from Scripture though that God CREATES the soul:
Genesis 2:7 Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Adam passed on to his posterity that which is common (something made from something else, already created …) to all mankind (1) that which came from the earth, since he is made of the “dust of the ground” (something made from something else, already created), and (2) total depravity by imputation as proved in the case of Eve
here and Rom 5:12-21. However, ONLY God is said to “breath into nostrils the breath of life; and man becomes a living soul” (
not something made from something else already created). God is the creator of the soul! The soul is a unique creation of God. Your text in Genesis 5:1-3 is telling you this, by the reiteration of Gen 1:26-27. Gen 5:2 now becomes the focal point, which reveals God as the CREATOR of mankind ...
