Hannah,
In reply to:
[color:"blue"]being made in God's image kept us from total depravity

On the contrary, being made in God's image compounds our depravity to an infinite degree! The imago Dei has not been eradicated--as you seem to think we believe--but rather, it remains recognizable, but is corrupted, defiled, spoiled, ruined, perverted, that is: TOTALLY DEPRAVED. An old dish towel used when changing the oil of one's car causes no chagrin; but if a pure wedding gown is used for the same purpose, precisely because we can esteem its original purpose and worth, we groan that it has been TOTALLY RUINED. The analogy fails, of course, at the point of volition, which again increases our condemnation. Adam consciously, willingly, whole-heartedly rebelled, and all who know the Truth know that they would have done the same, and continue to do the same.

Hannah, you continue to demonstrate your rebellion against the Word of God by attempting to teach people that unbelievers are disposed to love God. The Scripture uses far more potent language than even Luther to describe the human heart, and it is opposed to your own fanciful, idolatrous thoughts:

[color:blue]
The Lord saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. (Genesis 6:5)

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way... (Isaiah 53:6)

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isaiah 64:6)

Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No one! (Job 14:4)

They are .. God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful... (Romans 1:30)

...Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written:
"There is no one righteous, not even one;
there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.
All have turned away, they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good, not even one." (Romans 3:9-12)

The mind of the sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled the sinful nature cannot please God. (Roman 8:6-8)

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. (Titus 3:3)


In Christ,
Paul S