“Disciples are created in the image of God, yet fallen and choosing to learn.”
The Bible tells us that God made man in His image (Gen. 1:26, 27). Barna, in Growing True Disciples, ask us to consider the heart of God and states that his sole purpose for creating mankind was for man to learn, love, and serve Him and to do so willingly (p. 12). Everyone who has been born again and has chosen to follow Christ, are His disciples. At the time of creation, Adam had a righteous nature, true knowledge, and holiness (Gen. 1:31; Ecc. 7:29; Col. 3:10; Eph. 4:24), in other words, had he obeyed, he would have lived forever and not experienced death (Gen. 2:17; Gal. 3:10 Rom. 5:12-20; 10:5; 6:23).
Adam failed by violating God’s law when he took and ate of the fruit from the tree that God said not to eat of (Gen. 2:17; Rom. 5:12-20). This caused Adam to fall; breaking communion with his Creator; being driven out of paradise; and became spiritually dead with a physical death in waiting (Rom. 6:23) Due to Adam disobeying God, the death curse was passed on to each person (Rom. 3:23). Adam’s seed enters the world spiritually dead, and with an inborn hatred and hostility toward God, Man was born in iniquity, (Ps. 51:5 58:3). “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…” (Rom. 3:23).
The Bible teaches us that the consequences of Adam sinning against God, has caused man to be corrupt and in need of a Savior. Man must now repent of his sins and accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ; death, burial, and resurrection (1 Cor. 15: 1-4). God knew that man could never make his way back to Him on his own accord and that the only way that a relationship could be reestablished is through Jesus (The Son in redemption); the righteousness of God by faith (Romans 3:22). For our own acts of righteousness is as filthy rags before the Lord (Isaiah 64:6). God is Holy and full of Grace and man is wretched (Rom. 7:24-25). Once man is in Christ, he is now a new creature (2...