Cause and Effect

As I think about this topic of election/free will, I'm also thinking about the other end of the equation -- eternal security. If the discussion over "How does our salvation initiate" represents the beginning of a strand of theology, then the end might be "How does our salvation cease" (if, in fact, it can). Both the answer to the beginning point and the end point say a lot about who God is, who we are, and the relationship between us and Him.

After asking the question, "Why am I here" in the previous post, I've been pondering about what it means to be created in God's image. In Genesis, we read that God did indeed create us in His own image. What does that mean?

Are we created in God's physical image? If that is the case, what aspect of it? Remember, God's image is represented in three parts -- the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Which one doe we physically resemble?

Are we created in God's spiritual image? If so, how does that manifest itself? Is it our soul that represents His image, or something else?

Are we created in God's intellectual image? Is the logic, intellect, and reasoning skills of humans what tie us to the image of God? Is this the primary criteria that most separates man from animals, and hence, why man is the crowning glory of God's creation?

Are we created in God's emotional image? Is our ability to laugh, cry, experience guilt and remorse, a reflection of God Himself? We find in Genesis that God was both "pleased" with His creation, and a few years later, "grieved."

I have long held the opinion that to be "created in God's image" means that we represent the only part of His creation that is drawn back to God. I think of God as having created the whole kit and kaboodle and releasing it into the continuum of time to do its thing. What makes man unique is that after having been created, God maintained a relationship with man. So, in short, man reflects the image of God through this relationship.This is due to man reflecting some aspect of God's divinity (spiritual characteristics) and God's humanity (emotional and intellectual characteristics).

At least, that's my theory. But then Adam and Eve had to crunch into that apple and complicate things with sin. Frankly, I'm not yet sure what sin does to my theory. Still working on that ... Thoughts?