John Calvin on the Image of God in Man

Commentary on Gen 1:26

In our image, etc Interpreters do not agree concerning the meaning of these words. The greater part, and nearly all, conceive that the word image is to be distinguished from likeness. And the common distinction is, that image exists in the substance, likeness in the accidents of anything. They who would define the subject briefly, say that in the image are contained those endowments which God has conferred on human nature at large, while they expound likeness to mean gratuitous gifts. But Augustine, beyond all others, speculates with excessive refinement, for the purpose of fabricating a Trinity in man. For in laying hold of the three faculties of the soul enumerated by Aristotle, the intellect, the memory, and the will, he afterwards out of one Trinity derives many. If any reader, having leisure, wishes to enjoy such speculations, let him read the tenth and fourteenth books on the Trinity, also the eleventh book of the “City of God.”
I acknowledge, indeed, that there is something in man which refers to the Fathers and the Son, and the Spirit: and I have no difficulty in admitting the above distinction of the faculties of the soul: although the simpler division into two parts, which is more used in Scripture, is better adapted to the sound doctrine of piety; but a definition of the image of God ought to rest on a firmer basis than such subtleties.
As for myself, before I define the image of God, I would deny that it differs from his likeness. For when Moses afterwards repeats the same things he passes over the likeness, and contents himself with mentioning the image. Should any one take the exception, that he was merely studying brevity; I answer, (87) that where he twice uses the word image, he makes no mention of the likeness. We also know that it was customary with the Hebrews to repeat the same thing in different words. besides, the phrase itself shows that the second term was added for the sake of explanation, ‘Let us make,’ he says, ‘man in our image, according to our likeness,’ that is, that he may be like God, or may represent the image of God. Lastly, in the fifth chapter, without making any mention of image, he puts likeness in its place, (Gen_5:1.)
Although we have set aside all difference between the two words we have not yet ascertained what this image or likeness is. The Anthropomorphites were too gross in seeking this resemblance in the human body; let that reverie therefore remain entombed. Others proceed with a little more subtlety, who, though they do not imagine God to be corporeal, yet maintain that the image of God is in the body of man, because his admirable workmanship there shines brightly; but this opinion, as we shall see, is by no means consonant with Scripture. The exposition of Chrysostom is not more correct, who refers to the dominion which was given to man in order that he might, in a certain sense, act as God’s vicegerent in the government of the world.
This truly is some portion, though very small, of the image of God. Since the image of God had been destroyed in us by the fall, we may judge from its restoration what it originally had been. Paul says that we are transformed into the image of God by the gospel. And, according to him, spiritual regeneration is nothing else than the restoration of the same image. (Col 3:10, and Eph 4:23.) That he made this image to consist in righteousness and true holiness, is by the figure synecdochee; for though this is the chief part, it is not the whole of God’s image. Therefore by this word the perfection of our whole nature is designated, as it appeared when Adam was endued with a right judgment, had affections in harmony with reason, had all his senses sound and well-regulated, and truly excelled in everything good. Thus the chief seat of the Divine image was in his mind and heart, where it was eminent: yet was there no part of him in which some scintillations of it did not shine forth. For there was an attempering in the several parts of the soul, which corresponded with their various offices. In the mind perfect intelligence flourished and reigned, uprightness attended as its companion, and all the senses were prepared and moulded for due obedience to reason; and in the body there was a suitable correspondence with this internal order. But now, although some obscure lineaments of that image are found remaining in us; yet are they so vitiated and maimed, that they may truly be said to be destroyed. For besides the deformity which everywhere appears unsightly, this evil also is added, that no part is free from the infection of sin.

Joyce Meyer - Heretic

[Most of the quotations are taken from Christless Christianity, by Hank Hanegraaff]

Jesus Suffered not the Wrath of God toward our sins but the torment of demons

"During that time He entered hell, where you and I deserved to go (legally) because of our sin. He paid the price there. ...no plan was too extreme. ... Jesus paid on the cross and in hell... God rose up from His throne and said to demon powers tormenting the sinless Son of God, 'Let Him go.'” What Should You Believe, p. 35-36

[After the 3 days Christ spent in hell] “God rose up from His throne and said to demon powers tormenting the sinless Son of God, “Let Him go.”” The Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make, p. 42

“There is no hope of anyone going to heaven unless they believe this truth I am presenting. You cannot go to heaven unless you believe with all your heart that Jesus took your place in hell.”  The Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make, p. 37

Health & Wealth Gospel

“I would think that after thirty-eight years a diligent, determined person could have crawled over to the edge of that pool. Even if that man had only moved an inch a year, it seems that in thirty-eight years, he ought to have been able to get close enough to the edge to just roll over into the water when it was stirred up”. Eight Ways to Keep the Devil Under Your Feet, p. 27

“Thirty-eight years is a long time to lie somewhere, waiting for somebody to do something for you. I would have been on the edge of that pool, and next year when the angel came around, when that water started bubbling, I would have fallen in and said, “Either I’m going to get healed or I’m going to die, but I’m not staying like this””. Eight Ways to Keep the Devil Under Your Feet, p. 28

“’For the thing which I greatly fear comes upon me, and that which I am afraid befalls me’ (Job 3:25). Fear is a terrible emotion – a self-fulfilling one. Job had fears concerning his children and finally reached a place in his life where he saw his fears coming to pass. The Bible says it will be unto us as we believe (see Matthew 9:29). That principle works in the negative as well as the positive. We can receive by fear as well as by faith”. Approval Addiction: Overcoming Your Need to Please Everyone, p. 9-10

“It is vital for us to understand that it is illegal for Satan to put sickness on us, and there is no good reason to let him do it… It was illegal for Satan to kill Jesus, but he was able to do it because Jesus allowed him. Why? Because Jesus was going to use Satan’s illegal action to bring salvation to the world! So it’s illegal for Satan to bring sickness on us, and we must stand against it… The moment we begin to recognize the symptoms of sickness, we need to stand against them – we need to resist them in the same way we would resist the temptation to sin… I believe that by the stripes of Jesus, I am healed.” Practical Steps to Understanding and Experiencing Healing, online at http://www.joycemeyer.org/our Ministries/Magazine/0703/Healing+and+wholeness.htm, retrieved 24 September 2008.

Sinless Perfection

“Now whether you like it or not, whether you want to admit it or not, whether you want to operate on it or not, you are made the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ. Most people who go to denominational churches never ever hear that! They never hear it! Never! All I was ever taught to say was, ‘I, a poor, miserable sinner.’ I am not poor. I am not miserable. And I am not a sinner. That is a lie from the pit of hell! That is what I were [sic] and if I still was, then Jesus died in vain. Amen?” Joyce Meyer, From the Cross to the Throne, cassette tape, sermon recorded at Life Christian Center in Saint Louis, Mo., no date, tape on file.

“I didn’t stop sinning until I finally got it through my thick head I wasn’t a sinner anymore. And the religious world thinks that’s heresy and they want to hang you for it. But the Bible says that I’m righteous, and I can’t be rrighteous and a sinner at the same time.” Joyce Meyer, From the Cross to the Throne, cassette tape, sermon recorded at Life Christian Center in Saint Louis, Mo., no date, tape on file.

“I am not poor, I am not miserable, and I am not a sinner. That is a lie from the pit of hell. That is what I were and if I still was, then Jesus died in vain.” Joyce Meyer, From the Cross to the Throne, cassette tape, sermon recorded at Life Christian Center in Saint Louis, Mo., no date, tape on file.

Word of Faith

“Words are containers for power. They carry creative or destructive power, positive or negative power. And so we need to be speaking right things over our lives and about our futures if we expect to have good things happen. Because what you say today is what you’ll probably end up having tomorrow.”  Enjoying Everyday Life¸Trinity Broadcasting Network, 16 July 2002.

“speaking forth the truth to the devil… is the only way to see a mindset changed”. Eight Ways to Keep the Devil Under Your Feet, p. 51

“I got fire in my belly tonight, because I know! I know! I know! That there’s power in and life in right words. That words are containers for power, and I don’t care about what kind of mess you got, I am begging you tonight to stop talkinga bout it, and start talking about what the Word says, and what you can have. Make yourself a list, do some work, do some homework, make sure you got a Scripture to back up every one of your confessions.

We’re not talking about some magic goofy, you know, weird New Age thing. I’m talking about doing what the Bible says, calling those things that be not as though they are, prophesying to the dead, dry bones in your life. Oh, you dry bones, hear the Word of the Lord.

Maybe you need to get your checkbook out and say, ‘Oh you checkbook, hear the Word of the Lord, you are not going to stay empty all of your life.’ Ah, somebody says this is just too weird for me, well then just stay broke. What you’re doing’s not working! You listen to me, checkbook, the first 10 percent of everything that goes into you is going to God’s work, and you are going to be full to overflowing! And I am going to be blessed, and I am going to be a blessing.” Enjoying Everyday Life, Trinity Broadcasting Network, 21 August 2008.

“’When I talked with Dr Roberts today and we talked about this seed-faith thing, he said something awesome!... The word receiving means receipting… When you give you get a receipt in heaven, [and] when you have a need you can then go with your receipt and say, ‘You see, God, I have got my receipt from my sowing, and now I have a need, and I’m cashing in my receipt.’” Praise the Lord: Praise-a-Thon, Trinity Broadcasting Network, 3 November 2003.