Because Adam and Eve were created in the image of God, their very nature was a reflection or image of God's righteous nature until they fell into sin (Genesis 1:27-31). In other words, Adam and Eve could each look into their own heart, examining their own feelings and emotions, and see God reflected in their own nature. As a result, Adam knew God perfectly; for the kindness, compassion, and love of God was inscribed on his own heart (Colossians 3:10, Leviticus 19:2, Ephesians 4:24). And because Adam bore the image of the Divine he was more than a mere creature, he was a son of God (Luke 3:38).
Just as you have imparted certain aspects of your nature to
your children, so God imparted certain aspects of His nature to Adam. Furthermore,
just as the fact that your child shares your nature sets that child apart
from all others, so the fact that Adam shared God's righteous nature set
him apart from all other creatures. However, in order to avoid confusion
on this issue it is important to distinguish between God's righteous nature
and God's divine nature. God may have imparted His righteous nature to
Adam by designing him to instinctively feel, think, and act in a way that
was righteous, but He most certainly did not impart His divine nature to
Adam. Adam was man, not God; creature, not creator. Because Adam lacked
the divine nature Satan was able to deceive him and gain control over him
(Genesis, chapter 3).
This is precisely where Christ differed from Adam. Christ not
only had God's righteous nature, He also had God's divine nature (1 Corinthians
15:45-47). And because He had the divine nature, Satan could not overpower
Him (1 Corinthians 15:57). Furthermore, let me make it perfectly clear
that when I speak of the divine nature I am not speaking of a created nature.
Since God has no creator, no created nature, irregardless of how "God-like"
you might imagine it to be, could ever really be divine. For that reason,
God could impart His divine nature unto Christ only by making Christ's
human nature a part of Himself (Colossians 2:9, John 14:7-9, Colossians
1:15,19, Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 48:16,17, Jeremiah 23:5,6, Hebrews 1:3, 2 Corinthians
4:4).
When Adam sinned he ceased to be righteous, and, by ceasing to be righteous, he forfeited the image of God. As a result, his nature and the nature of his descendants is no longer a righteous nature; but a deceitful, self-centered, greedy, grumbling, obstinate nature (Genesis 4:8, Genesis 5:3, Psalm 51:5, Jeremiah 17:9, Ephesians 2:3, Romans 3:10-23, Matthew 15:19, John 8:44, Romans 4:18-25). Those who are happy with that nature, who excuse its shortcomings while deluding themselves into thinking that they are righteous will be stuck with that nature for eternity. God will not force anyone to bear His image! At the same time, through Christ's death on the cross, God has provided mercy and forgiveness for all who want to be delivered from the corruption of their own flesh (Psalm 17:15, Acts 2:21, Ephesians 2:3-7, Romans 12:9, Luke 15:18,19, John 12:25, John 1:47, 1 Corinthians 15:1-3). Because Christ has already obtained that forgiveness for us, we do not have to earn it, seek it, or make ourselves worthy of it. It is already there for us! We simply accept it by faith; trusting in the promise of God's Word (1 John 1:9).
Because we are cleansed of all unrighteousness by that forgiveness, we are no longer children of wrath but are rather children of God through faith in Christ (John 1:12,13, John 3:3-7, Ephesians 2:3, 1 John 1:7). However, even though we have been adopted by God, and are His children in Christ, we still have our old sinful nature. Due to that fact, we must continuously struggle against the sinful yearning of our flesh (Romans 7:23, Romans 8:13-17). For even though we have received a new nature in Christ, our old nature has not been removed or made any less sinful. Instead the Holy Spirit creates a virtual nature within us by struggling from within against our flesh (Galatians 5:17-26, 2 Corinthians 5:17). With the help of the Spirit, we are able to recognize and condemn the wicked desires within us, resist temptation, and confess our sins when we fall short. By so doing we can walk in a way that is in accord with God's mercy (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Since the forgiveness we have in Christ cleanses us of all
sin, thereby making us righteous in the sight of God, we are renewed in
righteousness and true holiness after the image of God by that forgiveness
(Ephesians 4:24, Hebrews 10:14, Romans 10:4). However, God is not through
with us. Even though sin is still with us in this world, when Christ raises
us from the dead we shall be changed. We shall rise incorruptible having
God's own righteous nature, and our bodies will be a truly holy temple
and habitation of God (Ephesians 2:21,22, 1 Corinthians 15:51-55, Ephesians
4:13, 2 Peter 1:4, Psalm 17:15, 1 John 3:2, Jeremiah 31:33-34, Romans 10:4).
In as much as God has made us His own dear children through faith in Christ (John 1:12,13), we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:15-17). As heirs of God, all things are ours (1 Corinthians 3:21,22). Therefore, when we rise from the dead, perfect in righteousness, the power of God will be at our disposal (1 Corinthians 15:43). This power and glory will be greater than the children of this world have ever dreamed of (1 Corinthians 2:9). Freed from the bondage of sin, we shall rule over the nations as the sinless children of God; standing in judgement even over angels (1 Corinthians 6:3, Revelation 2:26,27). Our resurrection bodies will be spiritual bodies, perfect in every way, bodies that are able to appear or disappear at will, to pass through walls and move about freely in the Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:42-49, Luke 24:31, John 20:19,26, Acts 8:39,40). Furthermore, if we say to a tree or even a mountain "be thou plucked up by the root and cast into the sea:" it shall obey us. Nothing shall be impossible (Matthew 17:20 and 21:22, Luke 17:6, Mark 11:23, Psalm 8:5, Romans 8:30).
Note: Some equate the image of God with certain characteristics
that have not been lost by sin, such as a rational mind and a will. However,
that opinion does not come from the Bible. The devil has a rational mind
and a will. The Bible equates the image of God only with righteousness,
true holiness of heart, and the knowledge of God that comes with knowing
His nature (Colossians 3:10, Ephesians 4:24).
Those who blind themselves to the depravity of their own nature
and ignore the truth of their own filthiness before God, preferring the
delusion that they are righteous, a superior race, or even "gods", will
bear the bondage, corruption and condemnation of sin for all eternity.