on a creature as pure and holy and faultless as an angel
in heaven, else he would not have pronounced him very good. Such without
controversy was the state of man by creation: as holy and as pure in his
nature as his Maker. But a sorrowful change came to man. He transgressed
the law of his God, and as a result the holy image of the Creator was
supplanted by the hideous deformity of sin.

After the transgression, God again looked upon man and "saw that his
wickedness was very great in the earth, and that every imagination of the
thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Gen. 6:5. This grieved
him at his heart, and he repented of having made man. However he purposes
that man shall yet enjoy the blessing of a holy state. Accordingly he sent
his Son to this world to redeem him. This Son was in the image of the
Father "in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which
believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the
image of God, should shine unto them." 2 Cor. 4:4. "Who is the image of
the invisible God, the first-born of every creature." Col. 1:15.

The Father has ordained that man in the Son should be made holy or in his
original purity. "According as he hath chosen us in him before the
foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before
him in love." Eph. 1:4. "In holiness and righteousness before him, all the
days of our life." Luke 1:75.

In being restored to holiness man is conformed to the image of the Son.
"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the
image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren."
Rom. 8:29. It is true God foreknew that some would not believe on his Son
and be redeemed, and he foreknew that others would. Here we behold the
wonderful mercy of God. He strives with the heart of the sinner and brings
all influences possible to bear upon him to turn him from his sin, and all
the time knowing he would never be saved; however he thus leaves him
without excuse and makes him wholly responsible for his loss.

What is the image of the Son? He was holy, harmless, and undefiled. Heb.
7:26. He was equal with God. Phil. 2:6. He was in the glory and holiness
of the Father. God after creation looked over the work of his hands and
pronounced all very good. After the "transgression" he saw that all was
very wicked. Now Jesus comes and presents to the Father one who has been
redeemed by the all-