James Lewis on Nostr: Indeed. It's a matter of whether sin, original or actual, can extinguish the Imago ...

Indeed. It's a matter of whether sin, original or actual, can extinguish the Imago Dei within the human soul. The Imago Dei, if it remains ones nature, causes one to be in his nature good. It is not a merit nor even voluntarily accepted, but part of the nature of the person. Sin clouds and eclipses the Imago Dei such that another observing might not see goodness, truth, or beauty within, but if all goodness would cease to be in the person, existence would likewise cease, for existence itself is a good.

Therefore, the human person, no matter how far gone, has goodness within. However it cannot be shown by this reasoning alone that it be necessarily enough to cooperate with grace, a separate, subsequent matter.