The Divine Blueprint: Free Will and the Fall of Man

Initially, man was endowed with a unique gift—a creative spark reflecting the inner, divine image. In this original state lay the full potential, although his moral ideal was not determined solely by this ability. From the very beginning, man was given the image of God, and the attainment of moral likeness became the result of his free choice and spiritual efforts.

The main idea is that, according to the Divine plan, man was provided with the opportunity to develop creatively. However, it is precisely the freedom of will that opened the way for independent choice—a path that could distance him from his initial harmony with the Lord. This choice, as evidenced by vivid examples from human history, led to the loss of the original state of closeness with God. A fundamental turning point occurred with Adam’s fall, which revealed the consequences of free choice that resulted in original sin and altered the very nature of man’s existence.

The concluding inference is as follows: although man was originally conceived as a perfect creation, his development is determined by personal decisions, where freedom of will plays a crucial role. This path, full of opportunities and trials, allows each of us to choose between preserving the original grace and losing the ideal envisioned from above. The power of choice and responsibility for our actions remain eternal questions that inspire reflection on the essence of human nature.

If man is made in the image of God, why does he remain sinful and imperfect?

Man was originally created perfect, in accordance with the image of God, but this perfection implied only an initial state, not an unchanging moral ideal. As explained in the analysis of the text from file 472_2358.txt, in creation man was given only the “image” of God—a reflection of his inner, creative beginning—while the “likeness,” which reflects moral righteousness, was acquired by his own will. It is stated:

"…What we have at creation, we acquire according to our will." (source: 472_2358.txt)

From this, it follows that man was initially endowed with the ability granted by God; however, possessing free will, he could make a choice contrary to the Divine plan. The subsequent development of human history, particularly Adam’s fall, brought about destructive changes: the original communion with God was lost, which impacted the nature of man. In support of this, consider the following:

"Men were created for communion with God ... Adam sinned, and his fall—the 'original sin'—affected all of humanity." (source: 1085_5421.txt)

Thus, even though man is created in the image of God, his later life is defined by free choice, which led to the loss of the original likeness and resulted in a state of sinfulness and imperfection.

Supporting citation(s):
"…What we have at creation, we acquire according to our will." (source: 472_2358.txt)
"Men were created for communion with God ... Adam sinned, and his fall—the 'original sin'—affected all of humanity." (source: 1085_5421.txt)