The problem with this attitude is that under this view no one can view all as bearing the image of God, you can only insulate yourself from those ready to hear the truth, because you esteem yourself better than others “more deserving” as for the statement when all is said and done.... “ it is finished”
This is wrong on several levels. The image of God in man does not equate with salvation. And after the fall, many bore the image of fallen man...
KJV Genesis 5
Geneology of the Patriarchs
1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
3 And
Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and
begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:
In order to bear the image of God again, we need to be born again... To be infused by the spirit of God becoming a sanctuary that God may once again tabernacle with men.
Romans 8 speaks clearly of two camps... The one being carnal, fleshly, not born again of the spirit of God, and not being transformed into new creatures who cannot see nor enter the kingdom for they cannot please God, they cannot obey God, for they beat the image of their father the devil, not Christ. The other camp have been born again, they are new creatures, they by grace through faith have accepted the gospel and are saved, not by anything they have done or earned, but through what Christ has done at Calvary.
I esteem myself "better than others"??? I didn't realise you knew me well enough to make such a call. But you are correct, but only through what God has accomplished in me. Without Him I am nothing. He had released me from addictions, and sick attitudes. (The old meaning of'sick') That does not mean I now deserve salvation as if I have earned it. I have it as a gift no more nor less that anyone else. But the truth is that I, by my rebellious past, in fact deserve death and destruction. It is sad that despite all that God has done for them, many will refuse to come to the marriage. Even in the church, of Jesus came tomorrow a great many of the bridal party will be found asleep and be locked out.
And after the judgement, which is in effect a celestial court case in which we act as witnesses and in a sense jury, the lost shall finally understand their true predicament... That all along God had been working in their lives for good but they choose to remain ignorant of His goodness and grace toward them, choosing the lists and pleasures of this world instead. They will realise that God was loving.. Merciful... Gracious... Full of goodness and truth all along and they have no one to blame but themselves for not being left out in the darkness... And they, even they shall fall to their knees confessing Christ as Lord, along with Satan and his angels, but to late.