The Person and Moral Responsibility

Part 4: The Person and Moral Responsibility

Opening Reflection

God created humanity in His own image and likeness, granting us the precious gifts of freedom, conscience (ሕሊና), and moral responsibility. Every choice we make either reflects that divine image within us or blocks it out through sin and negligence. As we explore human nature, freedom, and accountability, let us examine how our daily decisions shape our journey toward holiness and our union with God.

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1. Human Nature and the Image of God

• Image of God (Latin: Imago Dei): Humanity is created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26–27), granting dignity (ክብር), worth (ዋጋ), and moral potential (የሞራል አቅም).
• This image is expressed through wisdom, love, creativity, and moral discernment.

 St. Athanasius the Great says, “God became man so that man might become god.”

• Practical reflection: Every interaction—how we speak, serve, or forgive—either reflects or distorts God’s image in us and others.
• The Fall (ውድቀት/ድቀት) wounded, but did not erase, the image of God in humanity; moral responsibility means cooperating with God’s grace for its restoration

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2. Freedom, Conscience, and Moral Accountability

• Freedom: God gave humans free will (ነጻ ፈቃድ) to choose good or evil.

“በፊታችሁ ሕይወትንና ሞትን በረከትንና መርገምን እንዳስቀመጥሁ እኔ ዛሬ ሰማይንና ምድርን በአንተ ላይ አስመሰክራለሁ፤ እንግዲህ አንተና ዘርህ በሕይወት ትኖሩ ዘንድ ሕይወትን ምረጥ፤” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

• Conscience (ሕሊና) refers to the inner voice, guided by the Holy Spirit, that enables us to discern right from wrong.

Scripture says,

“እነርሱም ሕሊናቸው ሲመሰክርላቸው፥ አሳባቸውም እርስ በርሳቸው ሲካሰስ ወይም ሲያመካኝ በልባቸው የተጻፈውን የሕግ ሥራ ያሳያሉ።”(Romans 2:15)

• Moral accountability (የሞራል ተጠያቂነት): We are responsible to God for every choice we make—whether good or evil.

Scripture warns:

 “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”  

“አትሳቱ፤ እግዚአብሔር አይዘበትበትም። ሰው የሚዘራውን ሁሉ ያንኑ ደግሞ ያጭዳልና::” (Galatians 6:7)

St. John Chrysostom taught: “We are judged not by what we know, but by what we do with what we know.”

Practical insight: Reflect daily—“Am I acting in alignment with my conscience (ሕሊና) and God’s truth?”

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3. Sin, Repentance, and Restoration in Christ

• Sin: Sin is turning away from God and breaking communion with Him.

“ኃጢአትን የሚያደርግ ሁሉ ዓመፅን ደግሞ ያደርጋል፥ ኃጢአትም ዓመፅ ነው።” (1 John 3:4).

·       Repentance (Metanoia): is a heartfelt turning back to God as illustrated in the parable of the Prodigal Son (የጠፋው ልጅ ምሳሌ) (Luke 15:17–20).

·       Restoration: In Christ, we are made new, our relationship with God is renewed, and His death and resurrection reconcile our souls to Him.

2 Corinthians 5:17- 19 reads,

“ስለዚህ ማንም በክርስቶስ ቢሆን አዲስ ፍጥረት ነው፤ አሮጌው ነገር አልፎአል፤ እነሆ፥ ሁሉም አዲስ ሆኖአል።
ነገር ግን የሆነው ሁሉ፥ በክርስቶስ ከራሱ ጋር ካስታረቀን የማስታረቅም አገልግሎት ከሰጠን፥ ከእግዚአብሔር ነው፤እግዚአብሔር በክርስቶስ ሆኖ ዓለሙን ከራሱ ጋር ያስታርቅ ነበርና፥ በደላቸውን አይቆጥርባቸውም ነበር፤ በእኛም የማስታረቅ ቃል አኖረ።”

St. Isaac the Syrian teaches:

“Never despair of your salvation, for no sin is stronger than the heart that returns to God in humility and love.”

Practical reflection: Every failure is an opportunity for repentance and moral growth. Conscience and spiritual guidance help restore the soul’s original dignity.

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Conclusion

Orthodox moral theology teaches that the person is created in God’s image, provided with freedom and conscience, and called to moral responsibility. Sin distorts but does not destroy the divine image within us. Through repentance, Christ’s saving work, and cooperation with the Holy Spirit, the soul can be healed. Moral responsibility is thus both a privilege and a sacred duty, guiding us toward Theosis.

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Reflection Question

How does recognizing the image of God in myself and others influence my daily decisions?

How can I respond to sin with repentance and actively cooperate with God to restore holiness in my life?

Closing Prayer

Almighty God, You created us in Your image and called us to holiness. Cleanse our hearts, renew our conscience, and strengthen us to walk in Your truth. When we fall, grant us repentance and the grace to rise again. Through the prayers of the holy Virgin Mary and all the saints,
May Your Holy Spirit guide us toward Theosis and everlasting union with You. Amen.