“Why would God send His ‘Only Begotten Son’ to suffer for beings evil at the core?”
Jesus said, talking to the common people, “You, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children ...” He wasn’t addressing the Pharisees in that passage but everyday folk, fishermen, housewives, farmers, craftsmen, etc. Sin is evil and we are all sinners. Hence we are all evil at our core.
Yes we were created originally in God’s image and fell into sin and when we did that we LOST God’s image. That’s why Jesus said to Nicodemus “Ye must be born again.” A transformation happens in the Spiritual re-birth when you trust Jesus Christ as your Savior. You gain back God’s image that man lost when he sinned against God.
That’s why good works alone does not give anyone salvation. It’s faith, becoming born again in the Spirit, the Spiritual circumcision of the heart.
This is a non-sequitur. It would be just as reasonable to say "Virtue is good, and we all do virtuous things. Hence we are all good at the core."
Yes we were created originally in God’s image and fell into sin and when we did that we LOST God’s image.
Please cite a Scriptural reference for the above statement. Not the part about falling into sin, but about LOSING God's image.
God hates sin, according to the Bible, but nevertheless has an unbounded love for humankind. What is it in us that God loves, despite our falling into error? We are the lost sheep, the prodigal sons and daughters, but if we are evil at the core, who would be moved to repent? Why would God care?
When Christ said "Ye who are evil" I think He meant "You who have become engrossed in worldly, riotous living". Sin is mainly forgetfulness of God, IMO, and Christ is Rememberance that we are ever the sons and daughters of the Holy Father who created us in His image.