Foundation Study
Man
What do these verses say about Man?
1. Genesis 2:7
Man is created by God. (Psalm 95:6, 100:3; Isaiah 42:5, 45:12) God created the first man from the immaterial earth, and gave him life through His breath. Humans did not evolve. They are not the result of mutation, spontaneous existence, or chance. Mankind is the creative work of God. Each person's existence is deliberate, purposeful, and planned. (Psalm 139:13–16) Because of this, everyone possesses immeasurable worth. (Luke 12:7)
2. Genesis 1:27
Man is created in the image of God. (Genesis 5:1–2; Colossians 3:10; 1 Corinthians 11:7) Only human beings have this unique status. Only humans have a soul. Being created in the image of God includes headship over all living things. (Genesis 1:28) It also means man can consider of God, choose God, and cherish God. In other words, only humans can imagine the existence of God, believe in God, and worship God. (Ecclesiastes 3:11; John 3:16; 4:24) The concept of the image of God is also seen in Matthew 22:37 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” Only man is defined by these three terms.
3. John 5:28-29
Man exists eternally. The human soul continues forever. After death, man either spends eternity in heaven or hell. (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:46; Acts 24:15) Heaven is a place of endless, increasing, and incomparable joy. Hell is a place of unending, inescapable torment. (Matthew 22:13; Mark 9:43; Luke 16:19-31) Where someone spends eternity is based on each person's belief about the Lord, Jesus Christ. (John 3:16, 3:36; 1 John 5:13)
4. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
Man is both material and immaterial. The material is physical and refers to the earthly body. It lasts for decades in its present form. (Psalm 90:10) The immaterial is the non-physical aspect of man. It refers to the heart, soul, mind, conscience, spirit, and will. It lasts forever. It's who we really are. (Matthew 22:37; Romans 2:15, 8:16; Joshua 24:15)
Ryrie states, "The soul is the center of emotional and spiritual experiences. The spirit is also the center of various traits, emotions, and activities. The heart is the seat of intellectual, emotional, volitional, and spiritual life. The conscience is an internal witness. The mind includes the faculties of perceiving and understanding. The will is the internal drive."1
Ryrie states, "The soul is the center of emotional and spiritual experiences. The spirit is also the center of various traits, emotions, and activities. The heart is the seat of intellectual, emotional, volitional, and spiritual life. The conscience is an internal witness. The mind includes the faculties of perceiving and understanding. The will is the internal drive."1
5. Romans 3:23
Man is sinful. (Romans 3:10; Proverbs 20:9; 1 Kings 8:46; Ecclesiastes 7:20) Man consists of a sin nature. It is as natural for man to sin as it is for the sun to produce light. It's what it naturally does. Unredeemed man cannot not sin. (1 John 1:8-10)
Man's sin nature is the result of both imputed and inherited sin. Imputed sin is the direct transfer of Adam's sin nature to us. (Romans 5:12) Inherited sin is the generational transmission of sin nature from parents to offspring, and occurs at conception. (Psalm 51:5) Man is hopelessly sinful and in desperate need of salvation. (Romans 3:11-19, 5:6; Jeremiah 17:9, Acts 4:12)
Man's sin nature is the result of both imputed and inherited sin. Imputed sin is the direct transfer of Adam's sin nature to us. (Romans 5:12) Inherited sin is the generational transmission of sin nature from parents to offspring, and occurs at conception. (Psalm 51:5) Man is hopelessly sinful and in desperate need of salvation. (Romans 3:11-19, 5:6; Jeremiah 17:9, Acts 4:12)
6. Ephesians 2:1-3
|
Man’s sinfulness deserves judgment. Unredeemed man is the object of God's wrath because God is just and must judge sin in order to maintain His righteous nature. (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 11:7, 58:11, 119:137, 145:17; Daniel 9:14) Furthermore, because God is infinitely holy, everyone falls infinitely short of His holy standard; perfection. (Romans 3:23, 2:1-3; Galatians 3:22; 1 John 1:8; Matthew 5:48; 1 Peter 1:16) Therefore all mankind is not just a little sinful, but immeasurably so. This status of utter sinfulness is what makes the grace and mercy of God so magnificent. (Ephesians 2:4-7; Romans 5:20-21)
|
The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope. — Timothy Keller |
7. Ecclesiastes 3:11
Man can consider God. He can envision eternity. God has placed the idea of forever in the mind of each person. To think of everlasting is innate; it's common among everyone. It is the foundation upon which God informs humanity about Himself. He does this through natural and special revelation. Natural revelation is what can be known about God through creation. It includes his existence, divine nature, and inherent goodness. (Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:20; Acts 14:17) Special revelation is what can be known about God through Scripture. It includes the knowledge of salvation. (2 Timothy 3:15; John 5:39)
8. Joshua 24:15
Man can choose God. God created man with free will. This includes the ability to make a personal decision about Him. However, everyone initially chooses to live life independently of God and his ways. (Proverbs 1:29, Ecclesiastes 7:29, 9:3, Isaiah 53:6) Those that eventually do choose to follow God do so usually because they experience the futility of life apart from Him. (Luke 15:17) Those that are informed about God, and still don't choose to worship Him, do so out of willful resistance. (Romans 2:5; Revelation 9:20)
9. Psalm 95:6
|
Man can cherish God. (Psalm 96:9, 100:2, 132:7, 138:2) Man can worship God. He can joyfully exalt Him in song and word. (Revelation 4:8, 11, 5:9,12,13) It's what it means to be created in His image. Mankind is most fulfilled in a redeemed, worshipful relationship with God. (Psalm 43:4) It's what why we were created; to know and enjoy God. God created man so he would consider Him, choose Him, and cherish Him.
|
Our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in you. — Augustine |
10. Hebrews 4:13
Man is accountable to God. (Ecclesiastes 12:14; John 5:28-29; Acts 17:31; Romans 2:16; Job 34:21; Psalm 33:13–14) All humanity must answer to its Creator. Some will do so in a with great regret because of unbelief and therefore spend eternity apart from the presence of God. The rest will do so with great joy because of belief and therefore spend eternity with God. (Philippians 2:9-11; John 3:36; Revelation 20:11-15, 21:7-8)
Believers also give an account of their lives as followers of Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:12)
Read Those Who Never Hear for more on accountability.
Believers also give an account of their lives as followers of Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:12)
Read Those Who Never Hear for more on accountability.
What was the most meaningful verse? Explain.
Footnotes.
- Charles Ryrie, Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth, (Chicago: Moody, 1999), 225.
- Ryrie, 9.