Anthropology: Doctrine of Man

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INTRODUCTION

Anthropology is the study of man. It is approached today from two major perspectives: the scienctific and the theological. Scientific anthropology is concerned with man's physical and mental being and his natural history. Such topics as ethics, psychology, physiology, sociology, etc. are usually included in scientific anthropology. theological anthropology focuses on man, his being, and his relationship(s) with God.

-----The greatest source for anthropological information is the Scriptures. The truth of Man's origin cannot be properly known apart from God's Revelation. Any views other than those which rest accurately on the Bible will prove defective and will be simply conjectural in nature.

-----Ignoring the revelation of God concerning the origin, nature, and purpose of man has historically brought grief nd human suffering. It is vitally important that this body of sacred truth be treated carefully and with sincere reliance on the perfect Word of God, not the changing theories of ungodly, Bible-rejecting men.

-----A study of God's revelation of anthropology is vital to one's ministry, and will prove helpful in the area of discerning the doctrines of numerous cults. Theological anthropology rests on an accurate and thorough exegesis of Scripture and careful, systematic collecting of the Divinely revealed facts. It is not less "scientific" than scientific anthropology

DEFINITION

"Theological anthropology deals with the facts of man's moral and religious constitution and history as related to Christian doctrine, while scientific anthopology deals with his specific Characteristics." - John Miley, Systematic Theology, Vol 1., p 353.

" . . . we comenow to those (doctrines) which concern man; his origin, nature, primative state, probation, and apostasy; which last subject includes the question as to the nature of sin; and the effects of Adam's first sin uon himself and upon his posterity. these subjects constitute the deportment of Anthropology." - Dr. Charles Hodge, Systematic theology, vol. 2, p. 3.

"Anthropology . . . includes the toics that relate to man as created and holy, and as apostate and sinful. It excludes tose relating to man as regenrate and sanctified, because these belong to redemption, which is a special provision not containd in creation. Man's endowment by creation provided for his actual holiness, and his possible apostasy, but not for his recovery from apostasy. anthropology compromises only what man is and becomes under ordinary arrangements of the Creator: what he is by creation, and what he makes himself by self-determination." - Dr. W. Shedd, Dogatic Theology, Vol. 2, p. 3,4

 

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I. THE ORIGIN OF MAN:

A. The teaching of Scripture

-----The Bible reveals that man is a direct result of creation by the Triune Godhead. Three times in Gensis 1:26,27*1* the Scriptures declare that God Created man, and that He created man in His own likeness. Colossians 1:16*2* teaches that Jesus created all things. The Spirit of God is credited with the work of making man (Job 33:4)*3*. Isaiah 44:24*4* discloses that Jehovah alone did the work of creation. That God created man is the consistent testimony of Scripture: Gen 1:27; 2:7,21,22; 5:1,2; 9:6; Psalm 100:3; Ecc 7:29; Matt 19:4*5-12*

----- God created "man" as a unit consisting of two parts, one was female, one was male. Neither is normally complete alone. Man consists of a physical part created from the dust of the ground, and non material parts given to man by the inbreathing of God.

Dr. Shedd wrote, "the creator first enlivens inorganic matte into a body, and then creates a rational spirit which heinfuses into it." - Dogmatic theology, Vol 2, p 5.

Since God's original creation man, both body and non-material parts are passed on by parents to offspring.

-----The fact of God's creation of man best fits the evidence as found in the world abouts. The Scriptures present Adam as a real individual, and Eve as a literal woman. No where does the Scripture present even the possibility of valid alternative views. Adam and Eve were real, literal people, and were in no way inferior ancestors to human beings. Both Adam and Eve were seperate but related creative acts by God. adam was formed from the "dust of the ground" (Genesis 1:27). After having thus formed Adam, God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (literally the breath of lives), thus enabling Adam to become a living soul (or "living being" or "creature"). Man is distinct from animals in that it is said only of man that God breathed into himthe breath of life. in this second aspect of creation God supernaturally imparted to man a human spirit which animated man's body. God created man in His own image . . . that image being triune personhood. Likeness to God includes to a limited extent a mental and moral likelness.

"Some have made the mistake of holding that the image of God in which man was created consists exclusively in his rational nature; still others have disposed to limit it to his dominion." - Henry Thiessen, Lectures in Systematic Theology, p. 155.

-----God created Eve shortly after Adam's creation. How long is not stated in the Bible, but it appears to be "shortly" after, perhaps just a few days or weeks. Having observed the animals and named them, Adam became aware of being lonely (Genesis 2:19,20)*13*. No where did he find a "help meet," a term which means "a helper corresponding to him" or "as before him." It is significant to note that when God chose to create Adam, He created him with the appearance of Age . . . as a mature adult, and that Eve was created when the need for a partner was percieved. God put Adam into a deep sleep, took one of Adam's ribs and brought a woman into being.

Dr. F.L. Barackman comments on this, "Why did God make Eve from a rib? Perhaps it was to remind Adam the afection that he should have for his wife. That God made Eve of Adam's substance was for the woman's humility and glory." - Pratical Christian Theology, p. 186.

Woman was created for man, and only a woman can complete a man. Man is incomplete without a female life partner.

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*1* Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

*2* Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

*3* Job 33:4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

*4* Isaiah 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

*5* Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

*6* Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

*7* Genesis 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

*8* Genesis 5:1 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.

*9* Genesis 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

*10* Psalm 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

*11* Ecclesiastes 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

*12* Matthew 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

*13* Genesis 2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

 

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I. THE ORIGIN OF MAN:

B. Summary of the theological Significance of Man's Creation:

1. Man exists due to the will of God. Man does not have an independent existence; he is dependant on his Creator for all things. Part of God's will for us is to be dependent on Him.

2. Man is simply a part of god's creation. although man is unique, he is also dependent on other aspects of God's creation.

3. Man was given a unique role and position in creation - that of caretaker, holding the position of being made in God's image.

4. Man shares a physical brotherhod with all others of his kind.

5. Man holds a high position in God's creation, below the angels. thisposition was given directly by God.

6. Man has definite limitations placed upon him by God. these limitations are good andare to be respected.

7. Man's limitations are not basically negative. God placed limitations on man, andthen proclaimed His work as "very good." Such liitations ned simply be accepted and behaviour to be in accordance.

8. Man can lead a proper life by accepting the limitations placed on him by God.

9. Man holds the highest position in relation to earth.

10. God intends man to live in harmny with the rest of creation.

 

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I. THE ORIGIN OF MAN:

C. The Teaching of Satan:

1. that man and all lifeforms were transported from outerspace to earth.

2. that life just beagn on earth as a result of 'favourable conditions" for inorganic material to become organic. this teaching , known as "spontanteous generation" has been held by many in ancient times.

3. that man is the product of evolutionary processes. Much ofevolutionary thought today is simply modernized "spontaneous generation."

Dr. Charles Hodge coments, "To this primitive doctrine of antiquity, modern philospohy and science, in some of their forms, hav returned." - Systematic Theology.

4.There are various shades of evolutionary theories. these may be broken down into three najor divisions.

---a. atheistic evolutions: teaches that matter just happened to be, that life just came into being because "conditions" were suitable, and that the process of evolution merely took place with its millons and billions of changes by chance.

---b. deistic evolution: teaches that God begun the process(es) of evolution and then removed Himself from it, allowing "nature" to take its course. This view allows that God began the initial step of creation but denies He had any further invovlement.

---c. theistic evolution: teaches taht God began the process of creation, and allows fo the possibility that from time to time He has had some influence on the development of His initial work. Theistic evolution acknowledges that God created man, but assumes He used some other creature to do so; man is a modified vesion of some previously existing creature. theistic evolution is closely related to deistic evolution and preogressive creationism which suggests that God id some aspects f creation at various points in time and allowed each succesive act to develop onits own for long peiods of time before engaging on new acts of creation.

5. Polygenism is a flase teaching which suggestmen did not all come from the same source. God is said to have created various men at various times. Included in this theory is the belief in a Pre-Adamic race of people. The various raced are thought to beseperate acts of God. The Adamic race is claimed to be the Hebrew people (Peyrerius). this false theory is contrary to Scripture because it denies . . .

---a. God has made of one blood all mankind (Acts 17:26)*1*
---b. The facts of soteriology . . . Jesus' death was equally extended for all men.
---c. The fact of sininfecting all men equaly.

This theory rests on the idea that Cain's wife was part of the Pre-Adamic race and that they were the ones who would have killed Cain for his murder of Abel (Gen 4:14)*2*

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*1* Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;


*2* Genesis 4:14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.

 

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I. THE ORIGIN OF MAN:

D. The Original Status of Man:

-----God made Adam and Eve as two distinct individuals who were holy and who both possessed His image. Concerning the image of God, Dr. Barackman notes,

"I believe tha the divine image in man consists of personhood - tha unique personal entity which at conception is created by God (Malachi 2:10)*1* and which immediately and forever joined to one's propagated human nature." - Practical Christian Theology, p. 188.189

-----Although man has fallen into sin, the image of God is still retained (Gn 9:6; Jm 3:9)*2&3*. the fact of man's sin did not stop humanity from being comprised of persons. Sin did seriously afect man, both his person and his nature, but it did not removethe image of God. People will retain personhood eternally, either in heaven or in hell. Some theological writers have considered the image of God in man to be relational . . . that the unity and qualtiy of relatinships is the image of God. This can hardly be the case as man has kept the image of god even though relatonship with God ende and full relationship with other people has been spoiled.

-----We ned to exercise care, and distinguish between the image of God given to manin creation, and the image of Christ into which the Christian is being transformed. The Holy Spirit is producing the moral qualities of Christ in us progressively as we submit to the Scriptures and Hisleading in our lives.

-----Man was created innocent, and for the purpose of fellowship with God. What God created was holy and good. This original state was violated by man's sn and was lost due to sin. Itis forever gone. The believing sinner who trusts Christ as Saviour is not restored to innocence, rather, such a person is blessed with imputed righteousness . . . a position, far greater than what Adam and Eve ever had.

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*1* Malachi 2:10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

*2* Genesis 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

*3* James 3:9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

 

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II. THE ANTIQUITY OF MAN:

-----the antiquity of man has been n issue of debate and ridicule over many years. The Fact still remains that no one actually knows the age of the earth, or how long man has walked the earth. The Scriptures revealthat man was created on the sixth day of creation (Genesis 1:24-31)*1*. Various suggestions have been offered as to when this actually took place. Some of these suggestions include:

--a) Archbishop Usher: 4004 B.C.
--b) Martin Anstey: 4124 B.C.
--c) Philip Mauro: 4025 B.C.

The long periods of time claimed by scientific anthropology are simply not necessary, nor can they accurately be insisted upon. The migrations of various people groups do not demandthe time required to fit the Bible-rejecting scientists' theories.

-----Concerning the conflicting intepretations of the genealogical records of Scripture Dr. F.L. Barackman notes that they

" . . . open the doors to all kinds of conjecture regarding the antiquity of man, and it assumesthat the Bible does not present an unbroken line of descent from Adam to Christ (Lk 3:23-38).*2* Actually, as Anstey and Mauro show, the bible does give a complee chronology from Adam to christ with suffiecnt detail to compute accurately the span of years. We should remember that there are no absolute means of verification of any date earlier than 3500 B.C., the beginning of recorded history. in spite of the current opinion to the contrary, I prefer the witness of Bible Chrology.' - Practical christian Theology, p.187.

-----Some scientific anthropologists point to some hominid fossils, and use them as evidence that mnas we know him todaydeveloped from sub-human life forms. The theory s sometimes advanced that these fossils represent a pre-Adamic race of "human" beings. The scripture do not teach any such thing as a race of men prior to Adam's existence. All true humans are descendants of Adam. However, it is possible that some distinct races of human beings existed at the time of the food and were made extinct by this act of God's judgement.

-----That civilization is "advanced" today does not imply that the social structure found several thousand years ago was "primative" and savage. Civilization as we know it may be very complex, but that does not imply merit. So-called "civilization" can become a substitute for true spirituality. Quality of life and spirituality can be found thriving in some very "unstructured"social orders. Cultural features such as writing and literature havevaried over the years, but present day authors are not "better" that were millenniums.

"When men reject the bible and see to find their wat through the problems of human life, their gropings are of little value, though they maybe sincere. thebible discloses that which god would have man know. 'through faith we understand' (Hebrews 11:3)*3*." - L.S. Chafer, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, 143.

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*1* Genesis 1:24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

*2* Luke 3:23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
24 Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph,
25 Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge,
26 Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda,
27 Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri,
28 Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er,
29 Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi,
30 Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim,
31 Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,
32 Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson,
33 Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda,
34 Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor,
35 Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala,
36 Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech,
37 Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan,
38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

 

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III. THE UNITY AND DIVERSITY OF THE HUMAN RACE:

-----All of humanity forms a common brotherhood only in the sense that we originated from a single couple, Adam and Eve. We are all distantly related to one another on a physical, material level. However, only true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ actually form a spiritualbotherhood.

----- The fatherhood of God may be viewed in a similar way. God is the "father" of every person only in the sense that He crreated us. He is actually "father" to those who have been made alive spiritually by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

"The physiological unity of the human race, descended from Adam, is no mere incidental trifle in the biblical system of doctrine. If we are not all of one kind . . .then not only is the Genesis record completely discredited, but the atonement of Christ, which he accomplished in His genuine sinless human nature, has lost its significance for us." - J.O. Buswell, A Systematic theology of the Christian Religion, Vol 1, p 358.

-----The variatons found among the different races of men simply demonstrate the variation within a species. God created man with the abiliy to adapt physically to the nature of his circumstances . . . to somedegree. God was the One who established differet nationalities. All nationalitiesought, therfore, to be treated with dignity and grace, recognizing their origin. This truth, if understood, destroys racial tensions and fosters mutual sympathy with the burdens, joys, problems and achievments of the many different nationalities.

---A. Man's Unity is Seen From History:

Dr. Theissen wrote concening this, "The history of nations and tribes in both hemispheres point to a comon origin and ancestry. This is generally accepted to be somewhere in the fertile cresent region." - Lectures in Sytematic Theology, p. 158.

---B. Man's Unity is Seen From Physiology:

The bible declares, "and hath made of one blood all nations for to dwell on all the face of the earth . . ."(Acts 17:16). All races are able to inter-marry and produce offspring, can interchange blood(by transfusion) and organs. all share a common basic pulse rate, blood pressure and body temperature.

---C. Man's Unity is Seen From Psychology:

Dr. L. Berkhof notes that man has, " . . . in commonthe same animal appetites, instincts, and passions, the same tendencies and capacities, and above all the same higher qualities, the mental and moral characteristics that belong exclusively to man." - Systematic Theology, p. 189.

---D. Man's Unity is SeenFrom Language

Those who study linguistics have historically differed over the issue of the origin of the many diferent languages. Today, most agree with a basic origin of languages. this agrees with what is learned from Genesis 10 (Noah's three sons) and Genesis 11 (the tower of Babel).

-----The unity of man may be viewed from the perspective that all persons are a part of the total humanity regardless of defects or other variations. All peoles have been madeby God and are of equal value to Him. Each racial group is an object of God's love. However, that has not always been true of mankind. At times, specific races and religions have been singled out as objects of contempt. Some have gone so far as to justify racism by "using" the Bible (i.e. that other colours indicate wickedness or the curse of God) or by claiming thatother races are merely a different and inferior species of human. Many Satanic remarks have been leveled by ungodly persons about other races.

Dr. Erickson records, "there is no biblical support for the position that blacks (or any other race) are less than fully human or inferior humans. there is, for example, no evidence to suggesst that Ham was black. the same is true of the contention that the mark od Cain was blackness. further, the contentionthat blacks are not humans contradicts anthropological evidence such as the infertility of all races with one another." (see Christian Theology, p. 543.)

-----At various times in some locations womenhave ben treated as inferior, not to be alloewed to vote and denied other priviledges extended to men. Such mistreatment is unscriptural, and demostrates a lack of proper theological anthropoogy. Wrongs, however, are not corrected byswinging to other extremes as may be seen in some circles today.

-----Biblical anthropology protects the unborn, the elderly and all mankind.

 

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IV. THE NATURE OF MAN VIEWED CONSTITUIONALLY:

-----The constitutional nature of man has beenanother topic of debate through the centuries. this is a large area of truth and has wide implications affecting many other ares of doctrine including salvation. Three views are currently held concerning the constituional nature of man. they are monism, dichotomism and trichotomism.

A. Trichotomism:

---This view of man presents him as consisting of three basic parts: spirit, soul, and body. Trichotomism is largely held by evangelicals, and has been taught with different levels of intensity in the history of the church. this line of teaching recognizes the distinctions between man and the "animal world," and that this distinction consists in the fact that man alone has a spirit.

Dr. Erickson records, "This religious element enables the human to percieve spiritual matters and respond to spiritual stimuli. It is the seat of the spiritual qualities of the individual, whereas the personality traits reside in the soul." - Christian Theology, p. 520.

---Tricotomy rests upon scripture as its authority. it is taught in such passages as 1 thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 4:12; and 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:4*1-3*. The Scriptures clearly present the distinct existence of spirit, soul, and body. However, the details of the distinctions between the spirit and the soul are difficult to precisely list. The spirit may be viewed as that part of man which is capable of relationship with god, soul may be seen as the part of man wich is conscious of self, and the body is seen as the part of man which house the immaterial parts, and which is sensitie to the world about us. Such passages as Mark 12:30 record, "And thou shalt love the Lord thy god with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength." The terms "heart" and "mind" are understood by those who hold to tricotomy as facets of the human being, but not as distinct parts.

"Employing St. Paul's threefold distinction in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, man is a synthesis of <font face="symbol">pneuma</font>, <font face="symbol">juch</font> and <font face="symbol">swma</font>. The brute is a synthesis of only <font face="symbol"> swma</font> and <font face="symbol"> juch</font>[/size]. Man is composed of a rational soul, an animal soul and a body; the brute is composed of an animal soul, and abody." - Dr. W. Shedd, Dogmatic Theology, Vol. 2, p. 656.

---At the death of a person, the spirit and the soul are not in any way changed. Both survive the death of the body and are immortal.

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*1* 1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

*2* Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

*3* 1 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
3:1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:

 

[alexandraaah]

I hope you don't find it disrespectful if the only way I address your posts is to tell you that they have gotten me incredibly hot and make me want to fuck you.

 

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IV. THE NATURE OF MAN VIEWED CONSTITUIONALLY:

B. Dichotomism

---This theory teaches that man consists of ony two basic parts: a body and a nonmateial part. This nonmaterial part is called the soul, and sometimes it is referred to as a spirit. Dichotomy has been widely held in Church History, and is still accepted today by liberal theologians, and by some conservative writers.

---The arguements for dichotomism are usually critics of trochotomy. Such criticisms usually include:

---1. to view 1 Thess 5:23*1* as teaching three distinct pats causes serious problems when compared to Mk 12:30*2* and Lk 10:27*3*.

---2. spirit and soul are used interchangably - Luke 1:46,47*4*

---3. the basic components of man are body and soul Mt 6:25*5*, but are body and spirit in Ecc 12:7*6* (see also Gn 35:18*7* and ps 31:5*8*)

---It can be agreed that man consists of material and non material parts. however, the Scriptures do seem to favour Trichotomy. Special emphasis on either the soul or the body could simply reflect the perspective of the inspired author and the context of the passage.

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*1* 1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

*2* Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

*3* Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

*4* Luke 1:46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

*5* Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

*6* Ecclesiaste 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

*7* Genesis 35:18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

*8* Psalm 31:5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

 

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IV. THE NATURE OF MAN VIEWED CONSTITUIONALLY:

C: Monism:

---This theory suggests that man is a single unit and should not be though of as a two or three part being. Tthose who hold monism claim that the Bible presents man as a whole unit; man is "self," not spirit, soul and body.

"According to monism, to be human is to bear a body. the idea that a humancan somehow exist apart from a body is unthinkable. Consequently, there is no posibility of post-death existence in a disembidied state. immortality of the soul is quite untenable.' - Dr. M. Erickson, Christian theology, p. 525.

--- Althought monism developed against liberalism it cannot be accepted for several basic reasons:

1. the Scriptures do teach an intermediate state between death and ressurection. in this state man is alive and conscious. Luke 23:43*1*; 16:19-31*2*; 2 Corinthians 5:8*3*; Mathew 10:28*4*

2. the Scriptures do teach survival of the soul beyond physical death. 1 Kings 17:22*5*

3. the Scriptures do teach that the believer is "rdeemed." However, our body is yet "unredeemed" . . . it is awaiting the redemption of the body. Romans 8:23*6*

~~~~~

*1* Luke 23:43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

*2* Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

*3* 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

*4* Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

*5* 1 Kings 17:22 And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.

*6* Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

 

[mig]

That must have taken a lot of work to set out.

Pity.

 

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IV. THE NATURE OF MAN VIEWED CONSTITUIONALLY:

D. Conditional Unity:

---Man is a unitary compound. Dissolution takes place at death. At the resurrection the components are put back together.

<hr><center>Evaluation:
1. soul/spirit survive death
2. the "person" exists without a body
3. Scripture speaks nothin of the "glue" for these components.
</center><hr>

 

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IV. THE NATURE OF MAN VIEWED CONSTITUIONALLY:

---There are several other terms which may be considered in light of the constitution of man. They are best considered as facets of the wordings of mans spirit, soul, and body.

-----A. Heart: This term is used over 600times in the Old Testament and 120 times in th New Testament. In contrats to "soul" is used more than 400 times in all the canon. The word "spirit" is used only a little more frequentlythan "soul" even if one includes reference to the Goly Spirit. Scripture Obvioously gives special emphasis to "heart'.

L.S. Chaffer noted, "In its phycological sense, the term heart refers, alike in boh Testaments to human life an its energyexercised. The physical organ which bears this name is the distributor of the blood and the biblical conception is that the life isin the blood (Leviticus 17:11)*1*. It is natural that the heartshould be deemedthe center of human life. Similarly the heart is the organ that reacts to the human emotionand is thus as easily. Considered the center of sensibility . . . In this mannnerthe word of God relates the termheart to natural slf-knowledge." - Systematic Theology, Vol 2, pg. 187.

-----B. Reigns: The term "reigns" is used 16 times in Scripture. It describes the kidneys as representative of mans inner being. this term considers mans depest emotions. In 6 uses it is associated with the term "heart" and relates to a level of emotions which only god understands.

-----C. Flesh: The sue of this term reveals a 3 fold application it may refer to the human body. Scripture also uses thos wordto describe all humanity and other creatures. The 3rd use of "flesh" relates to mans sinful nature- found in both saved and unregenerate individuals. As such, this use describesour fallen nature or disposition to sin. It manifests itself through the vehicle of the body.

-----D. Mind: Man's thinking, reasoning ability, seems to be in view through the use of this word. The "mind" may be either good or evil depending on the power governing it. Our minds may be defiled(Titus 1:15)*2*, need girding up (1 Peter 1:13)*3*, or they may serve the law of God(Romans 7:25)*4*.

~~~~~

*1* Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

*2* Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

*3* 1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

*4* Romans 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

 

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V. THE DERIVATION OF MAN'S IMMATERIAL PARTS:

-----Three major answers to the question of man's immaterial parts may be found in the world today. great men of God have differed over this issue. However, the Scriptures present a clear testimony to the truth. These three major views are:

-----A. Pre-existence:

The advocates of this hypothesis claim on rational grounds and quite apart from Biblical authority that, whatever may have been the original derivation of the immaterial part of man - whether created or eternally existent - it is subject to reincarnation or transmigration from one embodiment - extending to the lowest forms of creature life - to another. This theory, though embraced with varous modifications by men who could avail themselves of Biblical truth, owes it origin wholly to heathen philosophy." - L.S. Chafer, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, p. 173.

Deuteronomy 4:32*1*; Ecclesiastes 9:6*2* refute pre-existensce.

-----Pre-existence is taught today in New Age Teachings, in Mormonism and in Theosophy. It is occultic in origin, and violates the teaching of God's Word in the following ways:

---1. what God declares in the Scriptures on this topic is rejected and contradicted.

---2. the fact of original sin is rejected. Pre-existence acknowledges the fact of sin, but ignores what the bible teaches about its origin.

---3. actual proof of the doctrine is lacking.

---4. pre-existence teaching completely re-structures anthropology differently than the Bible does.

---5. it makes God guilty of giving man a sinful spiritual part, and then holding man responsible, or of giving man a holy spirit knowing it wil be defild as soon asit enters the body.

-----If one accepts the teaching of conscious, personal pre-exisence, one is faced with the lack of ability to remmber the details of the pre-existent states.

While this theory accounts for inborn sin, such as pride and enmity to God, it gives no explaination of inherited sensual sin, which it holds to have come from Adam, and the guilt of which must be denied." - A.H. Strong, Systematic Theology, p 490.

-----The doctrine of pre-existence of the human spirit has sadlybeen taught by Plato, Oirgen, Philo and Justin Matyr. Many within otherwise orthodox teaching, have taught this false theory.

~~~~~

*1* Deuteronomy 4:32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it?

*2* Ecclesiastes 9:6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

 

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V. THE DERIVATION OF MAN'S IMMATERIAL PARTS:

B. Creationism:

-----This theory proclaims that God specifically creates asoul and a spirit for each body when it is born. Creationism teaches that only the body is produced by human parents. this teaching is far reaching with regard to implications. it calls into question the actual humanity of Christ, the transmission of original sn as well as basic heredity.

-----This theory has posed serious objections though it was taught by Aristotle, Jerome, Pelagius, Roman Catholics, and Reformed theologians including Dr. charles Hodge. The objections to the belief are clearly presented by Dr. A.H. Strong:

1. "The passage adduced in its support may with equal propriety be regarded as expressing God's mediate agency in the origination of human souls; while the general tenor of Scripture, as well as its representations of God as the Author of man's body, favour this latter interpretation.

2. Creationism regards the earthly father as begetting only the body of his child - certainly as not the father of the child's highest part. This makes the beast to possess nobler powers of propagation than man; for the beast multiplies himself after his own image.

3. The individuality of the child, even in the most extreme cases, as in the sudden rise from obscure families, and surroundings of marked menlike Luther, may be explained by suposing a law of variation impressed uponthe species at its beginning - a law whose operation is forseen and supervised by god.

4. This theory, if it allows that the soul is originally possessed of depraved tendancies,make God the direct author of moral evil; if it holds the soul to have been created pure, it makes God indirectly the Author of moral evil, by teaching that He puts this pure spirt ito a body which wilinevitably corrupt it."

 

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V. THE DERIVATION OF MAN'S IMMATERIAL PARTS:

C. Traducianism:

-----Traducianism teaches that the body as well as the spirit and soul of man are propagated byt human procreation. this doctrie was perhaps first expressed as a doctrine by Tertullian and later explained more fully by augustine. During the days of the early church it was the dominatnt view but fell into unpopularity during the Dark Ages when creationism arose to extensive acceptance.

-----The traducian concept of the origin of the immaterial parts of man are taught in many different passages of Scripture. Some of these passages include the following:

---1. Genesis 2:1-3: the work of creation was declared by God to be complete. This could hardly be true if God was still creating human spirits and souls for eachconceived person.

---2. Job 10:10: "Hast Thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?" concerning this verse, Dr. Shedd notes,

"The 'me' here is the wholeperson. the total ego is described as begotten, in Jeremiah 1:5: 'Before I formed thee I the belly I knew thee.' In Psalm 22:9,10 David says, 'thou are He that took me from the womb. I was cast upon Thee from the womb; thou art my God from my mother's belly." - Dogmatic Theology, Vol. 2, p. 25.

---3. Psalm 139:15,16: The Scriptures declare, "My substance was not hid from Thee hen i was made in secret." The Psalmist, as a whole person, is here seen as having been existence in his embryonic state.

---4. Acts 17:26: The bible teaches that God, "hath made one blood of al nations." Dr. Shedd wrote that,

". . . the apostle was speaking particularly of man as rational, immortal and having the image of God; and therefore in saying that 'man is made of one blood,' he certianly could not have intended to exclude his rationalsoul in this connection." - Dogmatic Theology, Vol. 2, p. 24.

---5. Romans 1:3: The apostle paul was inspird to write of Jesus, theaching that He, ". . . was made of the seed of David according to the flesh." The use of "flesh" is here applied to Christ's complete humanity in distinction to his diety. Traducianism is also clearly presented in Romans 5:12.

---6. Ephesians 2:3: "We were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." Man's whole being is under sentence of god's wrath.

---7. 1 Corinthians 15:22: "for as in Adam all die. . . " "Metaphorical" existence could hardly result in actual death and consititute seperation from God.

"to die in adam, both spiritually and physically, supposes existence in Adam both as to soul and body." - Shedd, Dogmatic Theology,Vol. 2, p. 26.

THREE TYPES OF SUPPORT FOR TRADUCIANISM

---1. SCRIPTURAL SUPPORT:

--Hebrews 7:10 reveals a rational and moral act by Levi
--Genesis 2:1-3 sows God resting on the 7th day because creation was complete. God breathed life into only Adam

---2. THEOLOGICAL SUPPORT:

"Creationsim places God in the position of creating a perfect soul(He could not create a sinful one), then having it fall in the case of each newborn infant. The case of the sinlessChrist is in every respect and exception and not the pattern in deciding this question". Ryrie, Baisc theology, p. 194

---3. PHYSIOLOGICAL SUPPORT:

--Man is a union of body, soul and spirit which grows and develops together.

------Perhaps, more than any other theological writer, Dr. Shedd exhaustielyexplores traducian thought. Approximatelyninety pages are devoted to this tpic in his Dogmatic Theology, vol 2, all of whichis heartily recommended reading. The following wil provide a sample of Dr. Shedd's treatment of this important issue:

 

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V. THE DERIVATION OF MAN'S IMMATERIAL PARTS:

Traducianism applies the idea of species to both body and soul. Upon the sixth day, God created two human indiiduals, one male and one female, and in them also created the specific psychico-physical nature from which all the subsequent individuals of the human family are procreated both psychically and physically . . ..Creationism confines the idea of species to the body. In this respect, it agrees with the theory of pre-existence; the difference relatingonly to the time when the soul is created. Creationisn and pre-existence both alike maintain thatthe human soul is individual only, and never had a race-existence in Adam. The creationist holds that God on the sixth day created two human individuals, one male and one female, and in them also created the specific physical nature from which the bodies of all subsequent individuals were procreated; the soul in each instance being a new creation ex nilo, and infused into the propagated body. . . . The choice must be made between traducianism and creatism, since the opinion that man as to his soul existed before Adam has no support from revelation.The Bible plainly teaches that Adam was the first man: and that all finite spirits existing before him were angels. The questions betwen traducianist and the creationist is this: when God created the first two human individuals, Adam and Eve, did he create in and with them the invisible substance of all the succeeding generations of men, both as to the soul and the body, or only as to the body? Was the human nature that was created in adam and Eve simple, or complex? Was it physcial solely, or was it phychico-physical? Had the human nature in the first pair two sides or only one? Was provision made for propagting out of the specific nature deposited in Adam, individuals who would be a union of body and soul, or only a mere body withouta soul? The questions, consequently, between the parties involved the quantity of being that was ceated on the sixth day, when God is said to have created "man." The traducianist asserts that the entire invisible substance of all the the generations of mankind was originated ex nihilo, by that single act of God mentioned in Genesis 1:27, by which he created "man male and female." The creationist asserts that only a part of the invisible substance which constitutes their souls eing created subsequently, by as many distinct and seperate creative acts as there are individual souls. Traducianism and creationism agree with each other in respect to the most diffcult point in the problem: namely, a kind of existence that is prior to the individual existence. The creationist concededs that human history does not start with the birth of the individual ma. He does not attempt to explain original sin with no reference to Adam. He maintains that the body and the physcial life of the indivdual is no a creation ex nihilo in each instance, but is derived froma common physical nature that was originated on the sixth day. in so doing, the creationist concedes existence in Adam, quoad hoc. But this race-mode of human existence, which is prior to the individual mode, is the principal difficulty with the problem, and in conceding its reality as to the body, the creationist carries a common burden woth the traducianist. For it is dificult to think of an invisible existence of the human body in adam as to think of an invisible existence of the human soul in him. In reality, it is even more difficult; because the body of an individual man, but fewer connected with traducianism than with creationism. If the mystery of a complete existence in adam on both the psychical and the physical side is accepted, the difficulties connected with the imputation of the first sin and the propagation of corruption are relived. As Turetin says, "there is no doubt that by this theory all the difficulty seems to be removed." It is only the first step that costs. Adopting a revealed mystery in the start, the mystery in this instance, as in all other instances of revealed mysteries, throws a flood of light, and makes all thins plain.

- Dogmatic Theology, Vol 2, p. 7-19

 

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V. THE DERIVATION OF MAN'S IMMATERIAL PARTS:

-----Objections to traducianism have been expressed over the years of Church history. dr Charles hodge isthe most credible anti-traducian writer. A serious argument traducianism asks whether or not man has the creative power to produce spirits and souls. The Scriptures address this mater in Zechariah 12:1 which declares, ". . . saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, And layeth the foundation of the earth, And formeth the spirit of man within him." The word "formeth," means to shape something which already exist, as God forms the mountians (Amos 4:13)

-----The Most serious objection to traducianism involves Christology. Creationism claims the traducianist presents a Jesus wo was tainted with original sin. If Jesus received His body, soul and His spirit from Mary, how could He not be tainted with sin? again the scriptures address this very important matter. Hebrews 10:5 teaches, "But a body hast thou prepared Me." Luke 1:35 records the words of the angel to Mary, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee: thereforealso that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." Hebrews 2:14 gives further light on this vital topic: "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also himself likewise partook of the same. . ." On the authority of these verse (and many others); Jesus partook of humanity, yet was perserved fromthe taint of Adamic sinfulness.

-----Dr. L.S. Chafer fully agrees with this basic observation:

"theologians of the traducian group always believed that there was exercised a special divine protection against the Adamic nature being imparted to the Son from the human mother."

-----Only the traducian view can adequately explain both guilt of sin through adam's fall, and provision of possible salvation for all through the incarnation of God the Son and His partaking of humanity. man is a race, not a company as are the angels. The teachings of creationism reduces man to a company, and perhaps unintentionally, casts serious doubts concerning the value of Christ's death for all mankind.

-----When great men of God, of equal study, ability, and devotion disagree, it is wise to allow some flexibility. we need to never compromise on any theological conviction, but at the smae time, we must be careful not to discredit all who have non-essential diferences with us.

 

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VI. THE MORAL NATURE OF MAN

-----The moral nature of man consists of the basic abilities which enale man to percieve and pursueright and wrong behaviour. These "abilities" include the conscience, the intellect, the emotions, and the will. Conscience may be viewed as the intellect, emotions, and the will workingtogether in a balanced manner.

A. Conscience:

---Conscience may be viewed as A CAPACITIY INVOLVING A SENSITIVITY TO AND AN AWARENESS OF A GIVEN SET OF LAWS OR STANDARDS WHICH ARE BELIEVED TO BE TRUE. Al people have a capacity for conscience, but not all people have a Scriptural foundation for this capacity.This feature of man's oral nature has been considered by Dr. A.H. Strong as follows:

"Conscience is knowing a of self (including our acts and states) in connectionwith a moral standard, or law. adding now the element of feeling, we may say that conscience is man's consciousness of his own moral relations, together with a peculiar feeling in view of them. It thus involves the combined action of the intellect and of the sensibility, and that in view of a certain class of objects, viz: right and wrong." - Systematic Theology, p. 498.

-----Dr. F.L. Barackman defines the conscience in Practical Christian Theology by noting

"I regard conscience to be the moral feature of personhood rather than a part of human nature." p.199

***It is to be expected that the conscience of a mature believer ought to be sensitive to the presence of known sin; it ought to grieve over sin and confess that sin immediately, utterly forsaking it.

B. Intellect:

-----Intellect may be regarded a the ability given by God to human beings as individuals to know and understand data revealed through nature (and possibly) by Divine Revelation. Intellect needs to be ocused on data which is pure, God-given, and which is beneficial to self and others. The intellect of any person which is exercised with the things provided for meditation by the world, the flesh, and the devil will be renedered ineffective to function towards valid moral decisions. the intellect forms a foundational role in the learning and decision making process.

C. Emotions:

-----Emotions may be considered as "the soul feeling" (Strong). emotions can be either pure or polluted, and can form a potential guide to decision making. Emotions are a "feeling" response to the data given the intellect and the reaction of the will.

D. Will:

The human will is the choosing or deciding ability within man. None of these abilities presented in this section can properly be examined independantly of he others. The human will, intellect and the emotions have been affected by sin, and thus the conscience of man is distorted without Scriptural guidance. The regenerate man does best by full and voluntary submission of his intellect, emotions and will to the authority of the Scriptures.

 

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VII. THE FALL OF MAN

-Man was made to fellowship with God, to enjoy His complete harmony and to be at peace with the environment. this original position was lost to man due to the fact of sin wich became reality due to man's fall into sin. The "Bible-rejecters" view the sinful nature of man as signs of man's progression from more animal-like ancestry. Makind is not progressing; rather, it seemsthat man is regressing. liberlas, cultists and evolutionists often regard the fall of man as, "a fall upwards." The Scriptures (Rm 5:12-19*1*; 1 Cor 15:45-49*2*; and 1 Tm 2:13,14*3*) are quick to expose such false concepts.

-Man's fall into sin resulted in man's "total depravity." This expression does not teach that all men are as wicked as they might be, but it does teach that every area of human life has been tainted with sin. Dr. H. Lockyer notes,

"man's whole being is corrupted - his spirit is darkened (Eph 4:17,18*4*; 1 Cor 2:14*5*); his soul is debased (Jer 17:9*6*; Eph 4:19*7*); his body is diseased and death-ridden (Rm 7:24*8*); his will is weakened (Rm 7*8*); his conscience is blunted (1 Tm 4:2*9*)." - All the Doctrines of the Bible, p 145.

-As a result of the fall into sin, the Bible presents man as being dead in trespasses and sins, he is condemned by God, is an object of God's anger, is guilty before God, has fallen under Satan's control and is facing the reality of eternity in Hell.

-Practical and personal lessons may be learned from the Genesis presentation of the fall of man (Gn 3:1-6*10*.

-Dr. R.A. Torey lists five basic steps to the fall of man :

A. listening to slanders against God.
B. doubting God's Word and His love.
C. looking at what God had forbidden.
D. lusting for what God had prohibited.
E. disobeying God's commandment.

-Dr. H. Lockyer has regarded the sin of man as follows:

A. It was willful sin, for Adam was not decieved as Eve. 1 Tim 2:14*11*
B. It was rebelion against the rule of God. Lamentations 1:18*12*
C. It was a reflection upon the goodness of God. Romans 2:14*13*
D. It was a breach of the law of God. 1 John 3:4*14*
E. It was an act of Spiritual Suicide. Romans 5:12*15*
F. It brought evil upon others. Romans 5:12

~~~~~

*1* Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

*2* 1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

*3* 1 Timothy 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

*4* Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

*5* 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

*6* Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

*7* Ephesians 4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

*8* Romans 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

*9* 1 Timothy 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

*10* Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

*11* 1 Timothy 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

*12* Lamentations 1:18 The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.

*13* Romans 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

*14* 1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

*15* Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

 

[Todd-'o'-Vision]

VIII. THE PURPOSE FOR MAN"S EXISTENCE

-----God Originally created man for fellowship with Himself. this Fellowship was experienced in the Garden of Eden between Adam and Eve and God. Genesis 3:8 declares. ". . . they heard the voice of the Lord God(Jehovah Elohim) walking in the garden . . . " This felow ship was broken due to sin.

-----When God created Adam and Eve, they were placed in the garden. God intended man to work, perhaps not in the laborious toil associated with the term "work" today, but God intended man to be busy. Man was given a task, "to dress it, and to keep it," concerning the garden of Eden. man was to exercise dominion over both the fish of the sea, over the birds and over every living thing which moved on the face of the earth.

-----Due to sin, that fellowship with god was broken, man's blessed God-given "employment" has been ruined, and dominion over other creatures has been challenged. man has sunk to the level of bowing and worshipping some of the very creatures he was originally intended to rule.

-----Ultimately, god's purpose in man's existence will be realized, and eternal, blessed fellowship with god will be reality for the redeemed.

 

[Todd-'o'-Vision]

IX. THE DEATH OF MAN

-----Due to the practice of organ transplants, death has been reviewed. Life support machinery has made it difficult to determine exactly what death is, and when it actually takes place. Various medical definitions may be given to "clarify" just wah death is. However, the most significant definition is a Biblical, not a medical one.

Dr. F.L. Barackman presents a helpful statement on this issue: "Physical death occurs when the spirit (Ps 146:4*1*; Ecc 12:7*2*;Jm 2:26*3*; Mt 27:50*4*) and the soul (Gn 35:18*5*; 1 Kn 17:21*6*) depart from the body. this triggers the beginning of total decay which reduces the body to dust (Gn 3:19*7*; Ps 16:10*8*; 1 Cor 15:50-54*9*). Thus, physical death is an event which introduces the state of body corrptibility." - Practical Christian Theology, p. 207

-----At death the non-materail parts of unsaved man go to Hadeds awaiting the Great White Throne Judgement when thier bodies will be resurrected and reunited. At death the non-material parrts of saved man are absent from the body and are present with the Lord. The false teaching of "soul-sleep" is not taught biblically (see Lk 16:22,23*10*; Phil 1:23*11*; Rev 6:9,10*12*). All the dead are conscious, and alert concerning thier location in either Heaven or Hades. There is no valid Scriptural teaching to suggest that the dead are aware of precise details of earthly events.

-----Job 14:5 declares concerning man, "Seeing his days are determined, The numbersof his months are with Thee. Thou hast appointed his ounds that he cannot pass." often the question of death by suicide arises. Man can terminate his earthly existence, and he may hasten death by sin, but such occurences should be viewed in the light of the permissive will of God.

-----At present, the devil holds the power of death. He is able to exercise this power independantly of the perfect and permissive will of god, but he does use this power within certian limits. this Satanic authority regarding death will continue until he is placed in the Abyss, and then finally when he is consigned to the Lake of Fire for eternity.

~~~~~

*1* Psalm 146:4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

*2* Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

*3* James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

*4* Matthew 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

*5* Genesis 35:18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

*6* 1 Kings 17:21 And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again.

*7* Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

*8* Psalm 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

*9* 1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

*10* Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

*11* Philippians 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

*12* Revelation 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

 

[Todd-'o'-Vision]

There I am done, I hope this helps you to understand what I believe a little bit beter, feel free to ask questions, make out, ridicule, or whateve else floats yer boat.

 

[Calamity Jane]

All I can say is... HOLY CRAPWEASEL!

Todd, you really really need to consider some 'Cut and Pasters Anonymous' meetings.

I only say that because I care.