Introduction
The purpose of this study is to give scriptural insight and understanding of God’s plan for man from his original creation, fall, redemption, and restoration of his wonderful purpose.
This study was prepared in form of question and comment, it is important to study all the scriptural references, make personal notes from them, and then read the comments that followed the question. All scriptural references are taken from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise stated. The keyword or words in the reference verses are highlighted for you to have some words to think and meditate upon.
To gain the knowledge God intends, asked Him to open your understanding to the scriptures you read. Remove your mind from any preconceived opinion, and focus on what the scriptures say. Be like the Bereans Christians who studied the scriptures to be sure what they heard were true.
THE NATURE OF MAN
What is man?
Read:
Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 2:7, Psalms 139:14, Psalms 8:4-6
Comment:
Man was fearfully and wonderfully created in the image and likeness of God. Man is a soul, a combination of the dust of the ground and the breath of life from the divine creator – God. The soul of man has a carrying case called the body (flesh and blood). Man is a physical entity; he was made a little lower than the angels who are spirits. Man was created as a free moral agent; he has the ability to choose, Angels are created to strictly follow orders.
Scriptural References
Genesis 1:26-28
“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.””
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”
Psalms 139:14
“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.”
Psalms 8:4-6
“What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,”
What else did God put in man?
Read: Job 32:8, Zechariah 12, Numbers 27:16
Comment:
God formed a spirit and placed it within man. The scripture calls it the spirit in man or the spirit of man. This spirit is not the man, but in man, and God called himself the God of the spirits of all flesh.
Scriptural References
Job 32:8
“But there is a SPIRIT IN MAN: and the inspiration of the Almighty gives them understanding”
Zechariah 12:1
“The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, says the LORD, which stretches forth the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him”
Numbers 27:16
“Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation”
What makes man different from animals?
Read: Genesis 2:7, 19, Ecclesiastes 3:19-21
Comment:
The fate of all living creatures (man and animal) is death. The main difference between man and animal is that animals do not possess the spirit in man. Animal act by instinct as programmed in their brain by God who created them. Man receives the spirit in man at conception, and in connection with the brain, the human mind is formed. It is this spirit that enables man to reason within the physical sphere.
The spirit in man and the brain give man ability to use their five senses to acquire, and use physical knowledge. In essence animals have just a brain, but man has a brain and the spirit in man which forms human mind. Without the spirit in man, man will not be different from animals.
So, man is a physical entity composed of body and soul, with a non-physical component, the spirit in man. Animals are basically physical entity.
Scriptural References
Genesis 2:7, 19
“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 being.
Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.”
Ecclesiastes 3:19-21
“For that which befalls the sons of men befalls beasts; even one thing befalls them: as the one dies, so dies the other; yes, they have all one breath; so that a man has no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knows the spirit of man that goes upward, and the spirit of the beast that goes downward to the earth?”
What are the functions of the spirit God put in man?
Read: I Corinthians 2:9-12, Job 32:8, Rom. 8:16, Proverbs 20:27, John 4:24
Comment:
God created man to receive two different spirits for different purposes. Man receives one spirit (spirit in man) at conception, and another spirit (Holy Spirit) at conversion. Anyone without the Holy Spirit is not complete. The functions of the two spirits include the following:
- The spirit in man helps man to understand physical matters.
- God is spirit, and the means by which he communicates with man who is physical in nature is through the spirit in man, using His Holy Spirit. It should be noted that if God needs to do things through unconverted minds, he can stir up the spirit in them to accomplish his purpose. Ezra 1:1
- The Spirit to spirit connection in a believer gives him inspiration from God and makes him understand spiritual matters. Simply put, the spirit in man with the help of the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) helps him understand spiritual matters.
- The assurance that we are children of God comes from the Spirit to spirit connection in a believer.
- The spirit in man is like a cassette or memory card that records and stores all what man has ever done. It represents the characters and works of man.
Please read the article, The three aspects of man, for more understanding.
Scriptural References
I Corinthians 2:9-12
“But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”
Job 32:8
“But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty gives them understanding”
Romans 8:16
“The Spirit itself bears witness WITH our spirit, that we are the children of God”
Proverbs 20:27
“The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.”
John 4:24
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
What was God’s purpose in creating man?
Read: Genesis 1:26-28, Psalms 8:4-6, Hebrews 2:6-9
Comment:
God’s purpose for man was to rule the earth; to have dominion over His creation. God placed everything he had made under man, and there was nothing that was not placed under him, including the Angels.
Scriptural References
Genesis 1:26-28
“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Psalms 8:4-6
“What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,”
Hebrews 2:6-9 NKJV
“But one testified in a certain place, saying: “What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him.
Be sure to study Module Two.
This study material was prepared by Olusegun Olutoto for
WordLife Apostolic Christian Assembly
©2017.
I could not resist commenting. Very well ԝritten!
Thіs page definitely has all of the info I wanted about this subjeⅽt and didn’t know who to ask.
Thanks for one’s marvelous posting! I actually enjoyed
reading it, you might be a great author.I will always bookmark your
blog and will often come back in the foreseeable future.
I want to encourage one to continue your great writing, have
a nice morning!