The Biblical View of Man
Brian R. Kenyon

On the sixth day of creation, “God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness....So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Gen. 1:26-27). Mankind was the crowning act of God’s creation! Both male and female are of the same nature. Moses wrote, “Male and female created he them...and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created” (Gen. 5:2). The phrase, “called their name Adam,” is also translated “called them Mankind” (NKJ), and “named them man” (NAS). The point is that both male and female can be referred to as “man” because both are of the same nature (Gen. 2:21-23).

Most, if not all, religious error can be traced back to a misunderstanding of the nature of God and/or the nature of man. The Biblical view of man shows us that as image bearers of God, our purpose is to glorify Him (cf. Isa. 43:7). Sin, however, renders this impossible, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Since God is “of purer eyes than to behold evil” (Hab. 1:13), man needs a Savior and a mediator. Thankfully, God has provided both in the one person of Jesus Christ (Jn. 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:5).

The Biblical view of man shows that we are composed of body, soul, and spirit (1 Thes. 5:23), or simply put, the “inward man” and the “outward man” (Eph. 3:16). Though the “outward man” perishes, the “inward man” continues to live (2 Cor. 4:16-5:1). At death, the “outward man” returns to the dust from which it was made, and the “inward man” returns to God who gave it (Gen. 3:19; Eccl. 12:7). However, on Judgment Day, each person’s body will be reunited with his or her spirit/soul in resurrection to stand before God (Mt. 25:31-33; Jn. 5:28-29; Rev. 20:11-15). At that time, “we shall be changed” and fitted for eternity. For the faithful, “then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor. 15:51-57).

To be victorious in the resurrection, we must understand our human nature and responsibility. We must know how to overcome the world. The school of preaching lectureship starts tomorrow and will be a great place to learn these truths on the Biblical view of man. Hope to see you there!