Definition of Man
(Anglo-Saxon man=a person, human being; supposed root man=to think; Ger., Mann, Mensch). According to the common definition of the School, Man is a rational animal. This signifies no more than that, in the system of classification and definition shown in the Arbor Porphyriana, man is a substance, corporeal, living, sentient, and rational. This is how people define man. Some even say that man is the highest form of animal. But, is this how the Bible define man? What does the Bible reveal about man?
“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 [soul, KJV]” (Genesis 2:7).
“Behold all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die” Ezekiel 18:4
Genesis 1 tells us that man was made in the image of God (verses 26-27).
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26-27 NIV)
Then chapter 2 reveals a little more detail about the specifics of that creation. God created man out of matter, “the dust of the ground.” The Bible nowhere reveals him to either be or to possess an “immortal soul.” All such ideas representing man as possessing immortality in his being are nonbiblical concepts originating from distinctly nonbiblical sources.
The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7 NIV)
The Hebrew for man (adam) sounds like and may be related to the Hebrew for ground ( adamah it is also the name Adam).Scripture tells us plainly that the soul is something that can die or be destroyed. It is not immortal! Jesus said not to fear “those that kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him [God] who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
Composition of Man
Man was created according to the image of God, his Creator. There are three very distinct composition that a man was made of. First, is what we call the “outer being.” This is the body that we can see, touch and according to the Bible was made up of dust.
“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 [soul, KJV]” (Genesis 2:7).
When a man dies, what will happen to the body? The body will return to the dust where it came from.
And the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 12: 7)
From the same verse above, we found the second element of man, the spirit. It is the part that came from God, unlike the body, which came from the element of the earth-dust. The Bible calls it the “breath of life.” Also, from the above verse, when a man dies, the spirit will return to God who gave it.
The third element is what Apostle Paul preached to be the “inner being,” “inner self,” “hidden man of the heart” or the “soul”. It is the part that we don’t see and touch.
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. (I Peter 3: 4)
As man dies, his heart also dies. But the soul remains in the ground. It doesn’t leave the ground like what others believe that souls walk to the face of the earth when a man dies. It remains intact with the dust.
Psa 44:25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
The body, soul and the spirit are connected, but separable according to Hebrews 4:12.
Heb 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.
Why did God created man?
When God created us(man), He did not create us for nothing. In everything that He created there is a purpose. Before He even created us, there was already a plan or purpose for us. This is what He intended us to do, which many people did not know or have forgotten to do.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2: 10 NIV)
Noticed that the main intention of GOD is to see us DOING GOOD WORKS. This is what God prepared in advance for us to do. This is the whole duty or purpose of man.
Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12: 13)
But not all good works for men are also good in the sight of God. We must be sure that what we are doing are good in the sight of God. How do we make sure that we are doing the GOOD works? What is good in the eyes of God? The Bible said, the law or commandments of God is good and holy in the eyes of God. Therefore, obeying and understanding the law put us in doing good works.
Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
So, it is important that we understand the law of God to be able to obey it. If we know the laws and obey it, then we know the purpose of our existence.
When God created us, not only did He gave us life and understanding (Job 32:8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.), God also gave us the “freedom of choice.” This is what others call “free will.” God did not make us like robots that are only designed to do what they are programmed to do. God made sure that we have the power to choose for ourselves what we want to do for our lives, but we should understand that in choosing there are consequences.
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Deuteronomy 30: 19-20)
When God set before us life and death, He advised us to choose life but that doesn’t mean that we have no option to choose the other way. In this passage, God showed what is at stake when we choose life. Choosing life will give us life. Choosing life means loving God, doing what is good and following His commandments, which is the whole duty of every man.
What will be the consequences if man chooses death instead of life? This is the same as the question, what will happen if man did not follow the purpose of his existence?
Pro 1:24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
Pro 1:25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
Pro 1:26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
Pro 1:27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Pro 1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
Pro 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
Pro 1:30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
Pro 1:31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
The Bible said that God called upon us all. His calling means we must seek Him and obey His commandments. But many men did not seek to hear His calling and have chosen a different path. No wonder God said that when these people call upon Him, He will not answer because these people did not choose the fear of the Lord. Sufferings in this life are many, not only because these things are part of lives. But many sufferings in this life are result of wrong choices made by many men.
Upon judgment day, we will be judged according to the choices we have made in our lives. If we made wrong choices we will suffer the consequences. Paul said that men chose to become wicked and as a consequence, their actions are worthy of DEATH.
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
It is up for us now to choose anything we want, but remember the consequences of our actions.
Ecc 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
Ecc 11:10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.
