What Is Man? - Lesson 3
By Jon Quinn
INSTRUCTIONS
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"When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and stars which
Thou hast ordained; What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son
of man, that Thou dost care for him?" (Psalm 8:3,4).
Good question! The psalmist pondered man's nature. Of what value is a human
being to God? When you compare a human being with the vastness and grandeur of
the universe it seems that man is somewhat insignificant. Why are we here? Where
are we headed?
People have been pondering such questions for centuries. Many skeptics have
tried in vain to find purpose in life apart from God and have always come up
with little or nothing. Tolstoy asked, "What is life for? To die?" Woody Allen,
with his characteristic wit, said, "Its not that I am afraid to die, I just
don't want to be there when it happens...".
Apart from answers that God gives us in His word, life seems futile. One man
wrote about his experience in trying to find fulfillment and peace apart from
God. Riches, pleasure and wisdom had brought him only shallow happiness that was
much too brief and unsatisfactory."So I hated life, for the work which had been
done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and
striving after the wind." This is from the pen of Solomon, one of the
wealthiest, highly educated and pampered men of history!
(Ecclesiastes 1:2) Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of
vanities; all is vanity.
(Ecclesiastes 1:14) I have seen all the works that are done under
the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
(Ecclesiastes 1:17) And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to
know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of
spirit.
(Ecclesiastes 2:1-2) I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will
prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is
vanity. 2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth
it?
(Ecclesiastes 2:10-11) And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept
not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in
all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. 11 Then I looked on all
the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to
do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit
under the sun.
(Ecclesiastes 2:17) Therefore I hated life; because the work that
is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of
spirit.
CREATED IN GOD'S IMAGE
Man was the last of earth's creatures that God
made. The Bible says that God created man and woman "IN HIS IMAGE". This means
that something in man was patterned after God. It was not his physical body for
God is spirit and has no physical form (compare John 4:24 with Luke 24:39).
(Luke 24:39) Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself:
handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me
have.
(John 4:24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must
worship him in spirit and in truth.
Rather, "image" refers to man's inner self; his spirit. God created man's body
from the dust of the earth and placed within the body a spirit which bears His
own image.
(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.
(Zechariah 12:1) The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel,
saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of
the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
(Acts 17:29) Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we
ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone,
graven by art and man's device.
(Hebrews 12:9) Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which
corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in
subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Therefore, man is like God in some respects. Man is capable of rational thought.
He has free will and is accountable for his actions. He is emotional and moral.
And like God, he enjoys making things that are good.
This also means that we cannot be truly complete apart from God. Though many
people estranged from God would claim to be happy and content, such claims
ignore the question "Why am I here?" and leave one abandoned in the hopeless
situation of: "You live and then you die". This certainly is not the best
philosophy of life available, is it?
(Psalms 52:1-7) Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man?
the goodness of God endureth continually. 2 Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like
a sharp razor, working deceitfully. 3 Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying
rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. 4 Thou lovest all devouring words, O
thou deceitful tongue. 5 God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take
thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the
land of the living. Selah. 6 The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall
laugh at him: 7 Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted
in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his
wickedness.
(Psalms 42:1-5) As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so
panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living
God: when shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my meat day
and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? 4 When I
remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the
multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and
praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. 5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him
for the help of his countenance.
OUR PURPOSE
Why do we exist? To lose sight of our reason for being leads
to despair. Are we really born only to die? The answer is NO!
God created man to fulfill a high and noble purpose. There can be no greater
dignity than to fulfill this purpose; to give God glory.
(Ecclesiastes 12:13) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of
man.
(Micah 6:8) He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what
doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk
humbly with thy God?
This purpose can be properly met only in God's Son. He promises to make our
lives abundant and successful, not in material wealth and possessions, but in
spirit and truth. Your God has a place for you in this life and in eternity!
(John 10:10) The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill,
and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it
more abundantly.
(Ephesians 1:3-6) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in
Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having
predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,
according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his
grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
(Ephesians 1:14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until
the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Children of God find confidence by...
relying on God's promises.
(Romans 4:20) He staggered not at the promise of God through
unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
honoring God
(Romans 1:21-23) 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. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they
became fools, 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.
praising God with one voice
(Romans 15:5-7) Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to
be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with
one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7
Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of
God.
and daily living lives which bring Him glory
(Matthew 5:16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see
your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
(1 Corinthians 10:30-31) For if I by grace be a partaker, why am
I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? 31 Whether therefore ye eat,
or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
This confidence brings strong assurances because the disciple of Christ knows
nothing can defeat him as long as he trusts and obeys Christ. Even death loses
its victory as far as the man or woman of God is concerned.
(1 Corinthians 15:55) O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is
thy victory?
SIN AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
Sin is transgression of God's law.
(1 John 3:4) Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law:
for sin is the transgression of the law.
It destroys one's relationship with God. This is why true contentment cannot be
found by one entrapped by sin. God refers to those who would deny the reality or
consequences of sin as deceivers and warns that one who makes a habit of sin is
not of God.
(1 John 3:7-10) Little children, let no man deceive you: he that
doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth
sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose
the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and
he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are
manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is
not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
The consequences of sin are tragic and include both physical and spiritual harm.
By continuing in sin God says that one hurts himself.
(Proverbs 8:36) But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own
soul: all they that hate me love death.
If one continues in sin he will ultimately lose everything in death.
(Proverbs 11:7) When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall
perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
Sin brings about eternal death which simply means eternal separation from God,
hope and all that is good.
(Romans 6:23) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sin keeps one out of God's kingdom as he reaps what he has sown.
(Galatians 5:19-21) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which
are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry,
witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell
you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things
shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
(Galatians 6:7-8) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for
whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his
flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall
of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
GOD STILL LOVES THE SINNER
God hates sin! But He also loves the sinner,
even those so wicked that you and I might find it difficult to love. Jesus said
that God's love is perfect, or complete. It is this love that is the basis of
our hope. We are important to God because we are His offspring. We must
understand that while our God is a God of love, He is also completely righteous.
Therefore, He cannot simply ignore our sins, but instead has acted in our behalf
to deal with them. That is why the message of the gospel is referred to as "GOOD
NEWS".
(John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
We will deal with redemption more fully in future lessons. For now, recognize
that God has dealt with us in a compassionate manner and invites us to choose,
of our own free will, to come to Him. This offer has been extended for our own
well-being and has cost Him dearly. No higher price has ever been paid than that
which was paid for our sins so that we might be saved. But again, it is our
choice to either accept God's gift or reject it. Let none who reject it say that
the reason that they are lost is that God does not love us enough. God, by His
merciful action, has already laid that lie to rest!
(John 15:13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down
his life for his friends.
(Acts 20:28) Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the
flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church
of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
(1 Corinthians 6:20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore
glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
CONCLUSION
We have been placed here for a purpose. Life's biggest
tragedy is to fail in that purpose because to do so is to fail both God and
ourselves. On the other hand, there can be no better victory than that which
faith brings to its possessor.
(Revelation 21:3-5) And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying,
Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they
shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And
God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former
things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make
all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and
faithful.
LESSON #4 is entitled "FOCUSING ON JESUS". We will consider how Jesus fulfilled
centuries old prophecies about the coming of the Messiah, and some of the
amazing claims which He made concerning Himself. We will see that He deserves
our trust.
QUESTIONS FOR LESSON THREE