The origin of man as well as the reasons for his present condition are of great importance to all of us, for what exists today is the outcome of what went before. Like so many other things, there is generally a lot of misconception and misunderstanding surrounding this subject. Some believe this and some believe that concerning these things. Although we live in an age of science, there are many people, philosophies and religions that believe that spirituality and meaning can be found either in the world, in themselves or in or through some other source other than what God has revealed in the Bible. Rather than explore all the various concepts and opinions on this subject, we will follow our earlier method and seek to find what the Bible says on these matters.
We have already touched on this subject when we considered the words of God that preceded the creation of man. Unfortunately, this was not the end of the matter. From the record of Genesis chapter three we read of man’s original disobedience and the consequences of his choices and actions.
Paul says that all mankind are sinners, and as such have fallen short of the glory God (Rom.3:23). God originally intended to make man to be like himself - in thinking and behaviour, however men now naturally default to serve their own selfish desires and seek to achieve their own purposes. Unfortunately these are often contrary to God’s intended purpose for man, but they are often encouraged and promoted by a world given over to sin.
We are told that as a consequence of man’s original rebellion, God sentenced him to die. The outcome of this sentence is that humanity are mortal, which basically means that we will all inevitably die. We are also told that death is our natural condition, the outworking of a natural law that we share in common with all the lesser creatures, for “as one dies, so dies the other” (Eccl.3:18-20). In death there is no existence or consciousness (Eccl.9:3-6). Death is what it is, the cessation of existence for man and animals alike. Unfortunately, this simple fact has been resisted by mankind since the beginning, and as a consequence there are numerous theories and beliefs found in all the various religions of the ancient and modern world.
However, the Bible does tell us that death is not the end of the matter, for death itself is contrary to God’s originally declared purpose. For this reason God has offered life on the basis of understanding and knowing Him, for this knowledge can produce saving faith. Importantly, this has always been the basis upon which God has accepted mankind (Prov.3:13-18, John.17:3). Today, the outworking of this promised life begins when we understand and align ourselves with God’s work in the Lord Jesus Christ, and when we confirm this by faith in God and by baptism into Christ (Mk.16:15-16, Acts.8:12).
How and why does this work? The answer to this is simple and yet quite profound. For it is by this means alone that God is prepared to account us as dead to sin, and then as born again to a new type of life. These ideas are more fully explained in the NT as a consequence of being ‘in Christ’. Once we are in Christ, we are now called upon to ‘walk in newness of life’ (Rom.6:1-11, 1.Pet.1:23, 1.Jn.2:29).
However, although this ‘newness of life’ is to be manifested now in our behaviour (ie. How we think, speak and act), eternal life will not be fully realised until that future day that has been promised by God. That is the day promised when Jesus returns to the earth to raise the dead and give eternal life to those who believe and love the things of God (2.Tim.4:1, 8). These things are part and parcel of God’s revelation of His greater purpose with man and with the earth.
We have already touched on this subject when we considered the words of God that preceded the creation of man. Unfortunately, this was not the end of the matter. From the record of Genesis chapter three we read of man’s original disobedience and the consequences of his choices and actions.
Paul says that all mankind are sinners, and as such have fallen short of the glory God (Rom.3:23). God originally intended to make man to be like himself - in thinking and behaviour, however men now naturally default to serve their own selfish desires and seek to achieve their own purposes. Unfortunately these are often contrary to God’s intended purpose for man, but they are often encouraged and promoted by a world given over to sin.
We are told that as a consequence of man’s original rebellion, God sentenced him to die. The outcome of this sentence is that humanity are mortal, which basically means that we will all inevitably die. We are also told that death is our natural condition, the outworking of a natural law that we share in common with all the lesser creatures, for “as one dies, so dies the other” (Eccl.3:18-20). In death there is no existence or consciousness (Eccl.9:3-6). Death is what it is, the cessation of existence for man and animals alike. Unfortunately, this simple fact has been resisted by mankind since the beginning, and as a consequence there are numerous theories and beliefs found in all the various religions of the ancient and modern world.
However, the Bible does tell us that death is not the end of the matter, for death itself is contrary to God’s originally declared purpose. For this reason God has offered life on the basis of understanding and knowing Him, for this knowledge can produce saving faith. Importantly, this has always been the basis upon which God has accepted mankind (Prov.3:13-18, John.17:3). Today, the outworking of this promised life begins when we understand and align ourselves with God’s work in the Lord Jesus Christ, and when we confirm this by faith in God and by baptism into Christ (Mk.16:15-16, Acts.8:12).
How and why does this work? The answer to this is simple and yet quite profound. For it is by this means alone that God is prepared to account us as dead to sin, and then as born again to a new type of life. These ideas are more fully explained in the NT as a consequence of being ‘in Christ’. Once we are in Christ, we are now called upon to ‘walk in newness of life’ (Rom.6:1-11, 1.Pet.1:23, 1.Jn.2:29).
However, although this ‘newness of life’ is to be manifested now in our behaviour (ie. How we think, speak and act), eternal life will not be fully realised until that future day that has been promised by God. That is the day promised when Jesus returns to the earth to raise the dead and give eternal life to those who believe and love the things of God (2.Tim.4:1, 8). These things are part and parcel of God’s revelation of His greater purpose with man and with the earth.
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