What is man that God is mindful of him?
Chapter 1
"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" Psalms 8:4. This is the question that David the psalmist asked and is eventually the question that everyone who seriously ponders the salvation message asks. Who am I that God would care about me much less love me enough to send his son to die for me? Let us look at this enigma and some of the others questions that arise when we ask "what is man".
The bible says that salvation is a gift from God to man. Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast". The only condition on us to receive it is that we accept it in the form it is given. After all if someone gave you a gift would you put conditions on what it should be or how it should be wrapped? Of course not it is out of your control. It is by God’s faith and his grace we are saved. Our salvation was accomplished by God exercising his faith and sending his son to die on the cross as full payment for our sins. All we have to do is receive it in the form of his son. John 1:12, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name".
There seems to be a diverse number of teachings about salvation among the many denominations of Christianity. Some say "you can loose your salvation", others say that God can take it back or you can give it back. Some believe the devil can steal it from us. And the winds of doctrine keep blowing.
Are those who have received salvation free indeed? Or are they still in bondage to "the law of sin and death"?
Many teach that salvation can be lost through the commission of sin. While others say "once saved always saved." And yet others say that some sins are forgivable and some are not. And all of them claim that scripture supports their positions. 2 Timothy 2:15, says "Study …rightly dividing the word of truth." Without study we cannot correctly discern the scriptures. Does this mean that if we don’t study that the scriptures can be incorrectly interpreted? Logic and the fact that there are a lot of conflicting opinions prove it. The bible says in 2 Timothy 2:23, "But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes." And this is the root of arguments on these and other doctrines among the denominations. The answer to all these questions and more lay in our understanding of who and what we really are.
The bible paints a picture of mankind as being created in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:26). We also know from scripture that God is a triune being; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Man likewise is a triune being; 1 Thes. 5:23 …spirit, soul and body. Also the scriptures address salvation of these three differently. Lets look at how obviously different salvation is applied to the triune natures of man.
Salvation as it pertains to the body.
1 Corinthians 15:50-52, "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
The salvation of the body takes place at the resurrection, at Christ’s return. Our body is something we possess yet to be redeemed. It is not an eternal vessel and not who we are. The body is physical and it will be replaced ("changed") by a heavenly body reserved for us.
2 Corinthians 5:1, "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
Philippians 3:21, "Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."
1 Corinthians 15:40-44, "There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body."
The other two parts of man are not physical, they are metaphysical or spiritual. They exist in an unseen realm and reside with the body. It is in this relationship that most of the confusion lays. The soul and the spirit are in some ways very similar and at times overlap slightly. As they relate to salvation though they are very differently addressed by the scriptures.
At this point I would like to interject a thought so as to have us prepared to understand a major problem that exists in the minds of many believers. I know from personal experience and the testimonies of many I have spoken to that people have a tendency to doubt their salvation. They make a profession of faith and believe in their salvation until one day that they are confronted by the fact that they are still sinning or have just sinned again. They then doubt that either they are still saved or that they never were saved. The reason for this is that they don’t understand the difference between the soul and spirit. Let us look at what the bible says.
The salvation of the spirit
All the scriptures that pertain to that instant salvation that comes by believing in Christ and receiving him as our Savior, that gift of salvation from God , refers to the salvation of our spirit man. Our spirit man is who we really are. It is the part of us that will never die, our eternal spirit.
All of us who claim that we are "saved" or "born again" are referring to this miracle of our spiritual rebirth.
The bible says that we all were dead spiritually and are brought to life in this rebirth.
Ephesians 2:1, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;"
Ephesians 2:5, "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)"
Colossians 2:13, "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;"
The bible says that when we are "born again", we are cleansed from all our sins.
Hebrews 8:12, "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."
1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
1 John 3:5, "And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin."
Romans 8:2, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
If we are free indeed can this salvation of the spirit be reversed or can we loose it?
Romans 11:29, "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance."
1 John 3:9, "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."
Acts 20:28, "….. the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."
1 Corinthians 6:19, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"
The salvation of the spirit is instantaneous and irreversible. The spirit becomes one with the spirit of Christ. We are hidden in him, safe and eternal. Our old dead spirit is quickened and joined with Christ’s spirit and the two become one new man.
Ephesians 2:15-16, "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby"
Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Acts 17:28, "For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring."
2 Corinthians 5:21, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
Philippians 3:9, "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:"
Colossians 2:10, "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:"
1 John 2:5, "But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him."
1 John 3:9, "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."
1 John 4:13, "Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit."
1 John 5:20, "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life."
1 Corinthians 1:30, "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"
2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Galatians 3:28, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."
Galatians 6:15, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature."
Ephesians 2:6, "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:"
Ephesians 2:10, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
Ephesians 2:13, "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."
This leaves us with the part of us that confuses us the most, the soul.
The salvation of the soul
The soul or psuche {psoo-khay'} in the Strongs Concordance is defined as the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.) The dictionary and the scriptures portray it as the mind, the will and the emotions. It is the part of us that thinks and plans and the bible says has to be renewed or reprogrammed.
Romans 8:5-7, "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."
The carnal mind is not subject to the law of God. It cannot be bargained with therefore, it must be replaced by something that is, the mind of Christ.
James 1:21, "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls."
Romans 12:2, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
2 Corinthians 10:3-6, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"
Philippians 2:12, "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."
The soul’s salvation is a process that takes a lifetime. Whenever we struggle with the temptations of the carnal mind: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life we must remember. The only weapon we have is the word of God, the truth. As long as we know and understand that we are saved and that Christ is "in you the hope of glory". We have the power to change and to overcome.
1 John 3:2-4, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
What is man? Now that we know a little about the man (or woman) we are and that at least one part of us is immortal, we need to look at who man was before the fall to really answer the question that David the psalmist asked. I stumbled upon a key to this in a non-canonized manuscript called the "Gospel of Bartholomew". In this manuscript Bartholomew has the opportunity, in Christ’s presence, to interrogate Satan himself. It is during this session that Satan explains the root of the problem he has with man and with God. Satan’s story goes that Michael the Archangel came to him one day to inform him that God had just created man and that man is the image and likeness of God. The fact that man is in the image and likeness of God demands that all angels must now worship man and Michael tells him he must now do so. Of coarse, Satan feels insulted by what he is asked to do and refuses to worship man and basically declares war against God’s new creation. Is it possible that man was so unique and so much like God that that alone demanded that he should be worshiped by the angels? If we were to believe the "Gospel of Bartholomew" we would have to say yes. Of course most scholars would remind us that this "gospel" was not included in canonized version of scriptures. Nevertheless in this book of Bartholomew is referring to a time immediately after man’s creation and before the fall. How far did Adam fall? It is not until we see Christ appear on the scene that angels worship a man, the second Adam according to the canonized scriptures. Although the Bible doesn’t command angels to worship man specifically, it wasn’t written for angels. The Bible does say we are "joint heirs" with Christ and "sons of God" and after all in Hebrews 1:14 it says about angels; "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"
Most all of us know that in Genesis it states that God created man in his image and likeness but somehow we think that this is some sort of token attribute that God in his benevolence bestowed us with. The truth is God wants children. He specifically wants an heir, someone who he can give his name to. God may be a jealous God but he is not selfish. "A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children..." (Proverbs 13:22) God’s desire to have sons (children) is stated throughout the Bible.
Romans 8:17, "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
Ephesians 5:1, "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;"
Luke 3:38, "Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God."
When Christ tells the story of the prodigal son this particular story reveals much more about who we really are than how forgiving God is. At the end of the story the son returns home to his father ashamed of what he has become and repentant of his transgressions and is humble as a servant. To his surprise his father embraces him and then proceeds to put on him his coat and ring. The coat and ring signifies the authority and place in the family. It is the authority of the head of the family. The father bestows upon his son everything he (the father) is. This is the picture that Christ paints of us that God the Father wants to restore us to who we were before sin entered the world. He wants us to have our rightful place in his creation.
Ephesians 2:4-7, "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."
Luke 12:32, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
Chapter 2
The Man in the Mirror.
Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of them all?
In the fairy tale the wicked witch consulted her enchanted mirror to reaffirm that she was the most beautiful woman of them all. The mirror was a possession of hers (probably ill gained), nevertheless it was unique in that it could only tell the truth. Of course this is just a fairy tale and no such mirror could possibly exist or could it?
1 Corinthians 13:12, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."
2 Corinthians 3:17-18, "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
The Strong’s Concordance defines the word "glass" in these scriptures as:
2072 esoptron {es'-op-tron} AV - glass 2; 2
1) a mirror
1a) the mirrors of the ancients were made, not of glass, but steel
What we are dealing with here is a concept of looking into a mirror that has the power to not only tell us the truth but to transform us into that truth. There are natural mirrors and there are supernatural mirrors. If we look into a natural mirror all we see is the natural man. But if we look into God’s mirror we see what God sees and the natural man is transformed. For those of us that are already Christians it is not hard to remember how that moment that we received Christ has changed our lives. And for most of us that was only a momentary glimpse into God’s mirror.
James 1:22-25, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."
What is the perfect law of liberty?
The perfect law of liberty is that if we are in Christ we are dead to ourselves and we are free from the law of sin and death. There is nothing that can stop us from fulfilling God’s plan in our lives except ourselves.
1 John 3:7, "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous."
Galatians 5:1, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
2 Corinthians 4:3-4, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them"
You cannot be what your not, but you can become what you are not. If you are poor you cannot be rich but you can become rich. If you’re a sinner you are not righteous but you can become righteous. But no one becomes someone great by mistake. They become great because they purpose it.
God teaches us not to see ourselves in our own mirror but to see ourselves in his mirror. For those who have received Christ as their savior, Christ becomes Gods mirror to them. God wants us to look in the mirror and see what he knows us to be, his sons. It is this vision of ourselves that helps transform us.
1 Corinthians 13:12, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."
At first it is hard for us to see that we are the righteousness of God in Christ.
But, Christ died for us to have that honor. Christ died for us to have the opportunity to be like him and share with him the riches of his glory.
Romans 3:21-22, "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:"
2 Corinthians 5:21, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
When we look in the mirror we see ourselves and it is hard to see Christ. The better we get at seeing Christ in the mirror the easier it is to conform to that image. Here is how it works. We’re going along and all of a sudden we are confronted with a problem that seems impossible. Instead of seeing ourselves as "under the circumstances" we look into God’s mirror and we see a son of God, and we understand that we are above and not beneath, that we are "more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8:37) that we "can do all things" (Philippians 4:13) because Christ is in us and us in him.
God wants us to have a clear vision of who we are in Christ. When God looks at a believer he doesn’t see a sinner saved by grace, he sees his son.
Romans 8:15-17, "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
God’s success plan
1.A clear picture of what you want to become. The image of Christ
2.A plan of action – The perfect law of liberty
John 8:36, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."
Romans 6:14, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."
Mark 13:34, "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch."
3.Commitment to your plan – The power of God unto righteousness.
Romans 1:16-17, "…. The just shall live by faith" James 2:17, "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."
"What is man, that thou art mindful of him" Psalms 8:4
There are some other aspects of the answer to this question of questions.
Again if we go back to the Garden of Eden we will see a true picture of who we are, who God created us to be before sin entered in.
Genesis 1:26-28, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."
Mt 16:19 "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven".
This is a statement that you have dominion.
07287 radah {raw-daw'}a primitive root;
AV - rule 13, dominion 9, take 2, prevaileth 1, reign 1, ruler 1; 27
1) to rule, have dominion, dominate, tread down
1a) (Qal) to have dominion, rule, subjugate
1b) (Hiphil) to cause to dominate
Ps 103:22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.
Implies there are places that God does not have dominion
John 5:26-27 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man (444).
Man
444 anthropos {anth'-ro-pos} from 435 and ops (the countenance, from 3700); man-faced, i.e. a human being; AV - man 552, not trans.4, misc. 3; 559
1) a human being, whether male or female
1a) generically, to include all human individuals
Jesus had to come as a man because only man has dominion in the Earth. With this dominion he had the legal right to undo what Adam did.
Dominion requires free will for it to be exercised fully.
To exercise free will one must first be free in deed. As long as one is in bondage to sin or the fear of death no matter what his authority might be he can not exercise it. It is like a king that has been taken into captivity, even thou he is a king he cannot exercise his kingly authority. But when he is free and he returns to the place of his dominion his authority is honored. Man was given authority (dominion) in the garden. God never rescinded that authority but Satan stepped in and brought man into captivity through sin. God warned Adam that if he partook of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he would surely die. When Adam transgressed he was brought into bondage of sin and the fear of death. Adam hid from God out of this fear.
Genesis 3:8-10, "And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself."
Romans 8:14-16, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:"
Hebrews 2:14-16, "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham."
Romans 5:12-18, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life."
Romans 8:2, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
Through Christ man has been set free to fulfil his intended role. Man was created for a higher purpose and calling.
Chapter 3
What was God’s purpose in creating Man
Genesis 1:26, "And God said, Let us make man (#120 ADAM) in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."
Genesis 1:27, "So God created man (#120 ADAM) in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."
Genesis 2:7, "And the LORD God formed man (#120 ADAM) of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."
Children by nature are the expressed image of their parents. Both the first Adam and the last Adam (Christ) are the expressed image of their parent, God the Father. It was God’s desire to have an offspring, his need to fellowship with someone like himself that brought about the creation of man.
In order for this propagation to truly represent himself God used part of himself to accomplish it. The name "Adam" literally means "God’s blood".
1 Corinthians 15:45, "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit."
0120 'adam {aw-dawm'} from 0119; TWOT - 25a; n m
AV - man 408, men 121, Adam 13; 552
1) man, mankind
1a) man, human being
1b) man, mankind (much more frequently intended sense in OT)
1c) Adam, first man
1d) city in Jordan valley
01818 dam {dawm} from 01826 (compare 0119); AV - blood 342, bloody 15, misc. 4 ; 361
The prefix "a" as in "adonai" meaning Lord, "ab" meaning father, "y" or ‘ya" as in Yahova and "el" as in "'elohiym are all prefixes belonging to God.
John 8:42, "Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me."
John 16:27-28, "For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father."
When Adam was created the scriptures said that God imparted his spirit (breath) into his nostrils. Christ said that he "came out" from the Father. Why do the scriptures portray them both as Adams; both as "God’s blood"? Isn’t this the similarity between the two of them that make them unique. Whatever it is, it is this characteristic that we are encouraged to adopt or be adopted into.
The key to this is in this scripture.. John 1:12-14, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power (Strong’s #1849: authority, permission) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth."
It is that Adam and Christ were both born of God. If you are born of the father are you not the son? And if not a natural birth then a spiritual one and also a legal one.
Galatians 4:4-7, "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."
1 John 3:9, "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."
1 John 4:7, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."
1 John 5:4, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."
1 John 5:18, "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not."
John 3:7-6, "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
The heart of the Father
The "heart of the Father" has always been to have sons. The greatest vision God could give Abraham was his own vision. God described his own dream to Abraham. We know this by the apostle Paul’s writings when he explains the word "seed" that God uses when talking to Abraham (Galatians 3:16). God "sells" the dream to Abraham knowing that Abraham also longs for a son. Is this why God choose Abraham of all those of the lineage of Seth in the first place? The Bible describes David as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). God saw David "as a son", which is the heart of God. Likewise Abraham’s desire to have a son was like (after) God’s own heart.
Acts 13:22, "… and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will."
Galatians 3:16, "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ."
The entire Bible is filled with the lineage of the sons of God, through which his seed could be manifest.
Genesis 5:1-3, "This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:"
Genesis 4:25-26, "And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed (2233) instead (8478) of Abel, whom Cain slew. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD."
02233 zera` {zeh'-rah} from 02232; AV - seed 221, child 2, misc. 3; 229
1) seed, sowing, offspring
1a) a sowing
1b) seed
1c) semen virile
1d) offspring, descendants, posterity, children
1e) of moral quality
1e1) a practitioner of righteousness (fig.)
1f) sowing time (by meton)
08478 tachath {takh'-ath} from the same as 08430; AV - instead, under, for, as, with, from, flat, in the same place; 24
1) the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of,flat, unto, where, whereas
1e) instead of, instead of that
1f) in return for that, because that in compounds
1g) in, under, into the place of (after verbs of motion)
Genesis 5:22, "And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:"
Genesis 6:9, "These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God."
Is God not our Father as Christ taught?
Matthew 7:11, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"
Matthew 6:9, "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name."
Luke 11:13, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"
Is this relationship with God not a real, intimate and personal one? Is God our father in concept only? Are we really his sons?
Hebrews 8:10-11, "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest."
In conclusion
I heard these statements the other day and I thought it very appropriate to this study.
"Success without a successor is failure" Rev. Myles Monroe
"Unless I duplicate myself, all I have accomplished ends with me" Pastor Eric Wright
Matthew 5:5-9, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children (sons) of God"
Proverbs 13:22, "A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children:.."
I believe that God’s love toward man is not out of some need for him to pity a lower form of life that he feels responsible for having brought into existence. On the contrary, man was brought into existence to fulfill his love. In the Garden of Eden after God had created heaven and Earth and all the animals he was compelled by this great need to bring out of himself a progeny, man. God then gave these beings something that was uniquely his, something that was not given to any other, dominion. Like a loving father builds a successful business and proudly gives it to his son, he gave man the Earth and made the heavens subject to him.