INTRODUCTION

Chapter 6 of Biblical Doctrine covers Man and Sin. During this Fall season we are covering only a portion of Man (83 pages), about 10%!

Last time we introduced our study and briefly looked at the reality that Man is Created in the Image of God. Gen. 1:27 testifies –

27 And God created man in His own image,
in the image of God He created him;
male and female He created them.

“Image” if you recall, carries the idea of representation and thus man operates as God’s representatives and mediators on earth, placed by God as a vice-regent over creation on God’s behalf.

What it emphasizes is the purpose of man, created to work, intended to be productive in his stay here on earth.

Today I want to continue to answer the question posed by the psalmist in Psalm 8:4 –

4 What is man that You remember him [ESV “mindful of him”],
And the son of man that You care for him?

What is man that the Creator of the universe, of the stars in the heavens would remember him, care for him?

God cares for him; The Heb. term פָּקַד (pā·qǎḏ) is sometimes translated “to visit.” God visits man and alters his destiny! God visited Sarah and altered her life forever (Gen. 18:14). In doing so, displayed concern for Sarah. The piercing question in that visit: “Is anything too difficult for Yahweh?”

No matter how frail and insignificant man may be, God intervenes and sets in motion the plan for his or her life.

Did you know that He has a purpose for your life? Jesus, in His high priestly prayer, prayed in John 17:3 –

3 “And this is eternal life, that they may know You,
the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Our objective in this life is to know God, the only true God and the way to know Him is to know Jesus Christ whom was sent into the world, not to judge the world, “but that the world might be saved through Him” (cf. Jn. 3:17). To know God is to have eternal life.

This the most wonderful privilege that can ever come to us, have eternal life. Do you possess eternal life?

Here we are discussing about man and I am reminded through the psalmists words, “what is man that you remember him, and the son of man that You care for him.” Is not amazing that God would send His only begotten Son, that “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (Jn. 3:16)? What is man?

Well, man is made in the image and likeness of God. Our response is that of praise, glory, and honor to our God.

CONTENT

For the remainder of our time I want to address second facet of man:

1. Man is Created in God’s Image
2. The Constitution of Man