The Doctrine of Man

Part 1 The Creation of Man

Why “Man?”• God used the term

– Gen. 1:27– Gen. 5:1-2

This is the same term that sometimes applies to man in distinction from woman– Gen. 2:22

• Theological implications– Suggestion of male leadership and family

headship from the very creation of man

Why Was Man Created?

• God was lonely– NOT

• God needed help– NO

• God wanted to show his glory in a way not available before creating man– Isa. 43:7

What is Man’s Purpose in Life?

• “To be self-actualized”– NO

• “To do it my way”– NOT

• To reflect God’s glory in the world– Gen. 1:27– Rom 8:17-18– 1 Cor. 10:31– Eph. 1:11-14

What is “the image of God?”Man is like GodMan represents God• Isa. 40:18• Gen. 1:26-27• Gen. 5:3• Gen. 9:6• Deut. 4:16• Col. 1:15• Col. 3:9-10

In what ways are we like God?

• Refer to the Communicable Attributes of God

• Language• Value-formation

– Culture– Worship

• Emotions– Different than “feelings”

In what ways are we like God?

• Relational ability– Aloneness is not our permanent state– Self-identification through relationships

• Marriage• Filial relationships• Sibling relationships• Friendships• Group Memberships

In what ways are we like God?

• Dominion: Gen. 1:28– Responsible stewardship– Profitable use of resources– God-glorifying outcomes

What happened to imago Dei when man fell?

• Loss of true freedom– Eccl. 7:29

• Loss of intellectual soundness– 2 Cor. 4:4

• Retained enough likeness for accountability– James 3:9– Gen. 9:5-7

What happened to imago Dei when man fell?

• Loss of innocence: The Romans Road

• 3:10• 3:23• 6:23• 5:8• 5:10• 10:9• 10:10• 10:13• 10:11

Recovery of imago Dei!

• Col. 3:10 (see Col. 3:5)

• 2 Cor. 3:18– Image as a verb

• Rom. 12:2

• Eph. 4:22 – 5:2– The put-off/put-on dynamic

Restoration of imago Dei!!!!

• 1 Cor. 15:49

• Rom. 8:29

• 1 John 3:2

Part 2: Man as Male and Female

Gender Creation Shows God’s Image

1. In harmonious relationships between persons

2. In the equality in personhood and in importance

3. In the difference in role and in authority

Harmony between persons

• Gen. 1:26• Gen. 2:24• Matt. 19:6• Eph. 5:23-32

The challenge and the promise of sharing love, communication and honor drives humans powerfully

Males and Females: Equal in Personhood and in

Importance• Gen. 5:1-2

• Gal. 3:27-28

• Acts 2:17-18

• Romans 3:23• One way we don’t image God

Differences in Role and in Authority

• Leadership in the Trinity: The Father• Initiating action: Gen. 1:1-2, John 1:1-3,

Luke 22:42, Phil. 2:6-8, Acts 1:8

• Male Headship in Marriage• 1 Cor. 11:3

Differences in Role and in Authority

• Part of God’s perfect plan• Adam created first, then Eve• Eve created as a helper for Adam• Adam named Eve• God named the human race “Adam”• Adam was spoken to first• Serpent tries to undermine Adam’s headship• Adam represents the race• Curse distorts roles• Redemption restores

Submission One to Another

• Is it mutual? – Yes, in one way– No, in another

• Submission in Eph. 5:21-33– To an authority– Non-reversible

• There IS a hierarchy

Part 3: The Self-Image

• Three kinds of relationships based upon a fourth kind1. To God

2. To other humans

3. To nature

4. To one’s self

Part 3: The Self-Image

• Why not “self-esteem?”• Why “self-image?”• Adam & Eve had good reasons for positive

self-images– Before the Fall– Gen. 2:25

What Happened?

• Gen. 3:5-6• 1 John 2:16• Rom. 12:3

What Happened?

• The first kind of perversion: Exaltation • The second kind of perversion:

Degradation• The Restoration of Self-Image is the

precondition for Ethics