(Another in a series of Topical Studies from the Bible) (By Daniel Aceituna) "So God created man in [H]is own image..." Genesis 1:27. Many have asked how can man be in God's image when God is sinless, but man is sinful? The answer is found in Genesis
Chapter 3 where the
Fall of man is described. His fall
resulted in him changing:
Today man is no longer born in God's image but in Adam's. We will
look at how man has changed before and
Not enough is known about the first
Adam. So we will look at the last
Adam, Jesus
Christ, (I Corinth. 15:45-47),
SIMILARITIES (Both can experience the following)
Similar in all ways except without sin Hebrews 4:15 Note: That these similarities are physical and
emotional. In fact Jesus had a
body (Matthew 26:12) and a
soul
DISIMILARITIES (What Jesus did, but man doesn't do)
All these things done with the proper motive of unconditional love toward God. (Mark 12:29-30) Note: That these dissimilarities are spiritual since the only way to relate to God is in the Spirit. (John 4:23- 24) We conclude that while Jesus and fallen man are similar in body and soul.
They are not similar in spiritual
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Fallen man is not constantly aware of God's existence, unless he uses his
five senses. To him God is
Jesus' awareness of God comes from having God's Spirit within. (Luke 4:1, 18) Man's lack of awareness comes from not having God's Spirit within. (I Corinthians 2:10-11)
JESUS' SPIRIT IS QUICKENED BY GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT. (ROM. 8:11) A HUMAN SPIRIT APART FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT IS DEAD FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES. (ROM. 8:16) [CHM Adaptation: bo = BODY; so = SOUL; SO = SON; FA = FATHER.] CONCLUSION: Fallen man is born spiritually dead in Adam's image.
Man needs a spiritual birth in order to know God.
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