WHAT IS WRONG WITH MAN?
(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:
"And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image;" Genesis 5:3.

Today man is no longer born in God's image but in Adam's.   We will look at how man has changed before and
after the Fall.

Not enough is known about the first Adam.   So we will look at the last Adam, Jesus Christ, (I Corinth. 15:45-47),
as an example of a man existing in God's image (Colossians 1:1:15-17) we will compare the Humanity of Jesus
Christ with fallen man to determine how man has changed.

SIMILARITIES (Both can experience the following)
Fatigue (John 4:6)
Hunger (Matthew 21:18)
Pain (Luke 22:44)
Anger (Mark 3:5; Matthew 21:13)
Compassionate (Matthew 20:34; Mark 1:41)
Loving (John 13:1)
Sleep (Matthew 8:24)
Thirst (John 4:7)
Sorrow (Matthew 26:37)
Weeping (John 11:35; Luke 19:41)
Patient (Matthew 27:11-14)

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
          (Matthew 26:38).

DISIMILARITIES (What Jesus did, but man doesn't do)
Always served God (Matthew 6:24)
Always Fellowships with God (John 5:29)
Always communicates with God (John 11:41-42)
Always in accord with God (John 17:20-22)
Always obeys God (Matthew 26:39)
Always understood God (Matthew 11:25-27)
Always believed God (John 17:7-8)
Always trusts God (Matthew 27:42-43)
Always Testifies of God (John 8:26)
Always Glorified God (John 17:4)

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
matters.   Jesus was constantly aware of God's existence without need of His five physical senses.   To Him God
was as real as someone standing next to Him. (Luke 2:49; John 17:3-4)

Fallen man is not constantly aware of God's existence, unless he uses his five senses.   To him God is
not real unless proven beyond a shadow of a doubt. (Mark 8:11-12; John 4:48; John 3:1-3; John 20:25-29)

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)

SIMILARITIES AND DISSIMILARITIES

(bo(so(*)__)__)

FALLEN MAN
SPIRITUALLY DEAD
IN ADAM'S IMAGE
[ * = no spiritual connection
to GOD or JESUS ]

GOD (TRIUNE, I JOHN 5:7)

(__(__(H. S.)FA)SO)
[ H. S. = HOLY SPIRIT
connection ]

I CORN. 6:17-20
I JOHN 17:21
(__(__(H. S.)bo)so)

JESUS

NON-FALLEN MAN : TRIUNE (I THESS. 5:23)
AND IN GOD'S IMAGE
    WHILE BOTH JESUS AND FALLEN MAN HAVE HUMAN SPIRITS,
    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.
                            (Romans 8:5-10; I Corinthians 15:44-50)

Man needs a spiritual birth in order to know God.
(John 3:1-7; I John 4:7; John 17:8; I Corinthians 2:12-16; Ephesians 2:1- 10; Romans 8:14-15)

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