Introduction

On the sixth day of creation,

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness....27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Mankind was the crowning act of God’s creation. Adam was given the perfect place to live according to God’s purpose. However, something was missing in his life. God had already made the assessment that “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Gen. 2:18), but Adam had not come to that realization. Thus, God had Adam to name all the animals. When Adam finished giving names to the animals, he also realized that “there was not found an help meet for him” (Gen. 2:19-20). God, therefore, created the woman from the side of man and instituted a special relationship, marriage, where intimate companionship could be shared (Gen. 2:24).
Man and woman are equal by nature. Both are created in the image of God; both are of the same nature. Yes, the man and woman are given different roles instrumentally (cf. Eph. 5:21-33; 1 Tim. 2:8-15), but intrinsically, they are equal.
Note the terminology used by the Bible in describing the man and the woman.

This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; 2Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name

Adam, in the day when they were created. (Gen. 5:1-2)

The phrase, “and called their name Adam” is also translated, “and called them Mankind” (NKJ); “and named them Man” (NAS). The point is that both male and female can be referred to as “man,” because both are of the same nature. Thus, the title of this book, Do You Understand the Biblical View of Man?, does not just apply to males, but to all humanity.

The Biblical view of mankind shows us that as image bearers of God, our purpose is to glorify God (cf. Isa. 43:7). Sin, however, renders this impossible, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Since God is “of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity” (Hab. 1:13), mankind needs a Savior and a mediator. Thanks be to God that he has supplied us with both of these, in the one person of Jesus Christ!

The Biblical view of mankind shows us that we are composed of body, soul, and spirit (1 Thes. 5:23), or, simply put, the “inward man” and the “outward man” (cf. Eph. 3:16). The Bible teaches that the “outward man” perishes, but the “inward man” continues to live (2 Cor. 4:16-5:1). At death, the “outward man” returns to the dust from which it was made, but the “inward man” returns back to God who gave it (Gen. 3:19; Eccl. 12:7). However, on Judgment Day, each person’s body will be reunited with his or her spirit/soul in resurrection to stand before God in judgment (Mt. 25:31-33; Jn. 5:28-29; Rev. 20:11-15). At this time,

The dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (1 Cor. 15:52-53)

In order for the resurrection to be a victory, men and women must understand their nature and their God-given responsibilities. They must know how to confront the world and overcome it. They must know the relationships they sustain with God, one another, and earthly institutions. Under-standing these truths is why this lectureship and book exist.

The majority of this book contains the manuscripts of the sermons that were delivered January 21-24, 2008. The first section deals with human nature and responsibility. The second section forewarns the confrontation mankind faces from the world. The third section considers the relationships humans have with one another upon this earth. The fourth section contains our afternoon forums. The remaining section is an appendix that contains articles that were not presented orally at the lectureship but relate to our under-standing of the Biblical view of mankind.

Our prayer is that this book will help each reader to better understand the Biblical view of mankind, and that this understanding will help each of us to better serve God and be more effective in bringing others to Him. We are pleased to present this lectureship book. May its pages help us to better understand and appreciate The Book!

Brian R. Kenyon, editor