“Basic Baptist Doctrine, Lesson 9”
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Bethel MBC Basic Baptist Doctrine April 2, 2008 Lesson 9; modified from a lesson by: Elder Aaron Hood 11/15/01 “Man” I. Purpose 
The purpose of this lesson is to review the subject of man (mankind), referring to the entire human race. We will endeavor to briefly touch upon the creation of man, his original state, the fall from the Law and its results, man’s present state, the necessity of a Savior and man’s future state.
II. Introduction
MAN (definition) – “man; mankind; people; someone (indefinite); Adam (the first man).” This noun is related to the verb adom “to be red,” (ruddy) and therefore possibly relates to the original ruddiness of human skin (?). The noun connotes “man” as the creature created in God’s image, the crown of all creation. In its first appearance, Adam is used for mankind, or generic man:
Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
What is meant by “in our image” is most likely the sense that God is referring to the soul of man. This soul, or immortal portion of man, is what differentiated mankind from all the other creation. It also could refer to the fact that Adam was created in a completely holy state. It is certain that God was not referring to man’s physical being as God is a spirit and we are flesh.
Dust to Dust
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
After death, our bodies return to the dust from which God formed the first man. The soul that God gives us is separated from the body and returns to God who gave it.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
III. Man’s Original State
Genesis 1:26-31
26And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. 31And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
From the outset, man occupied an exalted position over the rest of the earth. God stated that the creation of man was “very good” in comparison to His divine proclamation that the previously created items were “good”.
Man was able to enjoy perfect communion and fellowship with God as well. God extended unto man one law and Adam (Eve) were free moral agents…choosing to obey God and thus glorifying Him. Man was given the ability to obey (glorify God) or to disobey (sin).
IV. The Fall and Its Results
Man broke God’s one commandment for them and thus brought sin into the world of humanity. The Scriptures teach us that it was via this one sin that sin and death entered into the world. Although not His choice, God had foreseen this tragedy and established a way for mankind to be bought back (redeemed) BEFORE the foundation of the world.
What if Adam had not sinned? Well, then you or I would have. Each of us must realize that it is not Adam’s sin for which we must repent, but our own.
What did the “Fall” refer to? Man’s fall from his righteous state before God; the destruction of the perfect communion which man and God had enjoyed from the creation. Adam’s sin has led to the entire human race being born in a depraved (destitute) state.
V. The Current State of Man
Romans 5:12
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned
Man is no longer a free MORAL agent (evil by default), but continues to have a free will in that he chooses his actions. Presently, all men are born into this world as sinners by nature, as well as by choice. The Bible even tells us that we naturally get worse and worse over time if left to our own devices; see the Flood and final destruction of this world.
Other scripture which describe our present state in this world:
Psalm 51:5
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Job 14:1
Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble
Isaiah 64:6
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Romans 3:9-23
9What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17And the way of peace have they not known: 18There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God
VI. The Necessity of a Savior
Because of man’s spiritual depravity, the original bond of fellowship once held between Adam and God was broken. Man could not approach God due to man’s sinful nature, thus man needed a Savior. Restoration to his proper place in the creation and relationship to the Creator comes only through spiritual union with Christ, the second Adam.
Romans 5:6-21
6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
God loved his creation enough to make a remedy (John 3:16). He could have forgotten them or started over, but He still desires to glorify His creation. Glorifying God is still ours via willful obedience which is again available to us by believing and trusting upon the Savior that our Creator sent into the world.
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man
II Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
VII. The Future State of Man
Man will exist forever in one of two places. Those places as taught by the Scriptures are Heaven and Hell. Man’s eternal existence is determined by the status of the soul, which God gives us at conception and are eternal in nature. Adam’s sin and the resulting depravity of mankind has made Hell the default eternal location. If a man is held accountable for his sins and does nothing to address this deficiency, he will end up eternally in Hell. Man must be reconciled back to God and thus gain Heaven. The only way to remedy the broken fellowship between we sinners and our holy Creator is through salvation as provided through God the Son, Jesus Christ.
VIII. Conclusion
Being a very basic study of “man”, this is no wise addresses the deeper teachings of the Bible pertaining to this doctrine. However, this is sufficient to provide the purposes of this study as “Basic Baptist Doctrine”. If saved by the grace of God, we should be able (and eager!) to know where we came from, where we were, where we are and where we are headed!
