Lesson 9: What We Believe About People

A. WHO ARE PEOPLE?

1. The biblical view of people recognizes the existence of both a physical and spiritual aspect of their being.

a. The material part of a person is the body. The Bible teaches that people have:

(1) A created body (Gen. 2:7).

(2) A physical body (I Cor. 15:38-40).

(3) A body of death (Rom. 7:24).

(4) A body of sin (Rom. 5:19).

(5) A body of humiliation (Phil. 3:21).

(6) A body that needs discipline (I Cor. 6:19).

b. The Bible uses the term soul to identify the whole person (Song of Solomon 1:7) or the life of a person (Gen. 35:18).

c. The term spirit is used to describe the spiritual aspect of people (Job 32:8).

B. MADE IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD.

1. God made people in His own image (Gen. 1:26). He reproduced certain aspects of Himself in people.

a. The image of God in people probably refers to their ability to

(1) think and understand,

(2) feel emotions and,

(3) act and make decisions.

b. The image of God has been marred by sin, but people still retain a limited use of these faculties.

C. THE HEART (PERSONALITY) OF PEOPLE.

1. The Bible describes the heart as the center of a person’s moral awareness (the conscience).

2. The heart describes the human personality.

a. Intellectual activities of the heart.

(1) People think with their heart (Phil. 4:8).

(2) Planning is a function of the heart (Prov. 16:9).

(3) People can hide the Word of God in their heart through Scripture memory (Psa. 119:11).

(4) Perception is a function of the heart (Matt. 13:14).

(5) The ability to weigh evidence and make a rational decision is a function of the heart (Mark 2:8).

b. The emotional center of our personality.

c. The exercise of the will is the way we direct our life.

(1) People are converted with their heart (Rom. 6:17).

(2) Ongoing spiritual growth grows out of the heart (II Cor. 9:7).

(3) We relate to one another out of willingness from our heart (Eph. 6:5-6).

d. The heart is the seat of moral awareness.

D. WHAT WENT WRONG?

1. The biblical account of the introduction of sin into the human race.

a. All God had made was “very good” (Gen. 1:31).

b. The entire race fell into sin when Adam and Eve deliberately chose to disobey God and fulfill their own desires (I Tim. 2:14). “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of the fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate” (Gen. 3:6).

E. THE NATURE OF SIN.

1. Sin is that which is opposed to the character and will of God.

2. People sin both in act and attitude.

3. There are three basic kinds of sin:

a. Personal sin. “For there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:22-23).

(1) A sin of commission (doing something wrong).

(2) A sin of omission (failing to do something right).

b. Our sin nature. “If we say that we have no sin (nature), we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (I John 1:8).

(1) We have a desire to sin because of our sin nature.

(2) The sin nature negatively impacts our personality.

c. Imputed sin means, “to ascribe to” or “reckon over” (Rom. 5:12).

(1) Adam was both the seminal and representative head of the human race.

(2) God offers to impute Christ’s righteousness to all who believe (Rom. 5:21).

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at eltowns@liberty.edu and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.