Welcome back to week nine of big questions and short answers in biblical counseling and theology. This week we will make the transition from God’s attributes to biblical anthropology. Lord willing, we will briefly consider this subject for two weeks total. This week we will biblically answer the question: Who and what is man? It is important to know the answers to these questions, especially in our modern culture, because there is so much confusion over the topic. 

In order to see this confusion, one need not look any further than psychology. The psychological model states that man is only a physical being. Proponents of this model (including Freud, Roger, Skinner, etc.), claim that man is driven by chemical actions and reactions, that his nature is one of good, that his good nature can be corrupted by circumstances, that he is a victim, and that he needs greater self-esteem to solve his problems. 

Another example is one of psychological syncretism, or Christian counseling (i.e., Christian psychology). Syncretism is an amalgamation, a combining, of two things. In this case, the ideas of Christianity and psychology. Proponents of this, more dangerous example, such as Dr. James Dobson, take the first example and attempt to blend it with “Christianity.” This view leads to even further confusion and self-deception because there is a “Christian professional” teaching world-derived psychological “facts” wrapped up in Christianese. It can sound biblical, but it’s decidedly and purposely worldly; its psychological.^[1]

In an ultimate sense, people are not victims of circumstance nor are they products of their environment. Truly, those aspects of life can and do influence people, but those aspects are not sovereign. Circumstances and environment may make life easier or more difficult, but they don’t ultimately control people. It’s not as if people are basically good trying to find their way through an evil world. Scripture teaches that people are basically evil living their life out in a sin cursed world (cf. Gen. 3; Jer. 17:9). People are basically evil, not good. In fact, Pastor Bud, in his 8/30/20 sermon on Romans 6:7, rightly stated that, “describing an unbeliever as a ‘good man’ or a ‘good woman’ is foreign to Scripture.’”

The confusion and danger in an unbiblical anthropology is real. If we start from a bad foundation it really doesn’t matter how much of a good house, we build on it. That house won’t stand Divine scrutiny (Matt. 7:24-27). Therefore, let’s briefly consider a biblical view of man.   

Mankind is the crowning point of God’s creation (Gen. 1:26; 2:7). Mankind was also created free of sin with a rational nature, intelligence, volition, self-determination, and moral responsibility (Gen. 2:7, 15-25; Js. 3:9). Genesis 1:26-27 says that man is made in the image and likeness of God. The image of God refers to the immaterial part of man which sets him apart from the animal world. It is the part that fits him for the dominion God intended, and enables him to communicate with his Maker (Gen. 1:28). 

Man is a dichotomous creature in that he has both a body and a soul (Gen. 2:7; Num. 16:22).^[2] Man is also singular in race because all men came from one blood; the prototype Adam (Acts 17:26; 1 Cor. 15:45). Interestingly enough, modern science is just now catching up with what the Bible stated from the beginning. A recent study of human genetic material of different “races” concluded that the DNA of any two people in the world would differ by just 2/10ths of one percent.^[3]

God’s intention in making man was that he would glorify God, enjoy God’s fellowship, live life according to God’s will, and accomplish God’s purpose for man in the world (Is. 43:7; Col. 1:16; Rev. 4:11).^[4] However, man chose to rebel against his Maker and act contrary to God’s commands (Gen. 3:6). There were immediate and eternal consequences to Adam’s sin. Death, both physical and spiritual, entered the world (Gen. 2:17; Rev. 2:11; 20:6; 21:8). Man’s separation from God began and man is helpless to recover from that separation (Gen. 3:8-10; Rom. 3:9-18). Adam, the prototype of mankind, received the sentence of death for his sin. 

Just as all men carry the physical traits of the prototype, Adam, all men, unfortunately, carry his spiritual traits. Just as a corrupt original in a Xerox machine will produce only corrupt copies, so all men in Adam are corrupt. Like Adam, all men, except Jesus Christ, are guilty of sin against God (Ps. 14:1-3; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:23). Therefore, all men need salvation from their sin which can be found only in the Savior who never sinned (Rom. 5:10-12; Heb. 4:15; 1 Cor. 15:22). 

This view of man is vastly different from the world’s view of man. Man, by his very nature, is evil, not good (Rom. 3:10-18). Man, by his very will, is a perpetrator at heart, not a victim (Rom. 8:7). Mankind is moving upward to some kind of utopian society. He is moving downward to the dregs of sin getting worse and worse (2 Tim. 3:13). 

Obviously, it is critical that we hold a biblically correct view of mankind (including self). Without a proper view of man, that he is naturally evil and headed for Divine judgement, we will never see the need for Christ’s righteousness and forgiveness. Additionally, if as believers, our view of man (and self) isn’t thoroughly biblical we could easily devalue progressive sanctification in favor of better self-esteem. In that case Christ’s glory goes out the window, so to speak, and our “glory” comes quickly in the window! May that never be!

 We hope our short time considering biblical anthropology was helpful. Lord willing, next week we will take a look at the role biblical anthropology plays in biblical counseling. Until then may the Lord bless you and keep you.

^[1] We are not saying that all psychologists are trying to deceive and damage others. Many psychologists sincerely want to help. However, we are saying that, since the “authority” comes from man’s wisdom rather than Scripture, they are sincerely wrong in their “solutions.”

^[2] It may be helpful to know that man is not a trichotomous being (i.e., consisting of three parts generally referred to as body, soul, and spirit). In considering a dichotomous versus trichotomous view of man we may simply note and rest in the fact that when Scripture speaks of a soul or spirit the soul is always in relation to being inside the body, and the spirit is in relation to being outside the body. There are many far-reaching implications concerning which view of man is taken, but are outside the scope of this current blog.

^[3] J. C. Gutin, “End of the Rainbow,” Discover, Nov. 1994, 71-75.

^[4] See the MacArthur Study Bible NKJV 1997, p.2194.