The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Emily M. during the 2007-2008 League.
The Nature of Man
"So God created man in his own image." Genesis 1: 27 (NIV)
God called His creation good, but He called man, "very good." David said in Psalm 139:14 (NKJV) we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." Then, we read in the third chapter of Genesis, the creation God called very good, fell to temptation and sinned. From that point, the bible reveals the nature of fallen men, and at the same time the nature of God.
Jeremiah 17: 9 (NKJV) says "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it?" The bible is clear on this point; it doesn't mince any words; man is wicked. Paul says in Galatians 5: 19-21, "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like." Many people believe that all men are basically good, but the bible says otherwise. 1 John 1:8 says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." However, there is hope, for sinful man.
"What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?" Psalm (8:4 NIV) God does care for us. He loves us and wants us to be with him forever; that's why he created mankind. One of the most famous verses in the Bible, John 3:16 (NIV) says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." God loves every single fallen human being, and made a way for us to be free. 2 Corinthians 5: 17 says, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" We can be new creations, holy and pure as we were originally created to be. We still live in a fallen world, and we are still imperfect creatures who still sometimes succumb to temptation. The Lord knows we aren't strong enough to live for him on our own, so he sent us the Holy Spirit, the helper, who gives us strength. The fruit of the Spirit is, "Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Galatians 5: 22-23 NIV) It is too amazing for words! The Holy Spirit is part of the trinity, He is almighty, omnipotent God, and he makes the hearts of human beings his temple. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God?" 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV) The transformation of our spirit by the spirit of the Lord, is the most wonderful gift that has ever been given to mankind. Every person born is an immortal being, we all have a spirit that does not die. We are born sinful and lost, but have the opportunity to be born again, and live with the Lord forever.
