The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Paul P. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Research - The Nature of Man
Few things are so complex as the nature of man. There is little so convoluted, so deep, and so at odds with itself as this little thing we call ourselves. What we are and what state we are in is a source of constant debate. Thankfully, we have the unchanging word of God to guide us through this tumultuous topic.
The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 6:5 (ESV)
In the times shortly before the flood, mankind showed their potential to become completely wicked.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 (ESV)
In fact, all of mankind has sinned and is in need of redemption. All are in need of a savior.
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. Job 1:1 (ESV)
Even though all have sinned, Mankind still exhibits the potential to be blameless and upright in the eyes of God, as it was with Job. It was also so with Abraham, whose faith was credited to him as righteousness.
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25 (ESV)
And through God, we can all stand and remain blameless. For our perfection (completion), like our salvation, is not dependant on man, but on God.
God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13b (ESV)
God does not leave his children powerless to sin, but gives them the strength to resist every temptation. Through Him, we can become the spotless bride. Through Jesus Christ, we are no longer slaves to sin but are freed from its dominion.
This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God… the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:11+15 (NIV)
God sees the soil (heart) ready to hear the word of the Lord as good and noble. We have been made in God’s image. He did not create us as creatures of evil, but as beings with choice. He still finds us beautiful even in our brokenness and need of salvation.
Mankind since the beginning has exhibited the potential for immense good and evil. Though we all are fallen, God will not leave us in this condition if we accept him. Fulfillment can only be achieved through God and his mighty salvation. He longs to grant it.
Verses
Then 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 birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27 (ESV)
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.”’ But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. Genesis 3:1-7 (ESV)
The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 6:5 (ESV)
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. Job 1:1 (ESV)
But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:15 (NIV)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 (ESV)
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… Romans 5:12 (ESV)
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:11-14 (ESV)
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25 (ESV)
