Xenos Christian Fellowship

Christian Ministry Unit 1

Introduction to Theology

Week 3 – Biblical Anthropology

Key Passages: Genesis 1-3; Romans 1-3; Romans 5:12-19

Introduction

Anthropology:

Biblical anthropology:

Is mankind essentially good or evil?

Is man a spiritual being, or purely natural?

The practical importance of the Creation and the Fall:

• It helps us understand the ______________ we see in people.

• It helps us manage our expectations about ____________ in this life.

• It shapes our view of __________________.

The Creation of Man: God’s original design

Genesis 1:24-2:25

1. Man is made ______________________________.

Genesis 1:26,27

2. Man is made ___________________________________.

Genesis 1:28

3. Man is made ______________________________.

Genesis 2:20

4. _____________________ is part of God’s design.

Genesis 2:24,25

5. Man is ___________________________________.

Genesis 2:15

The Fall

Definition:

Genesis 3:1-19

Immediate effects of the Fall:

• 3:7 _______________

• 3:8 ____________________________

• 3:9 _______________

• 3:12 ________________________

Federal Headship

Romans 5:12-19**

Definition:

The impact of Adam’s sin on humanity

Vs 19a: " . . . through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners . . . "

Vs 12: "... death spread to all men because all sinned"

Vs 15a: "... by the transgression of the one the many died ... "

Vs 17a: "… by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one ..."

Vs 18a: " ... through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men ... "

Other passages:

(1 Cor. 15:21,22) "For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive."

(Eph. 2:1-3**) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

(Ps. 51:5)  " ... in sin my mother conceived me.”

(Prov. 22:15)   "Foolishness is bound up in a child's heart ... "

(Gen. 8:21) "... for man is evil from his youth up ... "

(Mark 7:18-23)

Objection: "It's not fair!” Why should I have to suffer the consequences of someone else's wrong decision?"

1.

(Ezekiel 18:20,21) "The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.

2. Free will requires that ______________________.

3. The principle of federal headship can also bring __________________.

The impact of Jesus’ death on humanity

v.15 – “the gift of God abounds to the many by the grace of one man…”

v.17 – “righteousness will reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.”

We have a choice _______________________________________.

Comparing humanity before and after the Fall (Genesis 1 & 2; Romans 1-3)

Spiritual State

Before (Gen. 2:16,17):  Adam and Eve had…

After (Genesis 3:24; Romans 5:12-19**; Ephesians 2:1-3**):

Cognition

Before (Genesis 2:19,20):

• Humans used their minds to understand the creation and obey God.

After (Genesis 6:5):

• Humans use their minds ________________________________.

(Rom. 1:21,22,28,32) For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (22) Professing to be wise, they became fools . . . (28) And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper ... (32) and, although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Sexuality

Before (Genesis 2:24,25):

• Permanent, heterosexual monogamy

After (Romans 1:24-27):

• Sex is ___________ from God’s ideal and used for _______________.

Nature

Before (Genesis 1:26,28; 2:15):

• Nature was cooperative under man's benevolent rulership.

After (Genesis 3:17a; Romans 8:19-21):

(Rom. 8:19-21)  For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. (20) For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope (21) that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Relational

Before (Genesis 2:18,20,25):

After (Genesis 3:7,12; 4:5-8,23,24;6:11):

• Genesis 3:7 –

• Genesis 3:12; Genesis 4:5-8 –

• Genesis 4:23,24 –

• Genesis 6:11 –

Work

Before (Genesis 2:15):

After (Genesis 3:17-19):

Creativity

Before (Genesis 2:19,20):

After (Genesis 4):

Authority

Before (Genesis 2:16,17):

• Humans are under God’s direct authority.

After (Genesis 3:16; 9:6; Romans 13:1-5):

• ____________________ is necessary to preserve order.

Civil Government

Genesis 9:6

(Rom. 13:1-5) Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil. Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake.

Marriage and Family

Genesis 3:16

(Col.3:18-21) Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. (19) Husbands, love your wives, and do not be embittered against them. (20) Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. (21) Fathers, do not exasperate your children, that they may not lose heart.

As in any area, leadership in marriage is expressed through sacrificial love and service toward those we lead.

Workplace

(Col.3:22-4:1) Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. (23) Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; (24) knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. (25) For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality. (1) Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.

Church

(Heb. 13:17) Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

Note:

Qualification: Obedience to delegated authority is…

Remember: Delegated authorities should always use their authority to serve.

Summary:

Before The Fall	After The Fall
Spiritually alive: able to relate to & follow God (Gen. 2:16,17).	Spiritually dead: alienated from God & enslaved to sin & Satan (Gen. 3:24; Rom. 5:12-19**; Eph. 2:1-3**).
Cognition is used to live according to God's will (Gen. 2:19,20).	Cognition is often used to rationalize revolt against God's will (Gen. 6:5; Rom. 1:21,22,28,32; Eph. 4:17,18).
Sexuality is an expression of loving union within monogamous marriage (Gen. 2:24,25).	Sexuality is used selfishly for personal gratification (Gen. 4:19; Rom. 1:24-27; Eph. 4:19).
Nature cooperates under benevolent human rulership (Gen. 1:26,28; 2:15).	Nature is abnormal & subjected to futility (Gen. 3:17-19; Rom. 8:19-21).
Relational closeness characterizes human relationships (Gen. 2:18,25).	Relational alienation affects all human relationships (Gen. 3:7,12; 4:5-8,23,24; 6:11).
Work is personally satisfying & productive (Gen. 2:15).	Work now includes frustrating & tedious elements (Gen. 3:17-19).
Creativity is used to glorify God (Gen. 2:19,20,23).	Creativity is often used to glorify self (Gen. 4:21).
Humans are under God's direct authority (Gen. 2:15-17).	Delegated human authority is necessary to preserve order (Gen. 3:16; 9:6; Rom. 13:1-5).

Total Depravity

Romans 3:9-20

Definition: Because of the Fall, all humans are unable to earn God’s acceptance by their righteousness, all areas of our lives are damaged, and none of us seeks for God without God’s prior initiative.

Total depravity does NOT mean that:

Total depravity DOES mean that:

• We would never seek for God _______________________________.

Practical Implications of the Fall

We should not be surprised by the discovery of real sin, either in others or ourselves.

“Bible believing Christians should never have the reaction designated by the term shocked. There is a type of Christian who constantly draws himself or herself up and declares, “I am shocked.” If he is, he is not reacting to reality as he should, for it is as much against the teaching of Scripture to romanticize men, himself or others, as to explaining away sin. On the one hand, we should not view men with a cynical eye, seeing them only as meaningless products of chance, but on the other hand, we should not go to the opposite extreme of seeing them romantically. To do either is to fail to understand who men really are – creatures made in the image of God, but fallen.”¹

We should not hold God responsible for the fallen state of the world, our circumstances, our health,..

“In general, I would say that I do not think Christians take the Fall and the present abnormality of the world with practical comprehension and seriousness. I mean by this that although Bible believing Christians certainly do hold to a historical Fall and the present abnormality of the world as a theological truth, when it comes down to living, this is often forgotten. In other words, we forget that everything is abnormal today, and that much of the sickness in the world and sorrows in other areas are a result of this abnormality. Or to say it another way, there is so much in history that God did not mean to be there, in the way that He created the world and created man.

To me, perhaps the greatest key here is Jesus standing in front of the tomb of Lazarus. The Greek makes plain that Jesus only wept, but He was angry. In other words, He who was God was angry at the abnormality of death without being angry at Himself. The death of Lazarus, death in general, and sickness come not from God, but flow from the fact that all things are now abnormal.

In forgetting this, Christians, when they hear they have cancer, say, ‘Why did God give me the cancer?’ This is what I mean by forgetting in practice the existence of the Fall and the present abnormality. I do not believe for a moment that God gave me my lymphoma. It is a result of the abnormal flow of things, just as my eventual death will be from some [abnormal] case (if Christ does not come back first). This changes everything – for now I can use every medical means, as well as prayer by myself and others, to fight against this abnormal thing that not only I hate, but God does.”²

God can use our negative experiences in the fallen world to comfort and bless others through us.

“I called each of our four children to tell them with my own voice about the malignancy as soon as I knew I had it. Each of the four responded in the same way – that is, by saying… how glad they are that I have stressed to them the reality of the Biblical teaching that the world really is abnormal because of the Fall. Thus, they were not taken by surprise, though, of course, there have been tears. Knowing the world is abnormal, and yet knowing that it is possible to bring our mistakes and sin under the work of Christ, means that there is the possibility of living a life, in an unromantic and practical way, that has fullness and beauty – in spite of those scars that are there, either because of our past choices, or simply because of the fallenness of the world.

“And because of the specific experiences each one of us has had as a result of the Fall, each one of us can help others in a way that no one else is able to do. I would say this gently – that my having had cancer has enabled me to be a help to some people that otherwise I never could have helped. The cancer of sin and failure is not different from this, once it is cared for in the Biblical way.”³

All men, even the best of men, need to be saved.

“From within the perspective of Biblical realism we understand that even if a man is a nice man and shows many evidences of being made in the image of God, (and we should be thankful for that), he nevertheless is a sinner who needs to be saved. The apostle Paul understood Abraham and David as excellent illustrations.... [Rom 4:1-7] Both David and Abraham understood that it was not just others, the ‘they’, who needed to be saved but themselves as well.”⁴

As workers & leaders, we are not automatically set aside by God because we sin.

“God knew from the beginning who David was. When David was keeping sheep, God had no illusions that here was a perfect man to do God’s work. David’s sin did not take God by surprise. He knows who men are when he chooses them for leadership. There are no perfect men to do God’s work. God is not romantic concerning men… And just as you and I should go on with each other when there has been confession, so God goes on with his people, including his leaders, after their repentance.”⁵

Memory Verses

Romans 5:12-19** - Federal headship; spiritual effects of the fall (Total Depravity)

Ephesians 2:1-3** - Spiritual effects of the fall (Total Depravity)

Assignment

Complete the Satanology Passages 1 Assignment.