In my personal studies there is a requirement for me to teach what I am learning to others before I can get credit for a class. And right now I am wrapping up a theology class called Man and Sin. This is a cool class because it builds a foundation of knowledge on the nature of man before it ever starts discussing the idea of sin. This process is critical in order to get a real, solid understanding about the nature and effects of sin in our lives.

While preparing to share some of the concepts of this class, I had the opportunity to teach in a small service at my church. This video is part of of that lesson. In this part I focus on some of the competing and incorrect views on the nature of man, and in the next part I share about how we were created in the image of God (the correct view).

[vimeo 5432610 The Nature of Man, Part 1: Incorrect Views]

Recommended resource:

Being Human: The Nature of Spiritual Experience
By Ranald MacAulay, Jerram Barrs

Who is right about what it means to be human? The Greeks envisioned an ideal humanity. Their ethereal sculptures depict a transcendent, spiritual model. But today many scientists view human beings as mere machines. And some believe we will be able to make machines with human-like intelligence in the near future. The biblical view of humanity is different from both of these. For the writers of Scripture, to be human is to be in the image of God. Guided by this view, Ranald Macaulay and Jerram Barrs discuss the nature of spiritual experience. As the pursuit of true spirituality takes us away from sinfulness, it moves us closer to what God intended us to be. When we are truly spiritual, we are fully human. Macauley and Barrs begin by stressing the centrality of Christ. Then they distinguish between self and the sinfulness of self, argue for using our minds in spiritual matters, and illuminate the many ways God guides us. Their chapter on the family discusses the vexed issue of authority. And they conclude with a look at the evidence, judgment, hope, joy and reward of faith. In short, this book, now back in print due to ongoing demand, presents an integrated model for what human beings really are.