Project: Your Statement of Faith - Lesson 6
Article Five: Anthropology (doctrine of man)
This lesson provides an in-depth analysis of the doctrine of man, also known as anthropology. It covers the Biblical anthropology, the creation and fall of humanity, the image of God, and the implications of sin. It also provides insight into the significance of anthropology in our daily lives, as well as its impact on our understanding of the human condition.
Article Five: Anthropology (doctrine of man)
TH099-06: Doctrine of Man
I. Overview of Anthropology
A. Biblical Anthropology
B. Historical and Cultural Context
C. Creation and Fall
II. Image of God
A. Imago Dei
B. Nature of Humanity
C. Characteristics of Humanity
III. Anthropology and Sin
A. Nature of Sin
B. Effects of Sin
C. Consequences of Sin
IV. Significance of Anthropology
A. Application to Daily Life
B. Impact on Understanding of the Human Condition
Dr. Bill Mounce
Project: Your Statement of Faith
TH099-06
Article Five: Anthropology (doctrine of man)
Lesson Transcript
[00:00:00] The next article of faith is on anthropology, which is the technical theological term for our doctrine of man. What do we believe about the human being? Well, here it is. Adam and Eve are both created in the image of God. Adam From the dust to the ground and eve from his side. In other words, whatever else you want to do with Genesis one, at least in the creation of Adam and Eve, describes a real historical event. They disobeyed God and died spiritually and physically. Genesis three was real. It happened. Therefore, all people are objects of wrath. I'll come back and explain these. Sinners by nature and by choice. They are dead in their sins and incapable of pleasing God. Without the direct intervention of God, they will live, separated from God, die in their sins, and receive the condemnation that their sin deserves. Now, that may sound really negative and depressing, but it is true and it is the first step towards true life. And so we unashamedly proclaim our doctrine of anthropology. The important word is the word, therefore, in the third sentence. This is the doctrine of original sin and doctrine of original sin says that when Adam and Eve were first created, they were not created with any propensity to sin. There was no voice inside of them that pushed them towards the tree to eat that fruit that they weren't supposed to do, but that they they looked at decisions and they, you know, we have no idea how long the Garden of Eden lasted for weeks, years, months. We just don't know. But for however long it was, they just kept making the right decision and they walked in communion with God and they honored him. And they didn't eat the fruit of the one tree.
[00:01:59] When Adam and Eve did sin. We believe that something fundamentally. Basic in the human being was changed some a fundamental change occurred. And this is the doctrine of original sin, and it's that we have an inherited sin nature. And what that means is that when I was born, I inherited a sin nature for mad, and which means that given time. I will make the wrong choice. I will violate the statutes of God and I will sin and I will become a sinner. So we have an inherited. Tendon in Tennessee is not the right word because in Tennessee's is too weak, because in every one of our lives, our sin nature takes over. And in every one of our lives we do sin. And yet you see why I'm saying tendency in a second. So Adam and Eve were born without this propensity towards sin. They said they changed what it is to be a human being changed the very fabric of our structures. And so we have this inherited sin nature, which means that we are sinners by nature, and eventually we will become sinners by choice. Now there is a finer debate. And I want to mention to you, because I want to distance myself from it and I don't want you to misunderstand this phrase sinners by nature. There is a theological position called federalism. And federalism teaches that. I was not only born with a sin nature, but I was born guilty of sin. And they often talk about how we send in Adam is the phraseology. And therefore, because Adam is our father and because we are part of the human family that we actually send in Adam and so we are born guilty of his sin. I don't believe that many good people do.
[00:04:07] I happen not to believe it. I think that sin is always an act that I do, and therefore I become a sinner. I was in a Sunday school class once where this this distinction was brought out was pretty important. Robin, my wife and I had two children who died at birth. And so we're very sensitive about this topic. And the person was teaching Sunday school and someone asked, what about babies who die at birth? And the person said, Oh, they all went to hell. And she just kind of went on to discussion. Well, it turns out about a third of the people in that church either had children who had died at birth or knew people who had children who died at birth. And there was this wave of what on earth are you talking about? And so we forced her to come back and to explain her position. But that's the federalist position that Rose and Rachel, my two daughters, sinned in atom and committed that sin. We're born guilty of sin. And therefore, because they never repented of their sins, that they went to hell. And for many reasons, I can't believe that, mostly because I don't believe Scripture teaches it. So I'm not a federalist. So don't miss don't misunderstand what I mean when I say sinners by nature, but rather that is my nature. I'm a human being. And until Jesus Christ did his regenerating work in means of the power of his spirit and maybe into a new creature gave me a new birth, I had this overwhelming urge inside of me to do what is wrong. And it's an urge that ultimately can only be broken by the spirit. So that's what I meant by sinners, by nature, which also became by choice.
[00:05:50] So that's our view on anthropology or a doctrine of what it is to be a human being.
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