Musing – What States are Available to Man?

Hebraic Musing – What States are Available to Man?
    or   In what state might a man find himself?

Is man basically good or evil?  What is evil?  Are we in a Cosmic Battle?

State one - Man was CRATED INNOCENT, in the IMAGE of GOD.  “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;…” Gen.1:27  NIV   So we start off as God’s beloved creation and very valuable to Him as our Creator!

State two – Man is FALLEN.  “The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.”  Gen.6:5   BUT, have you noticed that all the world’s religions, philosophers, evolutionists and socialists claim man is basically good; given the opportunity man will improve society and the world.     Who is right?  God or the world-think?   

And what happens to man as a result of this evil nature?  “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.” Rom 5:12 

State three – If man dies in the Fallen state, then DEATH or HELL, aka, Eternal separation from his Creator God.  “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,” Heb.9:27  And then “If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”  Rev.20:15

State four – If man chooses to repent, man can be REDEEMED.    Gal.3:13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,”   The Good News – God gave man a unique ability, the ability to “Choose”.  In the OT we hear “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, …. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”  Josh.24:15   And in the NT we hear Mark 16:16 “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”  And John 3:15-16 “that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”  Man can choose to listen to Jesus speaking in red letters.  “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”  John 10:27-28   We have a choice to make – “For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,” Rom.8:13 

State five – If man dies in the Redeemed state, then GLORIFICATION.   “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Rev.3:20      “So will it be with the resurrection of the dead.  The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.”  1 Cor.15:42-44 

Summary perspective – Our old self can be described as Evil, Dead, Blind and Deaf.  However as a new man we are referred to as Redeemed, Saints, Priests, Called out Ones, People of God and Born of Above.  BUT we are caught in a Cosmic Battle within each of us!   “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.  For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.”  Gal.5:16-17    Here’s another description of the Cosmic Battle we all fight – “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”  Rom.7:15 

Points to ponder   or   RSVP

Since our Christian beliefs stand opposed to man’s evil inner desires,
is it any wonder we face opposition and persecution from the world?

If we make Jesus as our Lord, are we still fighting the Cosmic Battle?  

If man is basically good,
then why did our loving Father God have to send His Son to live, die and be resurrected?

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:…”  Col.3:5

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          October 1, 2019

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired by Lesson #3 of “The Truth Project”, a Focus on the Family program.