03.04 - Chapter 15 - The Orignal State of Man

Chapter 15 THE ORIGINAL STATE of MAN From the Hand of God

According to Scripture, the body of man came from the hand of the Creator fully developed and endowed with immortality. The Scriptures always represent death both physical and spiritual as the result of the sin. If man had not sinned then he would not subject to death.

How then, is man preserved in physical being? The original constitution of man was evidently of high quality. The longevity of the patriarchs, even after sin had entered, shows a remarkable constitution. And the earliest fossil remains of man show him highly developed. A Tree of Life was in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24). It is again referred to in the end of Revelation as being for the healing of the nations. The Soul was Created in the Image of God This includes knowledge, holiness, moral nature, rational nature, free agency, dominion, etc. Man was created capable of communion with God. The implications in this fact are many and important; bearing on the being of God, the nature of God, the a priori certainty of a revelation etc.

How did God Create Man?

God created man male and female after his own image in knowledge, righteousness and holiness with dominion over the creatures.

Selected Views of Man’s Original State The Pelagian Doctrine of Man’s Original State

Pelagius was a popular British monk who preached in Rome (AD 401-409). Outraged over the immorality of Christians in the Holy City, he argued that everyone may live a life from sin if there is a sincere choice to do so. Man is not in bondage to sin. Man was created neither holy nor unholy; neither righteous nor unrighteous but capable of becoming either. A life of righteousness is a choice of the will.

Observation The teachings of Pelagius arose because of a desire to make man responsible for his acts.

Unfortunately, nothing is really said about the character out of which the acts proceed which need to be turned away from and that is the heart of the issue. The Scriptures show that acts proceed from character. In the final analysis, Pelagianism is nothing more than rationalized moralism. It knows nothing of redemption.