Discovering the Biblical Jesus Author: Daniel L. Akin Price: $5.95

The Sinfulness of Humanity
Men and women are created in God’s image. However, the entrance of sin into the world has had great and terrible consequences on God’s creation, especially on humans. The sin of Adam and Eve was not a moral lapse. They deliberately disobeyed God and rejected Him. The day they disobeyed God, they died spiritually, which ultimately brought physical death as well. Examining the consequences of the fall will help us understand why Jesus died.

Paul described some of the consequences of the fall in Romans 1:18—3:20; 5:12-21; and Ephesians 2:1-22. Important among these consequences are the effects of sin on our will, which is the volitional, or decision-making, element in us. Although we still function as free moral agents with free will, our decisions and actions are always influenced by our sinful nature.

As a result of sin, God’s image was not lost but was severely damaged and marred. The components of that image—rulership over creation, relationships with God and others, and resemblance to God—were all damaged and marred by the fall.

Rulership over creation. Humanity’s role of exercising dominion over creation was drastically disturbed by the effects of sin on humans and by the curse on nature. God changed the relation of the earth to humans. Now they would be forced to extract from the earth the necessities of life by strenuous exertion, striving against an alienated and rebellious earth. Humans in their disordered state would never subdue the earth as God intended.

Relationships with God and others. Humanity’s ability to live in proper relationships has been corrupted. On the human level the simple gender distinctions within “one flesh” (Gen. 2:24) were twisted to become oppositions and opponents. Whereas marriage was formerly a fully loving personal relationship, it became dominated by selfish urges and a desire to dominate and ruthlessly control. Childbirth continued but with pain as a reminder of the consequences of sin. The potential for selfishness in human relationships points to sin’s malignant presence in all of life.

Humanity’s relationship with God was also severely damaged. The original relationship of peace and mutual love was lost. The fear, the hiding, and the full awareness of sin’s consequences reveal the effect of the insecurity and anxiety of fallen humanity. This insecurity, with its counterpart, pride (self-assertion), is a tragic combination. However, the disruption of the communion between God and humans has not destroyed our need and desire for that fellowship.

Resemblance to God. Humanity is marred both in its spiritual and physical aspect. In its spiritual aspect humanity is damaged in three ways.

1. Our intellect is disordered; we are often mistaken as to matters of fact and flawed in our reasoning.
   
   
2. We inherit a corrupted will.
   
   
3. We are morally corrupted.

In our physical aspect humanity also suffered corruption through the fall. The toil and sweat of life will end in the dust of death. Humanity (the image of God), when alienated from God, is merely dust without animation—dust in the wind.

However, there is good news in the midst of this loss and sorrow. Fallen people are still inherently valuable because they still possess the divine image. God as Savior did not leave Adam and Eve and their descendants under the curse of judgment and death but proclaimed the promise of the Conquering Seed (see Gen. 3:15; Gal. 4:4-5).

Resemblance restored. The New Testament clearly designates Jesus Christ as the Conquering Seed. Christ is the exact image of God. In calling Christ the image of God, Paul emphasized God’s nature and personality in the image, revealing Christ as the visible expression of the invisible God.

Rulership restored. Christ also restored the rulership aspect of God’s image. Christ is the head of the body, the new final authority that God has placed in creation. Christ rules now in the hearts of His people, who are extending His kingdom through the preaching of the gospel.

Relationship restored. Finally, Christ restored the relational aspect of God’s image. Christ succeeded in re-creating the loving, fruitful relationship God intended at creation. In Christ we can love God and one another as originally intended.

God’s image is restored in fallen people when we accept Christ by faith (see 2 Cor. 5:17). Our experience of salvation and our growth in Christlikeness reverse the corruption of God’s image in us.

For more information, see Why Did Jesus Have to Die? Part Two: God’s Holiness and Justice.