.

BIBLE DOCTRINES
the doctrines of
MAN
SIN
HELL
HEAVEN
This material is
copyrighted and
used by
permission.

by
H. L. Willmington,
William Evans and others
edited by
Melvyn and Carol Brown

B.A.M.A. Bible Institutes

(Baptist Asian Missions Association)
133 Isarog Street, LaLoma, Quezon City 1114 R. P.
 Table of Contents

The Doctrine of Man

I. His Origin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
II. His Nature. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
III. His Original Duties and Responsibilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
IV. His Tragic Sin and Fall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
V. His Present-Day Condition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
VI. His Destiny. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

The Doctrine of SIN

I. The Definition and Meaning of Sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
II. The Origin of Sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
III. The Nature of Sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
IV. The Universality of Sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
V. The Exceeding Sinfulness of Sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
VI. The Consequences of Sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
VII. The Imputation of Sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
VIII. The Kinds of Sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
IX. The Metaphors of Sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
X. The Christian's Sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
XI. The Reasons for Sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
XII. The Ultimate and Final Victory over Sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

The Doctrine of Hell

I. Denying the Doctrine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
II. The Doctrine of Hell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

The Doctrine of Heaven

I. The Capital of Heaven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
II. The Characteristics of Heaven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS BLOCK:

1. Read all the material for this block.
2. Look up and read all the verses in the material as you read through the material.
3. Fill in the answers to your STUDY QUESTIONS ahead of time so you will be better
prepared for the EXAM during the final hour.
4. T-H-I-N-K as you read this material. It will be a blessing to you.
It will also change your life.
 The Doctrine of Man
This material is
copyrighted and used
by permission.

seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was

We shall approach this study of man in the
following manner:
so. And the earth brought forth grass, and
herb yielding seed after his kind, and the
tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself,
after his kind: and God saw that it was
I. His Origin. good," (Gen. 1:11, 12).
II. His Nature.
II.
2. Genesis declares that birds existed before
III. His Original Duties and Responsibilities.
III.
insects, while evolution reverses this order.
IV. His Tragic Sin and Fall.
IV.
V. His Present-Day Condition.
V. "And God said, Let the waters bring forth
VI. His Destiny.
VI. abundantly the moving creature that hath
life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in
the open firmament of heaven. And God
I. HIS ORIGIN. said, Let the earth bring forth the living
Three theories have been propounded (put forth) to creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping
explain man's origin: thing, and beast of the earth after his kind:
A. Atheistic evolution. and it was so" (Gen. 1:20, 24).
This theory holds that man is the accidental and 3. Genesis states that birds and fishes were
random product of a blind and nonpersonal created at the same time, but evolution says
series of chemical and biological events. Simply fishes evolved hundreds of millions of years
defined, evolution is that process by which all before birds developed.
living organisms have developed from the "And God created great whales, and every
simple to the more complex forms. This theory living creature that moveth, which the waters
would have us believe that our world and all it brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and
contains came into being through evolving mud every winged fowl after his kind: and God
in time past. We are assured that if we but allow saw that it was good" (Gen. 1:21).
a little mud enough time it will, of and by itself, 4. Genesis stresses (ten times) that the entities
produce the music of a Beethoven, the paintings (different things) created were to reproduce
of a Raphael, the writings of a Shakespeare, and "after their kinds," while evolution
the teachings of a Christ. Needless to say, this postulates (states) the slow ascent of all
theory is not only unscriptural, but nonsensical organisms from a common ancestor.
as well.
B. Theistic evolution. 5. Genesis says that Adam was made from the
This teaches that there is one God, the Creator dust of the ground into the image of God,
of matter, who chose the method of evolution while evolution claims Adam descended
to bring all things including man into their from a sub-ape creature.
present state of existence. However, evolution 6. Genesis records woman's coming from
as a method is clearly, strongly, and completely man's side, while evolution teaches both
refuted by the Bible. man and woman developed simultaneously.
1. Genesis teaches that life began on dry land, 7. Genesis tells us that man was originally a
while evolution says it began on some vegetarian while evolution teaches us he was
remote sea bottom. probably a head-hunting cannibal.
"And God said, Let the earth bring forth "And God said, Behold, I have given you
grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit every herb bearing seed, which is upon the
tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose 1 face of all the earth, and every tree, in the
 The Doctrine of Man
which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day,
you it shall be for meat" (Gen. 1:29). and hallowed it" (Ex. 20:9-11).
C. Special creation. "Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep
This is the view that man is a direct product the sabbath, to observe the sabbath
from the hand of God and that the statements in throughout their generations, for a perpetual
Genesis 1 and 2 are to be taken at face value. In covenant. It is a sign between me and the
addition to this, a number of Bible students see children of Israel for ever: for in six days the
in these first two chapters a clear case for Lord made heaven and earth, and on the
believing in a special twenty-four-hour, six-day seventh day he rested, and was refreshed"
creation week. This, it is believed, can be seen: (Ex. 31:16, 17).
1. As indicated by the Hebrew language. 4. As indicated by David.
If the days were really long periods of time, "By the word of the Lord were the heavens
the Hebrew word olam (meaning a made; and all the host of them by the breath
long, indefinite time) would doubtless of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the
have been used, rather than the sea together as a heap: he layeth up the
Hebrew word yom (which means day). depth in storehouses. For he spake, and it
"The use of a numerical adjective with was done; he commanded, and it stood fast"
the word day in Genesis 1 limits it to a (Ps. 33:6, 7, 9).
normal day ... in historical narratives 5. As indicated by Jesus.
the numerical adjective always limits the
word to a twenty-four-hour period (cf. The Savior evidently accepted literally the
Numbers for a remarkable parallel)." first three chapters of Genesis.
(Dr. John C. Whitcomb, Jr., Creation "Which was the son of Enos, which was the
According to God's Word, p. 4) son of Seth, which was the son of Adam,
which was the son of God" (Lk. 3:38).
2. As indicated by the genealogies found in
Genesis 5 and 11. "And he answered and said unto them, Have
ye not read, that he which made them at the
If evolution is correct and man is really a beginning made them male and female"
million years old, then we would be forced to (Mt. 19:4).
allow a fifty-thousand-year gap between each
"If I have told you earthly things, and ye
name in these two chapters. Furthermore, if
believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you
life itself is nearly one billion years old, then
of heavenly things?" (Jn. 3:12).
each day in Genesis 1 would have to stand
for approximately 125 million years. "For had ye believed Moses, ye would have
believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye
3. As indicated by Moses at Mt. Sinai. believe not his writings, how shall ye believe
"Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy my words?" (Jn. 5:46, 47).
work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of
6. As indicated by Paul.
the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any
work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into
thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy the world, and death by sin; and so death
cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
gates: For in six days the Lord made Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to
heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in Moses, even over them that had not sinned
them is, and rested the seventh day: after the similitude of Adam's transgression,
2 who is the figure of him that was to come.
 The Doctrine of Man
For if by one man's offense death reigned by minds should be corrupted from the
one; much more they which receive simplicity that is in Christ" (2 Cor. 11:3).
abundance of grace and of the gift of "For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And
righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Adam was not deceived, but the woman
Christ. For as by one man's disobedience being deceived was in the transgression"
many were made sinners, so by the obedience (1 Tim. 2:13, 14).
of one shall many be made righteous"
(Rom. 5:12, 14, 17,19). 7. As indicated by Benjamin Warfield (one of
the greatest orthodox theologians of modern
"For the earnest expectation of the creature
time).
waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of
God. For the creature was made subject to Although Warfield admitted the possibility
vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him, of man existing for over 100 thousand years,
who hath subjected the same in hope; he personally believed man's creation date to
because the creature itself also shall be be no earlier than 5,000 to 10,000 B. C.
delivered from the bondage of corruption (p. 248 in Biblical and Theological Studies).
into the glorious liberty of the children of 8. As indicated by Edward Young (outstanding
God. For we know that the whole creation Hebrew scholar).
groaneth and travaileth in pain together until "The six days are to be understood in a
now" (Rom. 8:19-22).
chronological sense, that is one day
"For the man is not of the woman; but the following another in succession. This fact is
woman of the man. Neither was the man emphasized in that the days are designated
created for the woman; but the woman for one, two, three, etc." (Westminster
the man. For as the woman is of the man, Theological Journal, May 1963, p. 169)
even so is the man also by the woman; but all
things of God" (1 Cor. 11:8, 9,12). 9. As indicated by the Interpreter's Bible
(Vol. 1, p. 417).
"All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is
one kind of flesh of men another flesh of "There can be no question but that by 'day'
beasts, another of fishes, and another of the author means just what we mean--the
birds. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a time required for one revolution of the earth
spiritual body. There is a natural body, and on its axis. Had he meant an aeon he would
there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, certainly, in view of his fondness for
The first man Adam was made a living soul; numbers, have stated the number of
the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. millenniums each period embraces."
Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, Note: Even though the Interpreter's Bible
but that which is natural; and afterward that (a very liberal work) would doubtless
which is spiritual. The first man is of the consider the first eleven chapters of Genesis
earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord as pure myth, it nevertheless holds that the
from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they Genesis writer believed in a literal six-day
also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, creation account.
such are they also that are heavenly, And as In concluding this first section it is important
we have borne the image of the earthy, we to remind ourselves of the absolute necessity
shall also bear the image of the heavenly," of believing God's Word concerning our
(1 Cor. 15:39, 44-49). origin, for if we allow Satan to water this
"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent down for us, we may permit the same doubt
beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your 3 concerning our present mission as
 The Doctrine of Man
ambassadors for Christ and our future asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints
destiny. and marrow, and is a discernment of the
It is here proper to remember the words of thoughts and intents of the heart"
Jesus to Nicodemus: (Heb. 4:12).
"If I have told you earthly things, and ye "And the very God of peace sanctify you
believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and
of heavenly things?" (Jn. 3:12). soul and body be preserved blameless unto
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ"
II. HIS NATURE. (1 Thess. 5:23).
In dealing with man's nature, we will ask and 2. That man is created in the image of God
attempt to answer five basic questions: that his Creator gave him
A. How is man made in the image and likeness self-consciousness, God-consciousness, and
of God? a sense of morality.
B. Is man a dichotomous (two-part) being, or is Simply stated, this means man can identify
he a trichotomous (three-part) being? himself, know his God, look back to birth,
C. Where and how does man receive his soul? and plan for his death.
D. What is the soul?
E. What are the basic characteristics of the 3. That when God spoke these words he was
soul? thinking of the future incarnation of Christ
A. How is man made in the image and likeness the God-man, and his present-day work in
of God? making the Christian like himself. Note the
"And God said, Let us make man in our image, following verses:
after our likeness; and let them have dominion "For our conversation is in heaven; from
over the fish of the sea, and the fowl of the air, whence also we look for the Saviour, the
and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile
over every creeping thing that creepeth upon body, that it may be fashioned like unto his
the earth. So God created man in his own glorious body, according to the working
image, in the image of God created he him; male whereby he is able even to subdue all things
and female created he them" (Gen. 1:26-27). unto himself" (Phil. 3:21).
How are we to understand these words? "For whom he did fore-know, he also did
Throughout the history of the Christian church predestinate to be conformed to the image of
various theories have been propounded (put his Son, that he might be the firstborn among
forth). many brethren (Rom. 8:29).
1. That this likeness is a reference to the trinity "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and
of man. it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but
we know that, when he shall appear, we shall
In other words, as God is triune in nature
be like him; for we shall see him as he is"
(Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), he created
(1 Jn. 3:2).
man a triune creature consisting of spirit,
soul, and body. Advocates of this theory 4. At any rate, there seems to be an image of
point to the following verses to support their God in all men which cannot be lost, and an
claims: image which can be lost.
"'For the word of God is quick, and a. That image which cannot be lost. "For a
powerful, and sharper than any two-edged man indeed ought not to cover his head,
sword, piercing even to the dividing forasmuch as he is the image and glory of
4
 The Doctrine of Man
God: but the woman is the glory of the other words, man's body belongs to the
man" (1 Cor. 11:7). material and his soul to the nonmaterial.
"But the tongue can no man tame, it is an What else is left? Therefore as man's spirit
unruly evil, full of deadly poison. is decidedly nonmaterial, it must be placed
Therewith bless we God, even the Father; into the camp of the nonmaterial and thus
and therewith curse we men, which are becomes identical with the soul.
made after the similitude of God" b. Often in the Bible the terms soul and spirit
(Jas. 3:8, 9). are used interchangeably. The virgin Mary
In the following verse God institutes seems to do this very thing during her
capital punishment and justifies it on the hymn of praise to God.
grounds that a murderer should die for "And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the
taking the life of another creature made in Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God
the image of God. "Whoso sheddeth man's my Saviour" (Lk. 1:46, 47).
blood by man shall his blood be shed: for (Cf. 2 Cor. 7:1; Jas. 5:20; 1 Pet. 2:11.)
in the image of God made he man" 2. Basic evidences for trichotomy would
(Gen. 9:6). include:
The Bible therefore indicates that all
a. The fact that some passages use both
unsaved men still display certain traces of
terms interchangeably does not mean that
the original image of God's creation.
there is no distinction whatsoever. For
b. That image which can be lost. "Lie not one
example, the phrases "Kingdom of God"
to another, seeing have put off the old man
and "Kingdom of heaven" are on occasion
with his deeds; and have put on the new
used interchangeably, yet most Bible
man, which is renewed in knowledge after
students would recognize a general and
the image of him that created him"
decided difference between them. .
(Col. 3:9, 10).
b. In at least two essential passages the New
"And that ye put on the new man, which
Testament carefully distinguishes between
after God is created in righteousness and
body and soul.
true holiness" (Eph. 4:24).
"And the very God of peace sanctify you
Thus it would seem that there is a part of
wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit
God's image which was lost after Adam
and soul and body be preserved blameless
sinned and must now be restored by the
unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ"
Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation.
(1 Thess. 5:23).
This lost image would seem to be the
"For the word of God is quick, and
ability to know God and the desire to love
powerful, and sharper than any two-edged
him.
sword, piercing even to the dividing
B. Is man a dichotomous (two-part) being, or is
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints
he a trichotomous (three-part) being?
and marrow, and is a discerner of the
That is, does he consist of body and soul, or
thoughts and intents of the heart"
does he possess body, soul, and spirit?
(Heb. 4:12).
1. The following two arguments support c. The Hebrew word nephesh is translated by
dichotomy. the word "soul" 428 times in the Old
a. Man is a dichotomous being not just Testament. But on two occasions it is
because of the plan of God, but because of rendered "beast" and in nine other
the very nature of the universe, which only passages we find the word "creature"
recognizes material and nonmaterial. In being used.
5
 The Doctrine of Man
"And he that killeth a beast shall make it original soul from previous existence into
good; beast for beast" (Lev 24:18). their earthly bodies. This is known as the
"And the Lord God formed man of the preexistence theory, and, needless to say, has
dust of the ground, and breathed into his absolutely no scriptural support to back it
nostrils the breath of life; and man became up.
a living soul" (Gen. 2:7). Leslie B. Flynn writes:
"And out of the ground the Lord God "Preexistentialism was held by Origen, the
formed every beast of the field and every early Christian leader in Alexandria, to justify
fowl of the air; and brought them unto the wide disparity of conditions in which
Adam to see what he would call them: and people enter our world. The same view was
whatsoever Adam called every living espoused by Philo the Jewish philosopher, to
creature, that was the name thereof' explain the soul's imprisonment in the body.
(Gen. 2:19). Four centuries before Christ, Plato taught the
The point of the above is simply this: The preexistence of the soul to account for the
Bible on occasion pictures animals as existence of ideas not derived from the
possessing souls. Therefore, as man is sense." (Man, Ruined and Restored, p. 45)
different from animals, he must have
something higher, and that higher thing is 2. Second view:
the spirit. Nowhere in the Scriptures do we Each human soul is an immediate and special
read of an animal possessing a spirit. creation by God and enters the developing
d. Trichotomy is the best theory to explain fetus at an early stage. This is called the
the three levels of consciousness in all creationist theory. The following verses are
men, that of self-consciousness (through offered to support this view:
the soul), world-consciousness (through "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it
the body), and God-consciousness was: and the spirit shall return unto God who
(through the spirit). gave it" (Eccl. 12:7).
Hebrew scholar Dr. Merrill F. Unger has
"The burden of the word of the Lord for
written the following concerning this
Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth
question:
the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the
"The two terms are often used
earth, and formeth the spirit of man within
interchangeably ... however, soul and spirit
him," (Zech. 12:1).
as synonymous terms are not always
employed interchangeably. The soul is said "For I will not contend for ever, neither will I
to be lost, for example, but not the spirit. be always wroth: for the spirit should fail
When no technical distinctions are set before me, and the souls which I have made"
forth, the Bible is dichotomous, but (Isa. 57:16).
otherwise it is trichotomous. Theologians "Furthermore, we have had fathers of our
have pored over these distinctions flesh which corrected us, and we gave them
ceaselessly." reverence: shall we not much rather be in
(Unger's Bible Dictionary, p. 1043) subjection unto the Father of spirits, and
C. Where and how does man receive his soul? live?" (Heb. 12:9).
1. First view: One basic objection, however, has been
All men have known other existences prior leveled at the creation theory. If God creates
to this earthly life in heaven or somewhere in each soul in heaven separately and sends it
time past and therefore receive their down into the developing body, then why are
6 all men sinners? It is wrong, furthermore, to
 The Doctrine of Man
say the soul is thereupon corrupted by the would seem that this argument overlooks
body, for nowhere does the Scripture teach one basic but absolutely vital fact: the
that the source of sin in man stems from his personality of the Lord Jesus Christ did not
body of flesh and blood and bones. Quite the come into existence at Bethlehem through
contrary, for sin is said to come from man's either the creation or traducian method. The
stubborn and rebellious will, and his will is an indisputable scriptural fact is that as God he
aspect of his soul. In other words, does God always existed. Thus, while he could pray
create a sinful soul in the first place? If he ". . . a body hast thou prepared for me"
does, he then becomes the author of sin. But (Heb. 10:5), he also would pray later:
if, instead, he creates a pure and innocent "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with
soul, then why and how and when does man thine own self with the glory which I had
become a sinner? Would not one of the more with thee before the world was" (Jn. 17:5).
than sixty billion individuals who have lived,
or are living on this earth, have decided to D. What is the soul?
keep his pure soul unspotted and sinless? The nature of man's soul, is, like the doctrine of
the Trinity, a mystery which simply cannot be
3. Third view: grasped by mortal mind. Only a fool would
That both body and soul are passed on attempt a dogmatic answer to this question. The
through natural generations. This is called following statements are therefore but
the traducian theory and is the view of most suggestions and not absolute answers. In the
theologians (with notable exceptions such as opinion of this writer it would seem the Bible
Charles Hodge). Passages that would tend to indicates not so much that I have a soul, but
support this view are as follows: rather I am a soul. I have a body and I have a
"Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin spirit, but the soul is me. But again, who can be
did my mother conceive me" (Ps. 51:5). dogmatic here?
"Who can bring a clean thing out of an "Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all
unclean? not one," (Job 14:4). sleep, but we shall be changed, in a moment, in
the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the
"The wicked are estranged from the womb:
trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
they go astray as soon as they be born,
incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this
speaking lies" (Ps. 58:3).
corruptible must put on incorruption, and this
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and mortal must put on immortality. So when this
that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and
(Jn. 3:6). this mortal shall have put on immortality, then
"Among whom also we all had our shall be brought to pass the saying that is
conversation in times past in the lusts of our written, Death is swallowed up in victory"
flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of (1 Cor. 15:51-54).
the mind; and were by nature the children of E. What are the basic characteristics of the
wrath, even as others" (Eph. 2:3). soul?
However, as in the case of the theory of As one consults various theological works on
creationism, a serious charge is likewise the makeup of man, he discovers that the
leveled at the traducian view. The problem is discussion usually centers around four basic
this: If the child receives his soul from his words. These are: intellect, sensibility,
parents, then how did Jesus escape the conscience, and will. Here again, let it be
sin-tainted nature of Mary and remain the emphasized that no absolute and all-inclusive
pure and perfect Savior that he was? But it 7
 The Doctrine of Man
definition is possible, but the following faith have made shipwreck
statements are offered as guidelines. (1 Tim. 1:5, 19).
"Pray for us: for we trust we have a good
Intellect conscience, in all things willing to live
Sensibility honestly" (Heb. 13:18).
Conscience "Having a good conscience; that, whereas
Will they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they
may be ashamed that falsely accuse your
1. Intellect--that aspect of the soul which tells good conversation in Christ. The like
me whether a given issue is right or wrong. figure whereunto even baptism doth also
2. Sensibility--that aspect which tells me what now save us, (not the putting away of the
I would like to do about the issue. filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
3. Conscience--that aspect which tells me what conscience toward God) by the
I should do about the issue. resurrection of Jesus Christ"
The Bible lists several kinds of conscience: (1 Pet. 3:16, 21).
a. An evil conscience. e. A pure conscience.
"Let us draw near with a true heart in full "Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure
assurance of faith, having our hearts conscience" (1 Tim. 3:9).
sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our f. A seared conscience.
bodies washed with pure water" "Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their
(Heb. 10:22). conscience seared with a hot iron"
b. A defiled conscience. (1 Tim. 4:2).
"Unto the pure all things are pure: but 4. Will--that aspect which tells me what I shall
unto them that are defiled and unbelieving do about the issue.
is nothing pure; but even their mind and
conscience is defiled" (Titus 1:15). III. HIS ORIGINAL DUTIES AND
c. A weak conscience. RESPONSIBILITIES.
"Howbeit there is not in every man that Why did God create man? Before giving the various
knowledge: for some with conscience of
reasons, it should be strongly stated that God did not
the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing
make man because he was lonely! Long before he
offered unto an idol; and their conscience
created angels or man, the Father was having blessed
being weak is defiled. But when ye sin so
fellowship with his beloved Son.
against the brethren, and wound their "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own
weak conscience, ye sin against Christ" self with the glory which I had with thee before the
(1 Cor. 8:7, 12).
world was. Father, I will that they also, whom thou
d. A good conscience.
hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may
"And Paul, earnestly beholding the council,
behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou
said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all
lovedst me before the foundation of the world"
good conscience before God until this day" (Jn. 17:5, 24).
(Acts 23:1). "The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way,
"Now the end of the commandment is
before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting,
charity out of a pure heart, and of a good
from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there
conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were
Holding faith, and a good conscience;
no fountains abounding with water. Before the
which some having put away, concerning
8
 The Doctrine of Man
mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought in the image and likeness of God. Man has
forth: while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the developed not from the ape, but away from it.
fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. He never was anything but potential man." (The
When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he (Great Doctrines of the Bible; William Evans;
set a compass upon the face of the depth: when he pp. 128,129)
established the clouds above: when he strengthened the "No single instance has yet been adduced of the
fountains of the deep: when he gave to the sea his transformation of one animal species into
decree, that the waters should not pass his another, either by natural or
commandment: when he appointed the artificial selection; much less has it
foundations of the earth: Then I was by been demonstrated that the body of
him, as one brought up with him: and I the brute has ever been developed
was daily his delight, rejoicing always into that of the man. The links that
before him" (Prov. 8:22-30). should bind man to the monkey
But why, then, did he create man? have not been found. Not a single
According to a passage in Revelation: one can be shown. None have been
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive found that stood nearer the
glory and honor and power: for thou hast monkey than the man of today."
created all things, and for thy pleasure --Agassiz
they are and were created" (Rev. 4:11).
B. Man was to make his headquarters in Eden
Man, then, was created to demonstrate the glory of
and especially to care for this beautiful
God and to fellowship with the God of glory. Upon his
garden paradise.
creation he is given the following duties and
"And the Lord God took the man, and put him
responsibilities:
into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep
A. Man was to assume the headship over all
it" (Gen. 2:15).
nature.
"And God said, Let us make man in our image, C. Man was to provide names for every living
after our likeness: and let them have dominion creature.
over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the "And out of the ground the Lord God formed
air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, every beast of the field, and every fowl of the
and over every creeping thing that creepeth air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he
upon the earth" (Gen. 1:26). would call them: and whatsoever Adam called
every living creature, that was the name thereof.
The New Testament makes it clear that man
And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the
was made to eventually assume headship over
fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field;
the entire universe (Heb. 2:58).
but for Adam there was not found a help meet
". . .From all this it is evident that man's original for him" (Gen. 2:19, 20).
state was not one of savagery. Indeed there is
D. Man was to love and protect his wife.
abundant evidence to show that man has been
"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his
degraded from a very much higher stage. Both
mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they
the Bible and science agree in making man the
shall be one flesh" (Gen. 2:24).
crowning work of God, and that there will be
no higher order of beings here on the earth than E. Man was to reproduce himself and populate
man. We must not forget that while man, from the earth with his kind.
one side of his nature, is linked to the animal "And God blessed them, and God said unto
creation, he is yet supra-natural--a being of a them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the
higher order and more splendid nature; he is earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over
9 the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air,
 The Doctrine of Man
and over every living thing that moveth upon eatest thereof thou shalt surely die"
the earth" (Gen. 1:28). (Gen. 2:17).
F. Man was to enjoy all the fruits of the various "For I testify unto every man that heareth the
trees (except one). words of the prophecy of this book, If any
"And the Lord God commanded the man, man shall add unto these things, God shall add
saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest unto him the plagues that are written in this
freely eat" (Gen. 2:16). book: And if any man shall take away from the
G. Man was forbidden to partake of the fruit of words of the book of this prophecy, God shall
the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. take away his part out of the book of life, and
"But of the tree of the knowledge of good and out of the holy city, and from the things which
evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that are written in this book" (Rev. 22:18, 19).
thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto
(Gen. 2:17). them that put their trust in him. Add thou not
unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou
IV. HIS TRAGIC SIN AND FALL. be found a liar" (Prov. 30:5, 6).
A. The temptation that led to the fall. "And when the woman saw that the tree was
According to Genesis 3:1 Satan, working good for food, and that it was pleasant to the
through the serpent, enticed Eve to disobey eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise,
God and partake of the forbidden fruit. she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and
"Now the serpent was more subtile than any gave also unto her husband with her; and he did
beast of the field which the Lord God had made. eat" (Gen. 3:6).
And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God C. The trial that followed the fall.
said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the Adam the sinner, after a brief and futile attempt
garden?" (Gen. 3:1). to hide, now confesses to his crime. At this
We here note Satan's approach to Eve. He point the righteous Judge sets up his court in
begins by slyly doubting God's Word, but soon Eden and the trial begins. A threefold sentence
is brazenly denying the Word of God. is soon passed down:
"And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall 1. Upon the serpent.
not surely die" (Gen. 3:4). "And the Lord God said unto
B. The transgression that caused the fall. the serpent, Because thou hast
"And the woman said unto the serpent, We may done this, thou art cursed above
eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of all cattle, and above every beast
the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the of the field; upon thy belly shalt
garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, thou go, and dust shalt thou eat
neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die" all the days of thy life" (Gen. 3:14).
(Gen. 3:2, 3). Isaiah indicates that this judgment will
In these verses Eve commits two fatal mistakes. continue to be binding upon the serpent even
She adds to God's Word (God did not say, during the millennium.
"Neither shall ye touch it"), and then she takes "The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
from God's Word (she omitted the original and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock:
command, "Thou shalt surely die"). and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They
"But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy
thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou mountain, saith the Lord" (Isa. 65:25).
10
 The Doctrine of Man
2. Upon Satan. because I was naked; and I hid myself"
"And I will put enmity between thee and the (Gen. 3:8-10).
woman, and between thy seed and her seed; c. Discord.
it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise "And the man said, The woman whom
his heel" (Gen. 3:15). thou gavest to be with me, she gave me
of the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord
At first glance this verse would merely seem
God said unto the woman, What is this
to predict the natural hatred of man for
that thou hast done? And the woman said,
snakes. But for centuries devout Bible
The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat,"
students have seen a far more precious and
(Gen. 3:12, 13).
profound truth underlying these words. For
This is the first historical example of
in this verse they claim to see no less than a
"passing the buck" (or blame).
thrilling prediction of the cross and the
d. Death.
resurrection, of the Savior's great victory
(1) Physical death.
over Satan. Theologically, then, verse 15
may be translated as follows: "And there will "And all the days that Adam lived
be an intense hatred between Satan and were nine hundred and thirty years:
Christ. Eventually Christ shall crush the head and he died," (Gen. 5:5).
of Satan, while suffering a heel wound in the "The days of our years are threescore
process." See also: years and ten; and if by reason of
"And the God of peace shall bruise Satan strength they be fourscore years, yet
under your feet shortly. The grace of our is their strength labour and sorrow;
Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen" for it is soon cut off, and we fly
(Rom. 16:20). away" (Ps. 90:10).
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, (2) Spiritual death.
he was bruised for our iniquities; the "And then will I profess unto them, I
chastisement of our peace was upon him; and never knew you: depart from me, ye
with his stripes we are healed" (Isa. 53:5). that work iniquity" (Mt. 7:23).
3. Upon Adam. "Then shall he say also unto them on
the left hand, Depart from me, ye
Adam and Eve would experience a sevenfold
cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared
sentence because of their sin.
for the devil and his angels"
a. Shame. (Mt. 25:41).
"And the eyes of them both were opened, "He that hath an ear, let him hear
and they knew that they were naked; and what the Spirit saith unto the
they sewed fig leaves together, and made churches; He that overcometh shall
themselves aprons" (Gen. 3:7). not be hurt of the second death"
b. Fear. (Rev. 2:11).
"And they heard the voice of the Lord God
"Blessed and holy is he that hath part
walking in the garden in the cool of the
in the first resurrection; on such the
day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves
second death hath no power, but they
from the presence of the Lord God
shall be priests of God and of Christ,
amongst the trees of the garden. And the
and shall reign with him a thousand
Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto
years" (Rev. 20:6).
him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard
thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, 11
 The Doctrine of Man
"And death and hell were cast into make themselves known in the lives of twentieth
the lake of fire. This is the second century men?
death" (Rom. 20:14).
1. The liberal position:
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and
As the entire story is simply a Hebrew
the abominable, and murderers, and
legend, there can, of course, be no effect
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and
whatsoever.
idolaters, and all liars, shall have their
part in the lake which burneth with 2. The Pelagian position:
fire and brimstone: which is the Palagius was a fifth-century British monk
second death" (Rev. 21:8). who taught that Adam's sin affected only
e. Suffering. himself, for God imputes to men only those
"Unto the woman he said, I will greatly sins which they personally and consciously
multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in perform. Pelagius said the only effect of
sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and Adam's sin on posterity was that of a bad
thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he example. The doctrine of Pelagianism was
shall rule over thee" (Gen. 3:16). condemned by the council of Carthage in
f. Weariness of labor. A. D. 418.
"And unto Adam he said, Because thou
hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, 3. The Arminian position:
and hast eaten of the tree, of which I Arminius (1560-1609) was a professor who
commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not lived and taught in Holland. This theory
eat of it; cursed is the ground for thy sake; teaches that while Adam's sin definitely
in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of weakened the will of his posterity to remain
thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it sinless, it did not destroy the possibility.
bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the
4. The Augustinian position:
herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face
shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto Augustine was one of the greatest of the
the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; early church fathers. He taught that because
for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou of the unity of the human race in Adam,
return" (Gen. 3:17-19). man's sin is imputed to his posterity. Thus,
g. Separation. corrupted nature begets corrupted nature.
"And the Lord God said, Behold, the man This final view is the only position which is
is become as one of us, to know good and amply supported by the Scriptures.
evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into
and take also of the tree of life, and eat, the world, and death by sin; and so death
and live for ever: therefore the Lord God passed upon all men, for that all have sinned"
sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to (Rom. 5:12).
till the ground from whence he was taken. "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment
So he drove out the man; and he placed at came upon all men to condemnation; even so
the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims by the righteousness of one the free gift came
and a flaming sword which turned every upon all men unto justification of life. For as
way, to keep the way of the tree of life" by one man's disobedience many were made
(Gen. 3:22-24). sinners, so by the obedience of one shall
D. The theories that explain the fall. many be made righteous" (Rom. 5:18,19).
Were the effects of Adam's fall merely confined
to himself, or do they continue somehow to 12
 The Doctrine of Man
"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ that he is made in God's image and carries
shall all be made alive" (1 Cor. 15:22). the divine spark of divinity within him. He
At this point it should be said that in the New therefore need only to fan that small flame
Testament the Apostle Paul often and begin living that victorious life God
distinguishes between "sin" and "'sins." wants him to live.
According to Paul: B. The facts.
Sin--the root of my problem and a reference In his first epistle to the church at Corinth, Paul
to my corrupted nature which I received places all living men into three spiritual
from Adam. categories:
Sins--the fruit of my problem and a reference 1. The natural man.
to those actions resulting from my corrupted "But the natural man receiveth not the things
nature. of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness
It is vital to understand this distinction, for unto him: neither can he know them, because
God will not deal with us favorably they are spiritually discerned" (1 Cor. 2:14).
concerning our sins until we allow him to "The understanding is darkened (Eph. 4:18;
treat our sin nature. I sin (commit individual 1 Cor 2:14); the heart is deceitful and wicked
transgressions) because I am a sinner, and (Jer. 17:9, 10); the mind and conscience are
therefore do not become a sinner because I defiled (Gen. 6:5; Titus 1:15); the flesh and
sin! Thus modernism is content to treat the spirit are defiled (2 Cor 7:5); the will is
boils on the skin of mankind (sins) but the enfeebled (Rom. 7:18); and we are utterly
real disease is in the bloodstream (sin destitute of any Godlike qualities which meet
nature). Paul summarizes all this in a single the requirements of God's holiness
verse, which should be literally translated: (Rom. 7:18)." (The Great Doctrines of the
"For all have sinned [past tense, in Adam] Bible; William Evans; p. 133)
and are [present time, in daily experience]
falling short of God's glory" (Rom. 3:23). Natural
From all this we therefore conclude that Carnal
Adam's individual transgression resulted in a
sin nature for him, but with us it is the other Spiritual
way around our sin nature results in
individual transgressions. The Bible describes all unsaved men (the
natural man) as being spiritually depraved.
V. HIS PRESENT-DAY CONDITION.
a. Negative aspects of depravity.
A. The fallacies. (1) Depravity does not mean that all
1. Man is dirt and therefore cannot be saved. unsaved men are as depraved as they
According to this position, the only real can possibly become. Most American
difference between a mushroom, a man, and men, for example, do not run around
a mountain is simply in the accidental murdering little children or robbing
arrangement of the atoms. banks. But some do. Also, few
housewives suddenly abandon their
2. Man is divine, and therefore need not be families and become professional
saved. harlots.
Thus, as Christian witnesses we are told that (2) Depravity does not hold that a sinner
our primary ministry to the poor, lost, has no sense of God, nor of good and
helpless drunkard is to simply inform him 13 evil. Often, to the shame of the
 The Doctrine of Man
Christian, unsaved men and women "As it is written, There is none
demonstrate a higher morality than righteous, no, not one: There is none
shown by their professing neighbors that understandeth, there is none that
and family members. seeketh after God. They are all gone
(3) Depravity does not teach that an out of the way, they are together
unsaved man cannot admire the noble, become unprofitable; there is none
or even perform noble and heroic acts. that doeth good, no, not one"
Many battle accounts record the (Rom. 3:10-12).
bravery of unsaved soldiers who pay 2. The carnal man.
the supreme sacrifice to save the lives
"And 1, brethren, could not speak unto you
of their endangered buddies. On other
as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even
occasions unsaved firemen and
as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with
policemen have laid down their lives to
milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were
protect individuals they may not even
not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye
know.
able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there
b. Positive aspects of depravity.
is among you envying, and strife, and
(1) Depravity means that all sinners are
divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as
capable of all wicked things. This
men?" (1 Cor. 3:1-3).
means that a freedom-loving Winston
Churchill still possessed within his Here Paul sadly describes a Christian who is
nature all the potential cruelty of an indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but who still
Adolf Hitler. allows himself to be controlled by the
(2) Depravity teaches that no sinner has passions of the flesh. Paul calls him a baby,
the power to please God. for he has never learned to grow.
The following Scriptures aptly 3. The Spirit-controlled man.
describe the natural man: "But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet
"But I know you, that ye have not the he himself is judged of no man"
love of God in you" (Jn. 5:42). (1 Cor. 2:15).
"For I know that in me (that is, in my
VI. HIS DESTINY.
flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to
will is present with me; but how to In the throes of despair, the suffering patriarch Job
perform that which is good I find once cried out:
not" (Rom. 7:18). "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and
full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is
"Because the carnal mind is enmity
cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth
against God: for it is not subject to
not" (Job 14:1, 2).
the law of God, neither indeed can
Later during the same dialogue Job would sigh and
be. So then they that are in the flesh
ask:
cannot please God" (Rom. 8:7-8).
"If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my
"That at that time ye were without appointed time will I wait, till my change come"
Christ, being aliens from the (Job 14:14).
commonwealth of Israel, and Finally, in chapter 19, Job reaffirms his own personal
strangers from the covenants of faith in God and in the destiny of man. Job exclaims:
promise, having no hope, and without
God in the world" (Eph. 2:12).
14
 The Doctrine of Man
"For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he But if there be no resurrection of the dead,
shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not
after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh risen, then is our preaching vain, and your
shall I see God" (Job 19:25, 26). faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false
It has been said that the three largest questions of witnesses of God; because we have testified
mankind are as follows: of God that he raised up Christ: whom he
raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ
Where did I come from?
raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith
Why am I here?
is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also
Where am I going?
which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we
Thus far in this study, questions one and two have are of all men most miserable. But now is
been answered. This final section will answer the third Christ risen from the dead, and become the
question. first-fruits of them that slept"
A. False views concerning the destiny of man. (1 Cor. 15:12-20).
1. Nirvana: "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is
sown in corruption; it is raised in
An oriental Hindu philosophy (which at
incorruption: it is sown in dishonor; it is
certain periods in history has wormed its way
raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is
into Christian thought) which teaches that at
raised in power: it is sown a natural body; it
death a man ceases all personal existence and
is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural
is absorbed by some great life-giving
body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it
principle in the universe. According to this
is written, The first man Adam was made a
thought, a man, while he lives, can be
living soul; the last Adam was made a
pictured as a small wave ripple, skimming the
quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first
top of a mighty ocean. But when the wind
which is spiritual, but that which is natural;
stops (the moment of death), the wave is
and afterward that which is spiritual. The
then received back into the ocean from
first man is of the earth, earthy: the second
whence it came, and forever loses its
man is the Lord from heaven. As is the
previous identity. This is refuted by:
earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and
"And behold, there appeared unto them as is the heavenly, such are they also that are
Moses and Elias talking with him" heavenly. And as we have borne the image of
(Mt. 17:3). the earthy, we shall also bear the image of
Here we see Moses (who had died 2,000 the heavenly" (1 Cor. 15:42-49).
years earlier) and Elijah (who had departed
2. Restorationism:
over seven centuries back) both reappearing
on the Mount of Transfiguration to Peter, The belief that in a future life all men will be
James, and John. This, of course, proves that given a second chance to make the choice for
absence from this earth does not mean the God that they did not make during this life.
termination of personality or person-hood. This is refuted by:
"Now if Christ be preached that he rose from "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his
the dead, how say some among you that neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that
there is no resurrection of the dead? without remedy" (Prov. 29:1).
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily,
15 verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born
 The Doctrine of Man
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but
(Jn. 3:3). if one went unto them from the dead, they
"For God so loved the world, that he gave will repent. And he. said unto him, If they
his only begotten Son, that whosoever hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will
believeth in him should not perish, but have they be persuaded though one rose from the
everlasting life. For God sent not his Son dead" (Lk. 16:19-31).
into the world to condemn the world; but If these verses teach anything, they strongly
that the world through him might be saved. and sternly declare that at the moment of
He that believeth on him is not condemned: death there exists absolutely no chance for
but he that believeth not is condemned the salvation of an unsaved person. We may
already, because he hath not believed in the be tempted to argue with God concerning
name of the only begotten Son of God" the why of the matter, but not the what of the
(Jn. 3:16-18). matter. Origen (second century church
"There was a certain rich man, which was father) was one of the earliest proponents
clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared of restorationism. He even taught the
sumptuously every day: And there was a possibility of Satan himself being restored to
certain beggar named Lazarus, which was the faith he once rebelled against.
laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to Restorationists use the following Scripture
be fed with the crumbs which fell from the verses for "proof" of their position.
rich man's table: moreover the dogs came "And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before
and licked his sores. And it came to pass, was preached unto you: whom the heaven
that the beggar died, and was carried by the must receive until the times of restitution of
angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man all things, which God hath spoken by the
also died, and was buried; and in hell he mouth of all his holy prophets since the
lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and world began" (Acts 3:20, 21).
seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ
bosom. And he cried and said, Father shall all be made alive" (1 Cor. 15:22).
Abraham, have mercy on me, and send "That in the dispensation of the fulness of
Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger times he might gather together in one all
in water, and cool my tongue; for I am things in Christ, both which are in heaven,
tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, and which are on earth; even in him"
Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime (Eph. 1:10).
receivedst thy good things, and likewise
Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, "For this is good and acceptable in the sight
of God our Saviour; who will have all men to
and thou art tormented. And beside all this,
be saved, and to come unto the knowledge
between us and you there is a great gulf
of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:3, 4).
fixed: so that they which would pass from
hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to "For therefore we both labour and suffer
us, that would come from thence. Then he reproach, because we trust in the living God,
said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou who is the Saviour of all men, specially of
wouldest send him to my father's house: For those that believe" (1 Tim. 4:10).
I have five brethren; that he may testify unto "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins,
them, lest they also come into this place of the just for the unjust, that he might bring us
torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have to God, being put to death in the flesh, but
Moses and the prophets; let them hear quickened by the Spirit; by which also he
16
 The Doctrine of Man
went and preached unto the spirits in prison" literally be "uncreated," or annihilated by
(1 Pet. 3:18, 19). God. It is refuted by:
However, a quick glance at the context of "And these shall go away into everlasting
the above verses show that all the "'restored" punishment: but the righteous into life
here are those who have accepted Christ as eternal" (Mt. 25:46).
Savior. The passage in 1 Peter has been the "And the third angel followed them saying
subject of some controversy, but whatever with a loud voice, If any man worship the
else, it does not teach restorationism. The beast and his image, and receive his mark in
verb "preached" in verse 19 in the original his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall
Greek does not refer to gospel preaching. drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which
3. Materialism: is poured out without mixture into the cup of
his indignation; and he shall be tormented
Atheistic belief that man, upon death, forever
with fire and brimstone in the presence of the
ceases to be and quietly rots into
holy angels, and in the presence of the
nothingness. This philosophy has been aptly
Lamb: And the smoke of their torment
described on an ancient tombstone: "I was
ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they
not, I became, I am not, I care not." This is
have no rest day nor night, who worship the
refuted by:
beast and his image, and whosoever
"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and receiveth the mark of his name"
blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; (Rev. 14:9-11).
neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Those believing in annihilationism attempt to
Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not
undergird their claims by quoting certain
all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a
Scripture verses in the Psalms:
moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the
last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and "For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that
the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the
shall be changed. For this corruptible must earth" (Ps. 37:9).
put on incorruption, and this mortal must put "The Lord preserveth all them that love him:
on immortality. So when this corruptible but all the wicked will he destroy"
shall have put on incorruption, and this (Ps. 145:20).
mortal shall have put on immortality, then Refute: The same Hebrew word karath,
shall be brought to pass the saying that is translated "cut off" in Psalm 37:9 is also used
written, Death is swallowed up in victory. in reference to the crucifixion of the Messiah
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where as prophesied in Daniel 9:26. Christ was
is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and certainly not annihilated at Calvary.
the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be In Psalm 145:20 the identical Hebrew word
to God, which giveth us the victory through here rendered "destroy" is found describing
our Lord Jesus Christ"' (1 Cor. 15:50-57). the punishment of both Egypt (Ex. 10:7) and
Materialism may be correctly defined as that Israel (Hosea 13:9), neither of which nation
clever worldly art of knowing the price of has yet to suffer annihilation.
everything, but the value of nothing.
5. Soul sleep:
4. Annihilationism: The view that the soul sleeps between death
This theory, espoused by the Jehovah's and the resurrection. It is refuted by:
Witnesses, along with various other groups, "Therefore we are always confident,
teaches that all the ungodly will someday 17 knowing that, whilst we are at home in the
 The Doctrine of Man
body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we things to come, by a greater and more
walk by faith, not by sight:) We are perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that
confident, I say, and willing rather to be is to say, not of this building; neither by the
absent from the body, and to be present with blood of goats and calves, but by his own
the Lord. Wherefore we labor, that, whether blood he entered in once into the holy place,
present or absent, we may be accepted of having obtained eternal redemption for us.
him" (2 Cor. 5:6-9). For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the
"For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean,
desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh; how
is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the much more shall the blood of Christ, who
flesh is more needful for you" through the eternal Spirit offered himself
(Phil. 1:23, 24). without spot to God, purge your conscience
"And when he had opened the fifth seal, I from dead works to serve the living God?"
saw under the altar the souls of them that (Heb. 9:11-14).
were slain for the word of God, and for the "For Christ is not entered into the holy places
testimony which they held: And they cried made with hands, which are the figures of the
with a loud voice, saying, How long, true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in
O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge the presence of God for us: nor yet that he
and avenge our blood on them that dwell on should offer himself often, as the high priest
the earth? And white robes were given unto entereth into the holy place every year with
every one of them; and it was said unto blood of others; for then must he often have
them, that they should rest yet for a little suffered since the foundation of the world:
season, until their fellow servants also and but now once in the end of the world hath he
their brethren, that should be killed as they appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of
were, should be fulfilled." (Rev. 6:9-11). himself. And as it is appointed unto men
This passage in Revelation not only refutes once to die, but after this the judgment: So
soul sleep, but, to the contrary, teaches that Christ was once offered to bear the sins of
departed believers can both ask questions many; and unto them that look for him shall
and receive answers in heaven. It also seems he appear the second time without sin unto
to suggest the possibilities of a temporary salvation" (Heb. 9:24-28).
body given them prior to their future "But this man, after he had offered one
resurrected bodies. sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the
right hand of God; this is the covenant that I
6. Purgatory: will make with them after those days, saith
The belief of Roman Catholics that all those the Lord; I will put my laws into their hearts,
who die at peace with the church but are not and in their minds will I write them; and their
perfect must undergo penal and purifying sins and iniquities will I remember no more"
sufferings. However, this is only for those (Heb. 10:12,16, 17).
who die in venial (lesser) sin, for all dying in
7. Limbo:
mortal sin are forever condemned to hell.
Roman doctrine teaches that a person's stay Another aspect of Roman Catholic theology
in purgatory may be shortened by the gifts or which teaches that all unbaptized children
services rendered by living people in behalf and the mentally incompetent, upon death,
of the beloved dead one through the Roman proceed to a permanent place of "natural
Catholic Church. This is refuted by: "But happiness," but not heaven. This is refuted
Christ being come an high priest of good 18 by:
 The Doctrine of Man
"At the same time came the disciples unto B. Scriptural considerations concerning the
Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the destiny of man.
kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little 1. Before the cross.
child unto him, and set him in the midst of
Where was the abode of the dead prior to
them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except
Calvary? It is held by a number of Bible
ye be converted, and become as little
students that before Jesus died, the souls of
children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom
all men descended into an abode located
of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble
somewhere in the earth known as Hades in
himself as this little child, the same is greatest
the New Testament and Sheol in the Old
in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall
Testament. Originally, there were two
receive one such little child in my name
sections of Hades, one for saved and one for
receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of
the lost. The saved section is sometimes
these little ones which believe in me, it were
called "'Paradise," and is at other times
better for him that a millstone were hanged
referred to as "Abraham's bosom."
about his neck, and that he were drowned in
the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto
because of offenses! for it must needs be that thee, Today shalt thou be with me in
offenses come; but woe to that man by paradise" (Lk. 23:43).
whom the offense cometh! Wherefore if thy "And it came to pass, that the beggar died,
hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's
and cast them from thee: it is better for thee bosom: the rich man also died, and was
to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than buried" (Lk. 16:22).
having two hands or two feet to be cast into There is no name given for the unsaved
everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, section apart from the general designation of
pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better Hades. In Luke 16:19-31 the Savior relates
for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather the account of a poor believer who died and
than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. went to the saved part of Hades and of a rich
Take heed that ye despise not one of these unbeliever who died and went to the unsaved
little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven section. (See VI. A. 2, Restorationism.)
their angels do always behold the face of my A number of extremely interesting
Father which is in heaven" (Mt. 18:1-10). conclusions may be derived from this
8. Reincarnation: historical account as related by Christ.
The belief in the transmigration or rebirth of a. The activities of angels in carrying
the soul which has been fundamental to most believers to their reward.
religions and philosophies of India. As one b. The possibilities of an intermediate,
sows in the present life, so one shall reap in pre-resurrection body for the lost as well
the next, good deeds resulting in a good state as the saved.
of rebirth, bad deeds in a bad state of rebirth. c. The irony of an occupant in hell desiring to
Thus a man's state of life is seen not as become a soul-winner.
something fortuitous or meaningless, but as d. The nature of the rich man's request to
the working out, for good or ill, of the send Lazarus to testify to his five lost
effects of a previous existence and the brothers, reasoning that "if one went unto
predetermining of a future state. This theory, them from the dead, they will repent." This
like the previous seven, is totally without pathetic request was of course denied,
scriptural support. simply because it would not have worked.
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 The Doctrine of Man
The fact of the matter is that Christ did 2. After the cross.
actually raise a man with the same name as The state of the unsaved dead remained (and
Lazarus a few months later. What were the remains) unchanged after the cross. They
results of this? Did it cause the unbelieving remain in Hades awaiting the final great
Jews to come to the Savior? Hardly. In white throne judgment.
fact, just the opposite occurred, for the
"And I saw a great white throne, and him that
wicked Pharisees not only decided to kill
sat on it, from whose face the earth and the
Jesus for his action (Jn. 11:53), but
heaven fled away; and there was found no
actually planned (if necessary) to murder
place for them. And I saw the dead, small
the resurrected Lazarus also
and great, stand before God; and the books
(Jn. 12:10, 11).
were opened: and another book was
However, many believe that all this
opened, which is the book of life: and the
changed after Christ had made full
dead were judged out of those things which
payment for the believer's sins on Calvary.
were written in the books, according to their
The Scofield Bible suggests that during the
works. And the sea gave up the dead which
time of his death and resurrection, our
were in it; and death and hell delivered up
Lord descended into Hades, depopulated
the dead which were in them: and they were
Paradise, and led a spiritual triumphal
judged every man according to their works.
entry into the heavenlies with all the saved
And death and hell were cast into the lake of
up to that time. The following is offered as
fire. This is the second death. And
proof of this:
whosoever was not found written in the
"Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up
book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
on high, he led captivity captive, and gave
(Rev. 20:11-15).
gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended,
what is it but that he also descended first
into the lower parts of the earth? He that the Lake of Fire
descended is the same also that ascended
up far above all heavens, that he might fill or
all things)" (Eph. 4:8-10).
In his book Revelation, the late Heaven
Dr. Donald Barnhouse writes:
"When He ascended on High He emptied
Hell of Paradise and took it straight to the This means the lost rich man is still in Hades,
presence of God. Captivity was taken there having since been joined by Judas,
captive.... From that moment onward there Herod, Nero, Hitler, etc., and will remain
was to be no separation whatsoever for until after the millennium and the
those who believe in Christ. The gates of resurrection of the unjust.
Hell would never more prevail against any "'But the rest of the dead lived not again until
believer." the thousand years were finished . . ."
"And I say also unto thee, That thou art (Rev. 20:5).
Peter, and upon this rock I will build my But a glorious change has occurred
church; and the gates of hell shall not concerning the state of those who fall asleep
prevail against it" (Mt. 16:18). in Jesus. Note the following Scriptures:
"'But he, being full of the Holy Ghost,
looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw
20 the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the
 The Doctrine of Sin
This material is
copyrighted and used
by permission.

right hand of God, and they stoned Stephen, (3) to Adam/Eve (7 points) __________________
calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, ________________________________________
receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and ________________________________________
cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin ________________________________________
to their charge. And when he had said this, ________________________________________
he fell asleep" (Acts 7:55, 59, 60). 6. Which theory explaining the fall do we hold to?
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is ___________________________ Give a verse to
gain. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having prove your point.__________________________
a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; ________________________________________
which is far better" (Phil. 1:21, 23) . ________________________________________
"We are confident, I say, and willing rather 7. Paul places all living men into three spiritual
to be absent from the body, and to be present categories, they are (1) ______________________
with the Lord" (2 Cor. 5:8). (2) ________________ (3) ________________
8. What is the destiny of Man? (lost) _____________
Thus, according to these verses, both _________________ (saved) ______________
Stephen and Paul, along with all other 9. I have read _____% of the printed material.
departed believers, are now in the heavenlies 10. I have looked up _____% of the Scripture references.
with Christ. In the following Scripture Paul
refers to this place as "the third heaven."
"It is not expedient for me doubtless to
The Doctrine Of Sin
word "sin" is found hundreds of times
glory. I will come to visions and revelations
of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above
fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I
The in the Bible in both Old and New
Testaments. Its first mention is in
Genesis 4:7, where it is said to have
cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I
been lurking at the door of the world's first murderer,
cannot tell: God knoweth;) such a one
Cain.
caught up to the third heaven. And I knew The second reference is found in Genesis 18:20,
such a man, (whether in the body, or out of where it causes the fiery and fearsome destruction of
the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) how Sodom. The final mention is in Revelation 18:5, where
that he was caught up into paradise, and it brings down the full wrath of an angry God upon the
heard unspeakable words, which it is not political and economic systems of this entire world.
lawful for a man to utter" (2 Cor. 12:14). What is this deadly and damnable thing that is so
STUDY QUESTIONS FOR MAN hated by God and so harmful to man? The very word
carries with it the hissing sound of a vicious viper.
1. What is the origin of man? ___________________ Some twenty centuries ago the angel Gabriel
________________________________________ appeared to a troubled carpenter named Joseph to
2. Is man a two-part or a three-part being? reassure him of the purity of Mary.
________________________________________ "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto
3. What are the four characteristics of the soul as given thee Mary, thy wife, for that which is conceived in her
in the notes? 1) ____________2) _____________ is of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a son,
3) ________________ 4) ___________________ and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his
4. What was the temptation that led to the fall? people from their sins" (Mt. 1:20, 21).
_______________________________________ Approximately thirty years after this angelic
5. The three-fold sentence that God passed down was: announcement, this babe, who had now grown into
(1) to the serpent __________________________ strong manhood, was publicly introduced by John the
(2) to Satan ______________________________ Baptist in the following manner:
21