What is man?
Psalms. 8:3-4: When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? These words always flash before my eyes whenever I think of the glory of Elohim. King David, who wrote this Psalm, was the youngest in his house. In a Jewish household the youngest child was always treated as little more than a slave. He was given all the menial jobs. So David was given the job of a shepherd while his elder brothers went to war. When he was made the king’s son-in-law, he asked, ’who am I?’ realizing his low estate. In Psalm 22:6, he compares himself to a worm, despised by all men. Job also asked this question, ‘ (Job 25:6) How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?’ We can think that this is an example of depression, but it is not! But what exactly is man? As we go through the Bible, we find out what man really is!

Created in Elohim’s image (Gen.1:26). ‘And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:’ Man was not made in the likeness of any other creature before him. Man is not made in the physical likeness of Elohim because Elohim has no physical body. The image and likeness are spiritual and intellectual. The human mind is still endowed with the most extraordinary capacities. It was created after the image of God; and that image, St. Paul tells us, consisted in righteousness, true holiness, and knowledge,(Eph.4:24). Man was the masterpiece of Elohim’s creation and was given dominion or authority over all the creation.

In spite of such a wonderful life which Elohim gave him, man chose to sin. He gave up his dominion and authority to satan. Instead of being a friend and companion of the Almighty, man became a slave to sin. He became a sinner (Eph.2:2): We have become children of disobedience. As it says in Rom 3:23,’ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;’ From the glorious life which Yahweh gave us, we became dead in our sins, always fulfilling the lust of the flesh. 1Jn 2:16,’For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. Elohim is angry with the wicked and are by nature the children of wrath of Elohim.

Man is an example of Elohim’s mercy: (Eph 2:4-5)’But Elohim, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Messiah, (by grace ye are saved;). Right after man sinned, Yahweh punished Adam and Eve and cursed the serpent, saying,’ And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.’ (Gen 3:15). Yahweh Elohim foretold how satan would be defeated by the Son of Man. Though unworthy of Elohim’s love and mercy, man would be pardoned and all his sins forgiven by the grace of Yahweh.  Elohim planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That's why he sent Messiah to make us what we are. That is why Paul, who being a persecutor of Christians, experienced Messiah’s forgiveness so that he would be an example of Yahweh’s mercy to all those who have faith in Yahshua Messiah.

Man is a saint: As a result of Yahweh’s mercy, we now lead new lives, pure and holy. When we repent of our sins and are baptized in His holy name, the old man is dead and we rise to a new life. “I am crucified with Messiah: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Messiah liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of Yahweh, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Gal 2:20). When Messiah lives in us we are no more sinners but saints !

A temple of Yahweh: 1Cor.3:16,’Know ye not that ye are the temple of Elohim, and that the Spirit of Yahweh dwelleth in you?’ In the Old Testament times, Elohim dwelt in the tabernacle, ‘and let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.’ (Exo.25:8). ‘Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.’ (Exo.40:34) .Elohim’s glory used to fill the tabernacle when He was in it. Now, when we are baptized in His name, the Holy Spirit dwells in us, He makes our hearts His dwelling place and is always with us to guide us and teach us. (John.14:26). Our bodies are the temples of Messiah, and if anyone defiles the temple of Elohim by  wisdom of the world, through philosophy, and vain deceit; or by bringing in false doctrines, errors, and heresies, and corrupt their minds from the simplicity that is in Christ; and make divisions among the body, Elohim will destroy his body and soul.

Man is a channel of blessing to others. Just as Yahweh blessed Abraham and said ‘and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: ‘ (Gen.12:2)we who are saved will be a blessing to others. ‘He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.’(John.7:38). When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we also receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit which we must use for building up the Church. This way others will also enjoy the blessings which we receive.

So we see how Yahweh Elohim shows us through His word the answer to David’s question, ’what is man…” Through these passages we see that man was created in the image of Elohim and had dominion over all the creation. He lost this authority when he sinned and became a slave of sin. But Messiah , in His infinite mercy, forgave us our sins and made us holy and sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within us so that we are blessed and are a blessing to others. Now we are no more children of the evil one but are now the sons of Elohim, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John.1:12 ). Hallelujah!!

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