There are
various definitions that exist that could be offered to answer this question.
However, as Christ-followers if we hold the Scripture to be the Word of God and
true, then we can trust what it has to
say on this matter. It has been said that this,
“…can be answered, not by speculating on
our human essence – particularly what distinguishes
us from other creatures – but by listening to a story and the stable definition
that arises from that revelation. In this story, God not only reveals Himself;
He reveals us to ourselves.”[1]
This revealed truth is found in
Gen 1:26 we read that humankind was created because of a decision made by God.
That is He said, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make humankind (Hebrew adam)
in our image, according to our likeness.’”
Consequently, humankind was the
result of God’s sovereign choice and purpose and not a mere accident or
coincidence. Humanity was intentionally a distinct creation and is not like any of the other created creatures
anywhere in creation. Humanity was a creation of God’s spoken Word. God made
them out of earth (Hebrew adamah),
and then He Himself breathed His life into Adam. It is only after receiving
God’s life-giving breath that humanity
became a living being, (Gen 2:7). This revealed truth states that God, “…the
creator created them male and female…;” see Gen 1:27; 5:2; Duet 4:32; Matt
19:4; Mk 10:6, “...God made them male and female…”
Therefore,
humanity whom He created was the glory of His creative work. Then the greatest mystery
is that God would send His Son in the incarnation as one of humanity. This was
Jesus Christ, who would redeem humanity from there sin and draw us back to the
Father. We do know that Redeemed humanity in Christ is the object of God’s love
and fulfils God’s purpose. This is a brief answer to the question ‘What is
‘human?’
Pause in His presence for a
moment and think this over…
[1] Horton,
Michael. Pilgrim Theology: Core Doctrines
for Christian Disciples. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 116-117.
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