Bible Dictionaries

Man is the creation of God. It is man alone who reflects God. The first man, Adam, was made in God's image (Genesis 1:2627), and placed in the Garden of Eden for the purpose of enjoying the fellowship of the Lord and fulfilling the purpose of God's creation. He was told to "be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth" (Genesis 1:28). When Adam and Eve sinned, all of humanity fell with them (Romans 5:12-21). Adam represented all humanity: "In Adam all die..." (1 Corinthians 15:22). As a result of Adam's disobedience, condemnation resulted to all men (Romans 5:18). Therefore we are by nature children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3). We do not seek God (Romans 3:11) nor can we understand the spiritual things of God (1 Corinthians 2:14). Since this is the condition of man in his natural state, salvation is then impossible for us to achieve (Matthew 19:26). That is why we need the free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23) given by God to Christians through faith in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.