The Bible has a lot to say about who man is in relation to God. Right from the opening chapters of Genesis, we see that man is created uniquely in God’s image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). This sets man apart from the rest of creation and gives him inherent value, dignity and purpose. Though man is not divine, he reflects God’s nature in a limited way through attributes such as morality, reason, creativity and will. Being made in God’s image also implies that humans are meant for relationship with God.
After creating man, God placed him in the Garden of Eden and gave him work to do – to cultivate and keep the garden (Genesis 2:15). This shows that God created man not just for relationship, but also for purposeful work and stewardship of creation. However, when man sinned and rebelled against God, the image of God in man was marred but not erased completely. Every human being still bears the vestiges of being made in God’s image, even though sin has damaged that image (Genesis 9:6; James 3:9).
The Bible declares that while man is the pinnacle of God’s earthly creation, he is still lower than the angels (Psalm 8:5). His standing before God is that of a creature, not the Creator. The distance between God and man is infinite. In Job’s words, “How can a man be righteous before God? If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times” (Job 9:2-3). Man in his natural state falls infinitely short of God’s perfect holiness.
The Bible emphasizes this gap between God and man by declaring, “God is in heaven and you are on earth” (Ecclesiastes 5:2). The transcendence of God is repeatedly highlighted as a reminder that man must not usurp worship and glory belonging to God alone (Isaiah 55:8-9). Man is clearly not autonomous, but completely dependent on his Creator for existence and sustenance (Psalm 139:13-16).
Yet the Bible also affirms the value God places on human beings. David marvels that God is mindful of man and has crowned him with glory and honor (Psalm 8:4-5). Human life is precious to God (Genesis 9:5-6). Even though man is small and frail in the larger scheme of things, the majestic God stoops down to care for him. Jesus encapsulates this in His famous words, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31).
While man has great privileges as God’s image-bearer, the Bible also warns against pride and self-exaltation. Man at his best is still vanity (Psalm 39:5). His days on earth are fleeting and he has no power to extend them (Psalm 39:4-5). Man cannot truly understand God’s workings or presume to dictate terms to Him (Job 38-41). At the end of the book of Job, God challenges Job with a long list of questions that emphasize divine wisdom and power versus human limitation. Job is silenced and humbled in God’s presence (Job 40:1-5).
The Bible makes it clear that sin has degraded man and darkened his understanding. In his natural state, man cannot perceive spiritual truths (1 Corinthians 2:14). He stands condemned before a holy God because of his sin (Romans 3:10, 23). Man cannot save himself by works, religion or philosophy (Titus 3:5). His only hope is God’s mercy and grace.
Jesus Christ came as the perfect representative of God and man. He embodied true humanness as God intended it to be – holy and without sin. Jesus is therefore called the “last Adam” or “second man” (1 Corinthians 15:22, 47). Those who are united to Him by faith are restored to a right relationship with God. They are remade into the image of Christ, the perfect human, through the ongoing process of sanctification (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18). Glorification awaits them in the future, when they will be perfectly conformed to Christ’s image, never to sin again (1 John 3:2).
The Bible ends in Revelation with a glorious picture of redeemed humanity in the new creation worshiping God face-to-face. All that was lost through Adam is restored through Christ (Revelation 22:1-5). Man’s destiny is an eternity of joyful relationship with God, worshiping Him and ruling under God’s authority. While still distinct from the Creator, redeemed man is brought into the closest fellowship with God through the redemptive work of the God-man, Jesus Christ.
In summary, the Bible teaches that man has great dignity and purpose as God’s image-bearer, yet he is also a creature with limitations. Sin has damaged the image of God in man and severed man’s relationship with his Creator. But God did not abandon His creation. He sent Jesus to redeem and restore humanity through His life, death and resurrection. The fullness of being human, as God intended, is only realized through being united to Christ by faith. Those who trust in Christ become a new creation and are restored to fellowship with God in this life. They await the future fulfillment of their adoption as children of God when they shall know Him perfectly in the new heavens and new earth.