The most troubling questions that we have in life, are answered in what we call the Bible. Man who has no lasting hope, carries with him those ever pressing questions, "Why am I here?" "What is my purpose in life?" "How did I get here?" "Where am I going?" The spiritual man in Christ Jesus, through faith, has an everlasting hope, given to him by God. The spiritual man's pressing questions have been answered, through the word of God. To answer questions presented, we must start at the beginning. The beginning begins with God, Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (NASB) God's crowning creation was man. Since God made and created man, it is only right for us to turn to God to help us in answering questions of life; my life, your life, and the nature of man. God knows more about me than I know about myself, since He is the one that made me. Our lesson is about the nature of man.

WHAT AM I?

God created man in His own image. God said, "Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; . . ." Gen. 1:26&27. Knowing things about God helps us to know more about ourselves. The Bible says, "God is spirit." (John 4:24). The Bible also teaches that a spirit does not have flesh and bones, (Luke 24:39). Because we are made in the image of God, the likeness of God that we have is not flesh and bones; not of a physical perception. The real self is invisible. Another passage teaches us we are the offspring of God, (Acts 17:29). So, God is the Father of spirits, (Heb. 12:9).

Man's mental abilities are like that of God:
(1) The Intellect. The spirit KNOWS, (1 Cor. 2:11). Mankind is encouraged to reason with the Lord, (Isa. 1:18).
(2) The Emotions. The Holy Spirit can grieve, (Eph. 4:30). "I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body." (Daniel 7:15. KJV) Man rejoices, (Luke 1:47). God rejoices, (Zeph. 3:17).
(3) The Will. The spirit is willing, (Matt. 26:41). "Understand what the will of the Lord is," (Eph. 5:17).

Man's spirit is eternal like God.
God is eternal in nature. (Rom 16:28; Psalm 90:2). You cannot see your spirit, so the things which are NOT SEEN are eternal, (2 Cor. 4:16-18). The Bible teaches that God set eternity in man's heart, (Eccl. 3:11).

WHO AM I?

We are individually free moral agents. You do not know my thoughts and I do not know yours, (1 Cor. 2:11). This implies individuality. As individuals we freely choose whom we will serve, (Joshua 24:15). God will judge us as individuals. Each person shall give an account of the things they have done in this life, (Rom.14:11&12; 2 Cor. 5:10). We will not be held responsible for what other individuals do, (Ezekiel 18:20).

CONCLUSION: WHERE AM I IN MY RELATIONSHIP TO GOD?

The word of God is the only standard to use in answering this question, (2 Tim. 3:16&17). God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices, (Eccl. 7:29). The Bible teaches that all sin, therefore all become guilty before God, (Rom. 3:23). Because of sin the wrath of God comes, (Rom. 1:18). Sin separates you from God, (Isa. 59:1&2). We can be saved from the wrath of God, (Rom. 5:9&10). Jesus is the only way by which we must be saved, (Acts 4:12). If we follow the conditions of salvation we can be saved, and stand before God with a clean conscience.