Human nature

Human nature is created by God

God created humanity

Ex 4:11; Is 45:12

See also Ge 1:26–27; Ps 95:6; Ps 100:3; Pr 22:2; Je 27:5

God created human beings as male and female

Ge 1:27; Ge 5:2

See also Mk 10:6

God created human beings in his image and likeness

Colossians 3:9–10 NLT

Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

See also Ge 1:26–27; Ge 5:1; Ge 9:6; Jas 3:9

Human nature is created inferior to God himself

Psalm 8:3–5 NLT

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.

See also Nu 23:19; Ps 144:3; Ho 11:9

Human nature is given life by the Spirit of God

Genesis 2:7 NLT

Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.

See also Job 12:10; Job 27:3; Is 42:5; Is 57:16; Je 38:16

Human beings are dependent upon God

Jeremiah 10:23 NLT

I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course.

See also 2 Ch 20:12; Ps 16:2; Mt 4:4; 2 Co 3:5

Human beings have freedom to choose between good and evil

Deuteronomy 11:26–28 NLT

“Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the Lord your God and turn away from him and worship gods you have not known before.

See also Dt 30:15–16; Dt 30:19; Jos 24:15; 1 Ch 28:9; Je 26:3; Eze 18:21–23

The components of human nature

The soul

Ps 116:7 The Hebrew and Greek words for “soul” are translated in various ways by the NIV, including “breath” and “life”. It refers chiefly to the principle of life.

See also Mk 8:35–37; Lk 1:46; 1 Pe 1:9; 1 Pe 2:11

The spirit

Jas 2:26 The Hebrew and Greek words for “spirit” are translated in various ways by the NIV, including “breath”, “heart” and “mind”. It often refers to the identity-giving aspect of human nature.

See also Job 34:14; Ps 77:3; Ps 142:3; Mt 26:41; Lk 8:55; Ac 7:59; Ro 8:16; Heb 4:12

The flesh

Je 17:5 The Hebrew and Greek words for “flesh” are translated in various ways by the NIV, including “body”, “flesh” and “human nature”. The term can refer specifically to the frailty of human nature or to human nature in opposition to God.

See also Ge 6:3; Job 10:4; Ps 78:39; Mt 26:41; Php 3:3–5

Human nature became corrupted by sin

Sin has its origins in the disobedience of Adam and Eve

Ge 2:16; Ge 3:1–6; Ro 5:12–19; 2 Co 11:3; 1 Ti 2:14; Jas 1:13–15

Sin affects human nature universally

Isaiah 64:6 NLT

We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.

See also Job 25:4; Je 17:9; Jn 3:19; Ro 3:23

Human nature is trapped in its sinful condition

Romans 7:24 NLT

Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?

See also Ge 6:5; Jn 8:34–36; Ro 6:16–17; Ro 7:5; Eph 2:3; 2 Pe 2:18–19

Sin hardens human nature

1 Samuel 6:6 NLT

Don’t be stubborn and rebellious as Pharaoh and the Egyptians were. By the time God was finished with them, they were eager to let Israel go.

See also Ex 8:15; Ex 8:32; Ps 95:8; Pr 28:14; Heb 3:8; Heb 3:15; Heb 4:7

Human nature is mortal on account of sin

Ro 5:12; Ro 8:10

See also Ge 6:5–7; Job 14:1–5; 1 Co 15:22; 2 Co 5:1; 2 Ti 1:10

Human nature can be redeemed through Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ took human nature upon himself

John 1:14 NLT

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

Jesus Christ mediated between God and humanity in his human nature

1 Timothy 2:3–6 NLT

This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.

See also Heb 8:6; Heb 9:15; 1 Jn 2:1

Jesus Christ makes possible the reversal of Adam’s disobedience

Romans 5:19 NLT

Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

See also Ro 5:12–17

Jesus Christ makes possible a sharing in God’s nature

2 Peter 1:4 NLT

And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.