Episode 7: Created to Be Good

Special Guest – Dr. J.P. Moreland

Trinity Broadcasting Network

Humans:  Uniquely created by God

Humans are the only living beings personally and lovingly crafted by God. 

God spoke the animals into existence, but He handcrafted man and woman (Genesis 1:22; 2:7; 2:21-22)

As a result, humans have unique qualities:

• Only humans can communicate with God
• Humans have authority over the earth’s resources (Genesis 1:26, 28-30)
• Only humans are morally responsible to be obedient to God
• Humans have both a physical and a spiritual dimension

What does it mean to be created in the image of God?

God is not like us, only better. Rather, we are like God, only infinitely less. We don’t have the “omni” attributes of God, but we do have certain characteristics in our spiritual nature.

God designed us with heart, mind, soul, and will:

THE HEART

• The heart has emotion (Psalm 37:4)
• The heart has a will (Exodus 7:22)
• The heart has thoughts (Matthew 15:19)

This is why we are told to guard our hearts (Proverbs 4:23)

THE MIND

• Our minds have a natural tendency against God (Ephesians 4:18)
• God can change our thinking processes to be aligned with His thoughts (Romans 12:2)

THE SOUL

There is a distinction between the heart and the soul. The soul is the same as your spirit:

The soul never dies. It is eternal. Your soul begins at conception and is eternal from that point on.

• Your soul can be eternal “lost” (Matthew 16:26)
• Your soul can be “saved” for eternity

THE WILL

God has given us a free will to choose or reject Him.  He didn’t want to create mindless robots. We have the freedom to make our own choices.

As humans we were specially created in God’s image.  A creed of Christianity says that our chief purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Jesus said, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).

Suggested reading:

• Knowing God 101 by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz
• Love Your God With All Your Mind by J.P. Moreland

Dr. J.P. Moreland (Ph.D. University of Southern California) is the Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology and widely regarded as one of the foremost Christian philosophers in the world. He has spoken on more than 100 college campuses, often in debates with atheist and agnostic scholars.  J.P. is a compelling speaker and the author of more than a dozen books, including Loving God With All Your Mind and Jesus Under Fire.

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