[inquisitiveguy]

Hello HS,

Actually, there is no definite list out there that describes us. There in lies our first difficulty and impossible stumbling block. There are two scriptures that tell us that we really don’t know what constitutes man (mankind). Those scriptures are: Gen 5:1-2 and 9:6 which gives us the “man was made in both the image and the likeness of God”. We can discuss our ideas of what this means all day, but in the final analysis all we are left with is our “good ideas”

I was more going for the general idea of us being human. I was tying that into that He who we call Christ is 100% human. Whatever we are He is.

We cannot understand the mind of God or His ways – so I must be very godly – because no one understands me or my ways either! LOLOL Sorry!

Funny

Now, we do have a rather good list of some of God’s attributes and abilities. However, I submit that no one actually understands what those attributes and abilities really mean. See Ecclesiastes. Then what we are left with is “The end of the matter, all having been heard: fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole man.” Ec 12:13 [JPS] We are required to obey and trust God, not to understand Him!

We don't understand completely true. That shouldn't keep us from trying though. I think it pleases HIM when we seek to understand HIM.

The difficulty is that we begin to understand God a little as we begin to understand ourselves. That is why we are so often forced to express our concept of God in terms of human attributes (anthropomorphism). But, as we come to understand ourselves in all of our complexity, we begin to grasp the fundamentals of God and His nature.

That's why I began to see God as having parts (not physical necessarily). We aren't forced so much as that is how God has chosen to express HIMSELF.

When we begin to accept the idea of being made in the likeness and image of God, obscure meanings of scriptures such as Mt 28:19 and 1Th 5:23 start to make some sense. But what we are left with is that God created man in man’s image because that was the best (or most appropriate) image to reflect God’s own invisible image. Jesus was created in the image of man (the son of) and was the best manifestation of the invisible image God, and we are also created in that same image – but with fallen nature (fractured image) that is in the process of being restored. Yet, even the most base of humans have some capacity to create new and wondrous things and to look into the cosmos and ponder infinity (seeking after God’s likeness).

I like the thought here. Circular reasoning is only a problem if you're stuck in the circle. God being outside the circle doesn't have that problem.

A final note on this part: If we desire to know more about the nature of God, look more closely at the nature and composition (attributes) of humans, without all of the garbage we pile on ourselves. That is, look at all of the good and the pure, etc. as listed in Php 4:8 and Jams 3:17-18. The failure of man is that he continues as described in James 4.

Good thought.

The next issue deals with “being alone”. That will require a Hebrew word study. I will attempt to address that by tomorrow.

I appreciate your time. This is farther than I've ever gotten.

Is this approach more to what you have in mind aor a response?

Yes. Much better.

God bless