God created man on the sixth day by forming him out of the dust of the ground with His own hands. He blew the breath of life into him and he became a living soul. He was by nature a man. But, he was made in the image of His Maker; perfect, noble and sinless. Was man imbued with the nature of his Maker? God gave us a perfect character, the nature of God
What is the nature of God? “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”. The great principles of the law, of the very nature of God, are embodied in the words of Christ in His sermon on the mount.
The question arises, are there two different natures in creation; one, the nature of God or the divine nature and two, the nature of man.
Then the question arises, was man made possessing both natures. If so, how much of the nature of God was he made with and if not, how much of the image of God was created in man? Further, is there any difference between divinity and divine nature or the nature of God? What is the nature of a being?
“The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever.” Deuteronomy 29:29. The revelation of Himself that God has given in His word is for our study. This we may seek to understand. But beyond this we are not to penetrate. The highest intellect may tax itself until it is wearied out in conjectures regarding the nature of God, but the effort will be fruitless. This problem has not been given us to solve. No human mind can comprehend God. None are to indulge in speculation regarding His nature. Here silence is eloquence. The Omniscient One is above discussion.
Even the angels were not permitted to share the counsels between the Father and the Son when the plan of salvation was laid. And human beings are not to intrude into the secrets of the Most High. We are as ignorant of God as little children; but, as little children, we may love and obey Him. Instead of speculating in regard to His nature or His prerogatives, let us give heed to the words He has spoken: [see Job 11:7-9; 28:12-28]
When Adam came from the Creator’s hand, he bore, in his physical, mental, and spiritual nature, a likeness to his Maker. “God created man in His own image” (Genesis 1:27), and it was His purpose that the longer man lived the more fully he should reveal this image–the more fully reflect the glory of the Creator. All his faculties were capable of development; their capacity and vigor were continually to increase. Vast was the scope offered for their exercise, glorious the field opened to their research. The mysteries of the visible universe–the “wondrous works of Him which is perfect in knowledge” (Job 37:16)–invited man’s study. Face-to-face, heart-to-heart communion with his Maker was his elevated privilege. Had he remained loyal to God, all this would have been his forever. Throughout eternal ages he would have continued to gain new treasures of knowledge, to discover fresh springs of happiness, and to obtain clearer and yet clearer conceptions of the wisdom, the power, and the love of God. More and more fully would he have fulfilled the object of his creation, more and more fully have reflected the Creator’s glory.
By our disobedience this was lost. Because of sin the divine image was marred, and nearly obliterated. Man’s physical powers were weakened, his mental capacity was lessened, his spiritual vision dimmed. He had become subject to death. Yet the race was not left without hope. By His infinite love and mercy the plan of salvation had been devised, and a life of probation was granted. To restore in man the image of his Maker, to bring him back to the perfection in which he was created, to promote the development of body, mind, and soul, that the divine purpose in his creation might be realized–this is the work of redemption purchased by the work of Christ. This is the object of true education, the great object of life.