Difference between revisions of "Man and Beast"
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| − | The Scriptures tell us that animals are soulless creatures, and will perish with the rest of creation. We will not see them while our souls rest with God; when Christ returns and our bodies are resurrected, we will live in the new heavens and new earth—where there may be new, not resurrected, animals. | + | The Scriptures tell us that animals are soulless creatures, and will perish with the rest of creation. We will not see them while our souls rest with God; when Christ returns and our bodies are resurrected, we will live in the new heavens and new earth—where there may be new, not resurrected, animals. The Lord desired that one of His creatures would be able to commune with Him and appreciate the splendor of His perfect creation. |
| − | On the sixth day, Adam was created "in the image of God." No animals were created in God's image. Only man received the breath of God. In this way, he was given a spirit (Eccles. 12:7; 1 Thess. 5:23) so that he transcends the world of the animals. | + | God created man in His image (Genesis 1:27–28). On the sixth day, Adam was created "in the image of God." No animals were created in God's image. Only man received the breath of God. In this way, he was given a spirit (Eccles. 12:7; 1 Thess. 5:23) so that he transcends the world of the animals. |
Only man has a free will and possesses the faculty of creative thought. According to Psalm 8:5, man was made "a little lower than the heavenly beings." Only man possesses the gift of speech and of prayer in order to convey thoughts to God. | Only man has a free will and possesses the faculty of creative thought. According to Psalm 8:5, man was made "a little lower than the heavenly beings." Only man possesses the gift of speech and of prayer in order to convey thoughts to God. | ||
| − | + | Man and woman were created separate from the animals—Adam from dust, and Eve from his rib. In Genesis 9:6, the Creator decrees capital punishment for those who murder man, "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image." | |
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Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." | Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." | ||
Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. (Genesis 9:3) | Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. (Genesis 9:3) | ||
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| + | After the flood, God gave the animals as food for humanity to eat (Genesis 9). Later, the sacrifice of animals and the spilling of their blood for Israel’s sin was to point to fact that a death was needed for God to forgive sins (Exdous 12). | ||
You shall not eat any abomination. These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep. (Deuteronomy 14:1-29) | You shall not eat any abomination. These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep. (Deuteronomy 14:1-29) | ||
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| + | "All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another" (1 Cor. 15:39). | ||
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| + | It is said only about man that he was not only created "by God," but also "for Him" (Col. 1:16). This high purpose is only ascribed to man. Animals are also creatures of God, but they did not receive the calling to become children of God (John 1:12). | ||
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| + | Man is an eternal being; this means that his existence never ends, even after the death of the body (Luke 16:19–31). An imperishable body will be raised from the perishable one (1 Cor. 15:42). Animals have no soul and will perish. | ||
Revision as of 22:09, 29 March 2017
The Scriptures tell us that animals are soulless creatures, and will perish with the rest of creation. We will not see them while our souls rest with God; when Christ returns and our bodies are resurrected, we will live in the new heavens and new earth—where there may be new, not resurrected, animals. The Lord desired that one of His creatures would be able to commune with Him and appreciate the splendor of His perfect creation.
God created man in His image (Genesis 1:27–28). On the sixth day, Adam was created "in the image of God." No animals were created in God's image. Only man received the breath of God. In this way, he was given a spirit (Eccles. 12:7; 1 Thess. 5:23) so that he transcends the world of the animals.
Only man has a free will and possesses the faculty of creative thought. According to Psalm 8:5, man was made "a little lower than the heavenly beings." Only man possesses the gift of speech and of prayer in order to convey thoughts to God.
Man and woman were created separate from the animals—Adam from dust, and Eve from his rib. In Genesis 9:6, the Creator decrees capital punishment for those who murder man, "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image."
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. (Genesis 9:3)
After the flood, God gave the animals as food for humanity to eat (Genesis 9). Later, the sacrifice of animals and the spilling of their blood for Israel’s sin was to point to fact that a death was needed for God to forgive sins (Exdous 12).
You shall not eat any abomination. These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep. (Deuteronomy 14:1-29)
"All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another" (1 Cor. 15:39).
It is said only about man that he was not only created "by God," but also "for Him" (Col. 1:16). This high purpose is only ascribed to man. Animals are also creatures of God, but they did not receive the calling to become children of God (John 1:12).
Man is an eternal being; this means that his existence never ends, even after the death of the body (Luke 16:19–31). An imperishable body will be raised from the perishable one (1 Cor. 15:42). Animals have no soul and will perish.
