2a. CORRECTING MAN’S LOW SELF IMAGE

Dr. Earl Parvin  160 Tolbert Farm Rd., Beckley, WV 25801, 304.256.0596 or 237.1640 c

Thesis: Man’s self-image (self-perception) is directly related to the state or condition of the renovation of the damaged “image of God” in which he was created. This is not to deny that the unsaved person is ‘dead in sin’ spiritually. The fact is that even many born again Christians do not like themselves.

A. Man was created in the image of God: Gen. 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him.

B. What is that “Image of God” in which man was created? Theologians tell us it means we were created with:
1. intellect 2. emotion 3. will. That is, we are tripartite and must deal with all three parts.

C. When man sinned, what happened to the “Image of God” in: which man was created? What happened, then, to his intellect, emotion and will? In Genesis 2:17 God warned Adam not to sin, for “when you eat of it you will surely die.” Actually the Hebrew really says, “...dying you will die”. But, in fact, it was 930 years later that Adam really died physically(Gen. 5:5). What happened to Adam then during his lifetime? Physically, he was living, yet dying. In science it is called entropy, meaning there is always a factor of inefficiency, a running down, a getting older.

When this is applied to man’s intellect, emotion and will, it means they are neither efficient nor completely trustworthy. Intellectually, man thinks he has great ability, but in reality he can not completely trust his mind, for at times it plays tricks on him. Emotionally, man finds that he is not always in control. He becomes furiously angry or cries uncontrollably. When it comes to the will, he often finds himself galvanized with inaction or doing those things which he knows to be inappropriate. In theological terms we say he has an ‘Adamic nature”.

We have always been taught that the Adamic nature is that part of a man’s personality which leads him to sin. The Christian realizes that given a choice of right or wrong, man will probably choose the wrong way, especially if his ego is at stake. When God asked Adam, “Have you eaten.?” his response should have been a simple, “Yes, God. I’m sorry, God”. But what was the response? “The woman YOU put here with me…she gave me...and I did eat.” Adam sinned by a clear-cut act of the will without an Adamic Nature. He ate. The cover-up, however; was automatic as a defense mechanism directly resultant of his Adamic Nature inherited as the result of the original sin.

Notice what happened to Adam intellectually. In Genesis 3:7 “...they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves”. [The next time this word is used, Is 59:6, they were dressing for warfare!] However, God made garments of skins, [Gen 3:21 blood sacrifice = type of Christ], next time used as garments made for priests in [Ex 29:5] . These are garments of salvation [Is 61:10]. Note, God made these garments first for Adam and Eve, before the professional priesthood; therefore, could this not be proffering the priesthood of the believer, the man as the priest in the home responsible for Spiritual welfare of the family?

Why should they have been ashamed to be naked? There was no one else in the garden...only God in the stillness of the eve. Further, they “hid from the Lord God among the trees. . .‘ Intellectually they could not trust their minds but misinterpreted the sensory information the brain received.

Also note what happened to them emotionally. “I was afraid” (Gen. 3:10). Fear is an emotional reaction. Finally, what about the will? It is clear that not only were man’s intellect and emotions out of control, willfully,  he could not stop doing that which clearly he knew he could not do, ie. . .hide from God.

I conclude that man’s Adamic nature leads him to sin because his old nature has so disorganized him intellectually, emotionally and in his will that he cannot [or it is difficult as a Christian not to do otherwise. The unsaved person tries at times to do better, but ultimately in the length of this life, he does more wrong than right.

D. How does man’s Adamic nature affect him emotionally? Mans “Adamic nature”, a theological term, translates into psychological language as “low self-image”. Man’s opinion of himself is not good. He doesn’t like a number of things about himself, his surroundings or his friends. The correlative of a low opinion of oneself is to inflate his self opinion and think extravagantly, a braggart. Both opinions are unhealthy.

Since all men have an Adamic nature, I suggest then that all men have a low self-image. Most individuals are introverts who do not find it easy to meet others or to take a joke. It is easier to withdraw or to seek only a few friends. Even extroverts are often putting on a front when down inside they are really hurting. A person may look great on the outside, but how does he really feel?

Many people, even very successful people, wonder what it is that others see in them——which they don’t feel about themselves. Check out the life story of most any movie star, even a super star considered to be gorgeous. Invariably she will say, “I don’t feel beautiful. What is it others see which I don’t see in me”? Usually they enter psycho-analysis to try to find out or turn to drugs to burry their anxieties.

The Christian must go a different route. He goes to the Bible, his Pastor, or a counselor to try to sort these things out.

E. If the Christian is to correct his low self-image it must be done in concert with the re-creation or renovating of the “Image of God” in which he was originally created but which was corrupted by the fall. This is a mighty task, possible only through the marvelous work of the Holy Spirit. Strangely enough, the conversion experience, which exonerates a man from his past sins, gives him a new position in Christ and sets him on a new course of seeking to live for the Lord, does not always enable him to understand his emotional nature. Neither does he automatically understand how to appropriate the power of God now available to renovate his old life and make it new in Christ. Paul said it like this:

“You were taught with regard to your former way of life, to put off your OLD SELF, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires to be made new [renovated] in the attitude of your minds and to put on the new self, created to be like God [Image of God?) in true righteousness and holiness.” Eph. 4:22-24 NIV

This Biblical position stands in stark contrast to the wisdom of the world’s counselors. They say that boys will be boys and when they have sowed their wild oats, it will be out of their system. Or, to get rid of your inhibitions go and do some very bad things. Little do they realize that you reap what you SOW; therefore, put off the old self’s ways and do otherwise.

F. It will be well to remember that everyone is really tripartite or has three separate, although indivisible entities. First, we have a body or house to live in. Medical doctors help us keep the body in repair. Second, we have a spiritual nature which recognizes right and wrong and responds to God’s Word. Pastors and teachers help us develop the spiritual character. Finally there is the emotional person who loves and hates, cries and laughs. This is the soulish part of man. A Christian counselor helps us to sort out our true feelings, and to make sure our emotional response in a given situation is proportional to the circumstances.

It should be obvious when we don’t feel good physically we may also be down spiritually and emotionally. Or, it often happens that when bad news comes one may react in disproportionate ways, be spiritually jarred and feel physically sick. Most have also found that to have failed God spiritually affects them emotionally and physically. Therefore, we are an interacting tripartite whole.

When one is physically sick, he doesn’t go to his pastor. Neither does he seek his doctor to help with a spiritual problem. But he may go to either his doctor or pastor to find help with the symptoms of an emotionally based problem. Either may be properly qualified to help with more than the symptoms of the emotional problem. An illustration might be that a doctor may be able to help the sleeplessness by prescribing a medication but not treat the emotional problem caused perhaps by stress deriving from some indiscretions. The pastor may indicate that confession may alleviate the guilt deriving from the indiscretion and not determine the emotional conflict which may have led to the indiscretion; therefore, it is more likely to happen again. Now the Evil One tempts with the thought that, it wasn’t confessed properly, or there wasn’t enough remorse, or there isn’t forgiveness for this anyway.

G. What does the Biblical language mean which says, “put off the old self and put on the new self” (Col. 3:8; Eph. 4:24)? Is it possible to do this kind of surgery of the character in one session with God? Probably not, because Christians are not only tripartite creatures but are also functioning with two natures.

The man of the world has an old Adam’s nature [Adamic nature) which is corrupt and being further corrupted by the Evil One (Eph. 4:22). The Christian has received a “new nature” which is Growing in Grace, and seeking to keep the Old Nature in line by the Power of the Indwelling Holy Spirit. We would like to think that we have put to death the old self and its ways when we were saved, but it is very much alive and well. It has been dealt a death blow in a salvation experience, but it dies very slowly. In fact, the Scriptures indicate that we are to render the old nature unproductive, so that it doesn’t bear fruit (Rom. 6:11-14).

Paul recognized the dualistic natures of man which wage war within when he said,

“We know that the law is spiritual but I am
unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do
not understand what I do. For what I hate
I do.. .sin is, living in me... in my sinful
nature. For I have the desire to do what
is good, but I cannot carry it out.. .the
evil I do not want to do — this I keep on
doing. (Rom. 7:14—19 NIV)”.

How does the Christian render his old nature unproductive? By having a close walk with the Lord, listening to the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit when we are tempted to falter. But, when we do sin, quickly confessing it and making amends with others who may have been hurt. Also by responding positively  when the HS pwrompts us to do some service for God. Implement Romans 8:1-14

" There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who WALK NOT after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

³ For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

⁴ That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who WALK NOT after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

⁵ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

¹⁰ And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin [OLD NATURE]; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness [NEW NATURE].

¹¹ But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

¹² Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

¹³ For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do MORTIFY THE DEEDS of the body, ye shall live.

¹⁴ For as many as are LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, they are the sons of God."

Gaining victory over confessed sin which may haunt is another matter. A sin confessed is one forgotten by God who never reminds us of it. Only the Devil does this to confuse us. Therefore, when memory reminds of a sin confessed, confess the memory as sin, and it too will soon be removed. We tend to grovel in old memories instead of confessing them. God only removes confessed sin, not memories.

Though the OLD NATURE IS EVER PRESENT IT NEED NOT CONTROL US. ‘Thanks be to God! HE GIVES US THE VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (I Cor. 15:57 NIV) and the INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT [I Cor 6:19].

PowerPoint / Tr. Spanish
3/87, 5/2/13 revised