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Answer
God has made humans different from all other created beings. Humans have a physical body and a spiritual component: a soul and/or spirit. Part of this immaterial aspect is the possession of intellect, emotion, and a will. Human beings are created in the image of God “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”, (Genesis 1:27). Human beings are different from angels, which have no physical body, and animals, which do not reflect the imago dei.
There are various unbiblical views of what it means to be human. Classic Gnosticism, for example, takes the view that mankind is primarily a pure, spiritual entity shackled by an unwieldy, corrupt body. Other views, such as naturalism, see mankind as a wildly complex, physical machine with no spirit at all—any feelings, thoughts, or inspirations we experience are solely the byproduct of chemical reactions within our brains. Neither of these extremes has any biblical support.
To be human means to bear the image of God. We are not divine, but we reflect divinity. God has a mind, emotions, and volition. As image-bearers, we, too, have intellect, emotions, and a will. We possess creativity, inventing, fabricating, synthesizing, making music, and creating all types of artwork. We possess the gift of language, relating thoughts from one self-aware mind to another, learning thousands of words and coining new words when we need them. We are driven to name and classify the animals, just like our father Adam did (Genesis 2:19-20). Because we are created in the image of God, we have a basic dignity and inherent significance.
To be human means to have a purpose. God’s stated assignment to Adam and Eve was to “be fruitful and increase.”
As the population increases; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground” «And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. », (Genesis 1:28). We still fulfill this purpose when we domesticate animals, use natural resources, shape nature, and carve out an existence even in the harshest environments. But we are more than caretakers of the planet. Our purpose includes knowing God and having a relationship with Him. Our highest purpose is to glorify God: “All things have been created through [the Son] and for him” «for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: », (Colossians 1:16).
To be human is to have needs. Only God is self-sustaining and self-sufficient. We have needs of body, soul, and spirit. Our bodies must receive food, drink, and rest in order to survive. Our souls must have fellowship with others, outlets for creativity, and times of mental, emotional, and aesthetic stimulation in order to maintain health. Our spirits must feed on the Word of God and have a relationship with Christ (Luke 4:4;John 6:35). Anyone who denies his or her needs in any of these three areas is refusing to acknowledge part of his or her humanity.
To be human means to be morally responsible. We have the ability to discern what is right and wrong. Our father Adam had a free will and was held responsible for the moral choices.The choice he made to obey or disobey His Creator; unfortunately, he chose to disobey God (Genesis 2:16-17). All humanity shares the same moral responsibility, and we are all under the same moral imperative to obey God. “The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them” «The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. », (Ezekiel 18:20).
To be human means to be sinful, at least for now. Unfortunately, we are all sinners (Romans 3:23;Romans 5:12). We have broken God’s laws and gone our own way instead (Isaiah 53:6;1 John 3:4). Our sin has separated us from our Creator and caused us to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-10). We are enslaved to sin, unable to free ourselves from the havoc it wreaks «For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.», (Romans 6:23). Without intervention, we are condemned to an eternity apart from God (John 3:16-18). To the praise and glory of God, we do not have to remain in this condition. There is redemption available in Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, our sins can be forgiven, and we can be restored into relationship with God (John 3:16-18; Ephesians 2:8-9), it is stated that being human entails receiving God’s love and the opportunity to become children of God. According to (John 1:12; John 3:16).
The Bible teaches that the Son of God assumed human form and also became the Son of Man. Jesus Christ descended from heaven, led a sinless life, was crucified as an atonement for our sins, and then resurrected. Those who have faith in Christ receive His righteousness “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”, (2 Corinthians 5:21). Through Christ, we are transformed “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”, (2 Corinthians 5:17), and the Holy Spirit resides within us (Ephesians 1:13-14). The death and resurrection of Christ are pivotal for humanity.
Ultimately, mere humanity is insufficient. Humanity is tainted by sin and awaits God’s certain judgment. Only the redeemed will behold God and dwell with Him eternally. Only those united with Christ will encounter a purification from corruption and the cessation of all sorrow. “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”, (John 3:3).
