God's Love in Humanity

To be human is to be what God intended humanity to be. Anything less is to fall short of humanity. Of course, all have fallen short of what humanity is intended to be. All people are sinners, and this takes away from their humanity. Sin, although a part of every human’s life since Adam save one, is not a natural part of true humanity. This is why the first step to being more human is to encounter Christ at the cross. It is at the cross where a man becomes human.

How does a “real” human act? Two things characterize the human: a love for God, and a love for fellow humanity. Love for God is expressed in obedience. Jesus Christ said, “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments (John 14:15).” A life of submission to God is crucial to being human as God intended. Jesus is the best life to look at to see what true humanity is like. He was the only man to ever achieve a life as God intended. Even though He Himself was God, He submitted His life totally to the will of the Father.

The other side of humanity is tied into how man treats his fellow man. Without love for each other, people fall short of the humanity God intended. Humanity was created to be in community. It is possible that this is what being created in the image of God is about in part. God is Trinity, a community within the God-head. Humanity is incomplete in the singular. God said in Genesis 2:18, “It is not good for the man to be alone...” When God created Eve it was not an afterthought. The only reason man was created first and made to live alone was so that he would see his need for companionship.

Humanity as God intended it to be is summed up in the declaration of Jesus “‘You shall love the lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets (Matt. 22:37-40).