Fully Human
A Biblical Pursuit of Virtue
Session I: Fully Human or Not Fully Human
Opening Prayer
Psalm 51:1-15
Fully Human from Humanity’s Perspective
What does it mean to be fully human? If you asked people on the street, you’d find a variety of answers, from responses which would reflect thoughts on our core identity to expressions of freedom, and from the idea of being a unique individual to what we all have in common in the human experience of life. The responses to what it means to be fully human will cover a wide range of topics.
The opposite also sheds light on this question. Ask people what we mean when we say someone is inhuman or inhumane and we get a strong picture of what it is to be not fully human. Those responses will likely touch on things such as a person being cruel, without compassion, self-centered, without remorse, hateful, dismissive of others, and the like.
What does it mean to you to be fully human?
What are factors, characteristics, and behaviors in our lives which can make us less than fully human?
Can one be fully human in isolation?
Fully Human from God’s Perspective
Read Genesis 1:26-31
Discuss what it means to be created in God’s image.
- Why do you think God creates creatures who reflect His image?
- From the roles God gives humanity to fulfill in this text, how were humans to reflect His image?
- How does this give us insight into what it means to be fully human from God’s perspective?
No Longer Fully Human
Read Genesis 3:1-19
- How does humanity lose its full humanity in this text?
- How is this reflected in the behaviors of Adam and Eve?
- What are some of the results of Adam and Eve losing the fullest expression of their humanity?
- How does our Lord plan to address humanity’s fall into sin? (Genesis 3:15)
Discuss ways that Jesus reveals again what it means to be fully human through His incarnate ministry. Ultimately, how does Jesus restore humanity? (John 1:11-14; Matthew 27:45-50; I Corinthians 15:17-22)
Saved! Now What?
A couple brings their child to the waters of Holy Baptism. There, through the Sacrament, God’s Triune Name is placed upon that child. There, by the work of the Spirit, that child, as a sinner, is buried with Jesus into His crucifixion and is raised up with Jesus in His resurrection. There, this child receives forgiveness of sins, deliverance from death and the devil, and eternal salvation through the gift of faith worked in that child by the Spirit through Baptism! It’s an amazing gift given. But now, for the rest of that child’s life on earth, is he or she merely waiting out the clock for their eternal life to begin?
Read II Peter 3:18
- Why do we not “grow in grace” when it comes to our salvation? (compare to Ephesians 2:8-9)
- How do we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in this world?
- through the study of His Word
- through the regular exercise of “Holy Habits” (worship, devotion, and prayer)
- through the pursuit of virtues
What is a virtue?
This study will introduce us to a biblical perspective of four virtues to aide us on our path to grow in being Christlike before our neighbor. Our inability to be 100% virtuous in our thoughts, words, and actions will always provide us with evidence of our need to stand before God, never based on our virtues, but always in the grace that is ours on account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
Why pursue virtue? If I’m saved solely on account of Jesus, why pursue virtue?
- It supplies us with evidence that our faith in Jesus is alive.
- Our pursuit of being Christlike, “Fully Human,” blesses our neighbor and, ultimately, affords opportunities to witness the Gospel to others.
Closing Prayer