Man's Nature and Destiny: A Christian Theological Approachl

It is important to estimate at the start itself the place given to an understanding of man in the total setting of the Christian message. A true and full estimation of man is possible only through a right understanding of the gospel. the Biblical message centres around the story_ of the relation between God and man, and this is vividly painted as a very living, active and concrete relation. There is a striking realism in relating God to man because it describes the very nature of God in that relation. We are not to speculate over God the transcendent, who is far-remov:ed from the world in which we live, but we are to count with God as one who is active in creating the world and shaping its destiny. That is the very meaning of Revelation. While we talk of a certain realism in the understanding of God there is an equal sense of realism with which we describe man. He is the other pole related to God in terms of an active, living and concrete relation.