3. God's Mission Statement And The Problem Of Evil Series

IN GOD'S IMAGE 3 - GOD'S MISSION STATEMENT AND THE PROBLEM OF EVIL

This message is part of a series of 90 sermons based on the title, “In God’s Image – God’s Purpose for humanity.” This series of free sermons or the equivalent free book format is designed to take the reader through an amazing process beginning with God in prehistory and finishing with humanity joining God in eternity as His loving sons and daughters. It is at times, a painful yet fascinating story, not only for humanity, but also for God. As the sermons follow a chronological view of the story of salvation, it is highly recommend they be presented in numerical order rather than jumping to the more “interesting” or “controversial” subjects as the material builds on what is presented earlier. We also recommend reading the introduction prior to using the material. The free book version along with any graphics or figures mentioned in this series can be downloaded at www.ingodsimage.site - Gary Regazzoli

So far we’ve discussed the two dimensions, the time and space dimension we inhabit, and the eternal and spiritual dimension God inhabits.

• However there is one thing God has given to humans that transcends both dimensions and that is, the capacity for relationships.

• Despite the limitations of our four-dimensional world, God has given humanity the capacity to not only relate to other humans, but to also reach out and relate personally to the one true God (Acts 17:27-28).

• God has blessed humanity with a mind and consciousness which is unique in the four-dimensional world so we can relate to each other and more importantly with our Maker, Creator and Father.

• We also discussed a God who lives in a unique Trinitarian relationship characterized in the simple sentence, “One God in three persons”.

• This one God in three persons can be summed up by the phrase, “Unity (One) in Relationship (Three) through Love”.

• This unique relationship is united by and governed by the love that constantly flows between the three persons. This is why they are always in complete agreement.

But, because this loving relationship within the Trinity is so wonderful, so awe inspiring, and this is where the story gets personal, they just had to share this unique love inherent in themselves with other beings.

• Have you ever given any thought to where the emotion of love we humans enjoy originated from?

• Well, here is the answer.

• This godly love is an overflowing love, there is no limit to its capacity, the Trinity is the fountainhead of love.

• Jesus metaphorically describes this love that flows from God the Holy Spirit as “living water” in John 7.

• John 7:37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.

• Later in Galatians 5 the first of the fruits ascribed to the Holy Spirit by the apostle Paul is “love” (Galatians 5:22).

• At the end of time, Jesus shepherds the redeemed masses to the healing “living waters” which flow from the throne of God.

• Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’

• We can only imagine what it will be like for this great mass of hurting humanity to be engulfed by a flood of God’s love at that time.

• We may experience brief moments in this life where we feel totally secure in the love of another person, the warmth, the comfort, the assurance, the security where we don’t want for anything.

• But this will be the ongoing reality when humanity joins God in eternity.

So sometime back before the creation of chronological time, God came up with this incredible statement, “Let us make man in our image” (Gen 1:26).

• This effectively became God’s mission statement.

• Martin Luther King had a dream that black and white children would walk together hand in hand as sisters and brothers.

• God’s dream is much more ambitious.

• His dream from within the depths of the trinity has been to share His eternal existence with a bride who would respond to His overtures of love by saying, “yes” to Him and willingly participate in the great dance of triune love.

• So when God said, “Let us make man in our image,” this is His goal – people who will respond voluntarily to his offer to “love as He loves.”