A Broken Image Series

Introduction:

One of the most famous characters in the Bible is Adam. He is also one of the characters who is most scoffed at by the world because they have been deceived and brainwashed by the theory of evolution. Adam was the first man – this is not only explained in the book of Genesis but it is also made very clear throughout the entire Bible, including the testimony of the Lord Jesus. What do we know about Adam?

I. His Purpose

A. Image of God (1:27)

The word “image” comes from the Hebrew word which means, “A shadow; a resemblance; a representative figure, especially an idol.” Adam was made fundamentally different to the animals in that man was made to reflect or resemble God. How?

1) Man was not made as a physical copy of God, because God is an invisible Spirit.

2) Man was the only creature made with a spirit – “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7)

3) Man was made in such a way that he reflects the nature of God:

i) Adam was able to feel and express love because God feels and expresses love.

ii) Adam was able to feel lonely because God can feel lonely.

iii) Adam was able to have a meaningful relationship with other spiritual beings because God can have a meaningful relationship with other spiritual beings.

B. To Have Dominion & Leadership (1:26; 3:17)

1) When God created Adam, He instantly placed the entire creation under his control. The reason is that Adam was God’s deputy on earth. He was to name all animals and to dominate or control everything in the world. Some even believe that in his sinless state, Adam had the power to control the weather.

As Adam was God’s deputy and was to control all things in the stead of God, man today is also God’s deputy, especially in the home! Therefore, it is the husband’s responsibility to have dominion in the home and to rule it as God so leads and desires.

2) When the serpent enticed Eve to partake of the forbidden tree, we find that it was Adam who was rebuked by God! Why? Because God operates via a chain of command. SEE Genesis 2:16. Adam was to tell his wife to avoid the tree of knowledge. God even rebuked Adam for forfeiting his leadership position by listening to his wife instead of God - Genesis 3:17.

C. To have fellowship

Question: Why did God create Adam? See Genesis 3:8. Why was God walking in the garden? Because that is where Adam and Eve were! God didn’t primarily create Adam to take care of the garden or to name the animals – those were incidentals. He created the garden as a place where He could have fellowship with Adam. He also gave Adam the task of naming the animals because God enjoyed being with him during such a trivial task. It is almost like a father who encourages a small child to help with a certain task around the house. Truthfully, the dad could get it done much better and quicker - but it is the desire for loving fellowship that the child is “needed” to help “daddy.”

2. His Problem

A. A Physical Need (2:20)

As God needed Adam (fellowship), so Adam also had that same need because he was created in the image of God. God helped Adam come to this realization by having every animal created come before Adam to be named.

As Adam watched them arrive by the hundreds, he always noticed that they were created in pairs. In this fashion, God allowed Adam to discover that he too needed a mate - a wife! Upon his realizing this truth, God then made and fashioned a woman from the rib of Adam.

Just as God hungered for fellowship and created Adam, Adam also hungered for fellowship - and God created Eve. Parents naturally love their children because they were made in the image of God. Husbands and wives naturally love each other for the same reason. It is only because of our sinful nature that we corrupt our God-given desire to love and turn it into self-love, which is simply selfishness.

B. A Spiritual Need (2:17; 5:3; 1 Cor. 15:22; Romans 5:12)

These verses point out very clearly that sin is inherited. Eg. You don’t have to teach a child to be selfish and rebellious – you have to use the rod of correction to teach them the opposite.

Discuss why Mary must have had a sinful nature because she had a human father; also discuss why it was so important for Jesus not to have a human father.