A. INTRODUCTION
"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" (Genesis 1:26-27).
SEQUENCE
Realm Ruler
1. Light 4. Sun, Moon and Stars
2. Atmosphere and Ocean 5. Fowl and Fish
3. Dry Land 6. Animal and Man
B. CREATION OF PEOPLE
1. God said "Let us." To whom is He speaking?
a. Animals. Not in "image" of beast.
b. Angels. Not in their "image."
c. Himself. One member of the God-head addressing another.
"Let us . . . in our image . . . after our likeness."
2. The Trinity not proved but assumed.
a. The name God (Elohim) is plural.
b. One person is speaking to at least a second person.
c. One creative act represents three results.
(1) "God created man in His own image.
(2) In the image of God created He him.
(3) Male and female created He them" (v.22).
d. The image was: (1) body, (2) soul, (3) spirit. "The Lord God formed man (body) . . . and breathed (spirit) in his nostrils and man became a living soul" (Gen. 2:7).
3. Both made and created (Bara). "Let us make man in our image" (Gen. 1:26). "Lord God formed man" (Gen.2:7). "God created man" (Gen. 1:26). Man was more than a very highly complex and organized animal. More than quantity, but a quality difference.
a. Made physical.
b. Created person.
4. What the image of God is not?
a. It is not physical.
b. It is not ability to have dominion.
c. It is not the ability to walk upright.
5. What is the image of God?
a. Intellect. The ability to think, abstractly, i.e., put words to ideas, think in cause-effect relationships, remember, etc. Man has the ability to know the difference between right and wrong.
b. Emotions. The ability to feel passion and patience, i.e., anger, fear, excitement, remorse, sex.
c. Will. The ability to make judgments, decisions, i.e., choice based on intellect and emotions.
d. Self perception. The ability to know one’s self and discern one’s self beyond physical sight, i.e., self consciousness and self awareness.
e. Self direction. The ability to plan, dream or vision.
6. What can people do that animals cannot do? We can do some of the things God can do.
a. Enjoy beauty.
b. Create, harmonize, rhyme, etc.
c. Love another.
d. Worship God.
7. Manifestation. God created the human body that is uniquely appropriate to manifest God’s Son in the flesh. "The word became flesh" (John 1:14). "A body hast thou prepared me" (Heb. 10:5).
8. God created man of the dust (material) of the ground. "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" (Gen.2:7).
a. Dust is reflective of the smallest know particle and the basic chemical element of the earth, i.e., nitrogen, oxygen, calcium, etc.
b. Ground reminds us of our source, "The first man of the earth is earthly" (I Cor. 15:47).
c. God breathed to activate the breathing mechanism, the heart pumping and the blood to begin circulating.
d. Soul. The first man was made a living soul directly from God and became a living soul (not has a soul). "The first man was made a living soul" (I Cor. 15:45).
e. First. There was no pre-adamic race, nor animal ancestry. "The first man Adam was made a living soul," (I Cor. 15:45).
9. The Great Command. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment" (Matt. 22:37, 38).
10. The Great Commission. "Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things" (Matt. 28:19-20).
11. The Primary Command. "God said, unto them. Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion" (Gen.1:28).
a. Fruitful = reproduce yourself in another.
b. Multiply = produce many like you.
c. Replenish = fill the earth (it was not filled).
d. Subdue = science is a discipline (research).
e. Dominion = Technology to develop.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at eltowns@liberty.edu and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.
