Relationships Designed By God Series

Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness. . . So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

God said, "Let US make man in OUR image." God did not say, “I will make man in my image.” God did not speak of Himself singularly in the way we speak of ourselves; God spoke using the plural, “Let US make man in OUR image.”

This is the mystery of the trinity; God has made Himself known as Father, Son, and Holy Spirt, and these three are one. Long before time began, God has always existed in an eternal relationship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Three persons or characters within the Godhead who exist in such an intimate relationship with each other that they are one.

1 John 4:8 and 16 tells us , God is love." Therefore, from eternity past and into eternity future God has always existed in an intimate loving relationship because love is the very nature of God. Before there was time the Father has always loved the Son and the Spirit; the Son has loved the Father and Spirit; the Spirit has loved the Father and the Son. And when time is no more each will continue to share an eternal love relationship with each other.

Have you ever wondered why God created the universe? Why did God make the earth the way it is; why did He create man? I don’t pretend to know all the reasons, but I believe that creation is an expression of God’s love. Love cannot be kept to oneself; real love must find expression. We can enjoy the wonders of God’s creation because He loves us, but I think it goes even deeper than God’s love for us.

I believe that all of creation is also an expression of love “God to God.”

>The Father expressed His love and so He planned creation.

>The Son expressed His love as He spoke the Word of creation to bring it into being.

>The Spirt responded in love by brooding, or hovering over the creation to make it complete.

>The Father continued His expression of love as He formed man from the dust of the ground.

>Knowing that man would reject God, the Son expressed His love in the plan of Emmanuel, God in the Flesh; the Son would become a man and willingly die in order to redeem creation back to God.

>Knowing that the plan was complete, the Spirit expressed love by breathing the breath of life into man making Him a living soul.

>The Father responded in love by making a covenant with the Son that His name would be exalted above all names, and further to accept all those who believe in the Son as His children.

>The Spirit responds in love to powerfully resurrect Jesus from the dead and to then fill the believer in order that they might live a holy live and to guarantee God’s promises.

Now again, I don’t pretend to have it all figured out, but I believe that creation (and God’s plan of salvation) is an expression of love both GOD to GOD and GOD to MAN. God is love and He has expressed His love in so many wonderful ways through creation and His plan of salvation.

Now think about this: God has made man; both male and female, in His image. Each of us have been made LIKE GOD. Therefore, one of the ways we have been made like God is that we too can share in loving relationships; like God we can give and receive love. When you experience God’s love for you, when the your love for your spouse is expressed, when you know the joy of your child or grandchild’s love for you, when a friend shows you compassion--in these and countless other ways in which you can give and receive love--it is all because God made you to be like Him.

WE ARE MOST LIKE GOD WHEN WE GIVE LOVE TO OTHERS. Love is selflessness; thinking not about yourself, but thinking first of those you love.

✞ Genesis 2:18, 20-22 The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.". . . But for Adam no suitable helper was found. [this was NOT GOOD.] So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God mad a woman from the rib he had take out of the man, and He brought her to the man.

Adam lived in a perfect garden. He could interact freely and without fear with the animals God had created. He could spend time getting to know the animals in order to give them the perfect name. Adam also had the freedom to interact with God without the barrier of sin. Adam could personally experience God’s love for him. God walked and talked with Adam; God met Adam’s every need.