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If you are attending the His Design Connection Group activity this weekend, the Beatty’s have requested that you bring a chair to sit on.

What we believe about “MAN.”

We believe that man was created by a direct act of God and not by any evolutionary process;

Some truths to consider that are contained within this part of our doctrinal statement:

God created - out of nothing!

The Latin phrase ex nihilo is used to signify that God’s creation was out of nothing.

God created man - Adam & Eve - on the 6th day of creation.

Turn to and read Genesis 1:23-2:1.

God created only two genders - male and female.

Genesis 1:27 (KJV 1900)

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

We believe that man was created by a direct act of God and not by any evolutionary process;

Next...

We believe that man was created in God’s own image and in a state of innocency;

Mankind has been created in God’s image.

Genesis 1:26 (KJV 1900)

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...

What does it mean that mankind has been created in God’s image?

Last week, I said that we could/can get so bogged down in the discussion of the technicalities of what it means to have been created in the image of God that we completely ignore the practicality of having been created in the image of God.

As I have spent further time in developing this message, I didn’t want to “leave you hanging” in relation to a more technical answer to the question, What does it mean that mankind has been created in God’s image.

Lexham Survey of Theology (Attributes Describing God in His Activity toward Creatures)

It is therefore with special reference to the communicable attributes [of God] that human beings are said to be created in the image of God, and likewise, in God’s work of redemption, to be recreated and conformed to the image of Christ.

Passages such as Genesis 1:26-27, which teaches that we are made in God's image, presuppose that there are some things that human beings hold in common with the Creator that other creatures do not.

We are like God in ways that nothing else in creation is like God, although we are not so like Him that there is no distinction between Creator and creature.

The attributes (qualities/characteristics) of God can be divided in communicable and incommunicable.

Incommunicable attributes of God are those attributes which are exclusive to Him such as His omnipotence, omnisciences, self-existence, etc.

When we speak of God's communicable attributes, we are referring primarily to His moral attributes such as love, goodness, and kindness.

However, even with that, we must understand that, as finite being, we do not have the capability of sharing in those communicable attributes of God to the same extent that God has those attributes.

For example: Human beings are creative but we do not have the ability to create in the same manner as God - out of nothing.

Now, let’ review, quickly, from last week, and then press on forward.

Being created in the image of God sets mankind apart from animals.

Because of this, God has a high regard for the sanctity of human life.

God bases the institution of capital punishment upon the fact that mankind was made in His image.

As one writer stated:

How ironic that the same people who legislate for a woman’s right to kill her unborn child will also picket outside a prison on the night of an execution with signs reading, Thou shalt not kill.

Mankind was made for fellowship with his Creator.

There is a vacuum in the human life that can be filled only by God.

man has always tried to fill that vacuum with the pleasures and things of this world, but they cannot satisfy.

A person can find peace and happiness only when that void is filled with the presence of the One Who made him in His image.

We see this fact in Genesis 3:8

Not only have we been made for fellowship with our Creator, God actually desires to have fellowship with us!

In fact, God is still walking amongst the trees seeking to have fellowship with mankind.

2 Peter 3:9 (KJV 1900)

The Lord is...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Because of sin the image of God within mankind has been marred beyond recognition.

Illustration: Most of us are familiar with carnival mirrors.

These “funhouse” mirrors make you appear short, or tall, or skinny, or fat.

They’re also called distorting mirrors.

Why? Because, although the mirror reflects the image of the object/individual standing in front of it, the image has been distorted and twisted from what it should be.

I believe that this is one of the main reasons why it is difficult for us to come to a complete understanding of what it means that we were created in the image of God.

This is also the reason why it is so desperately important that we come to Christ for it is only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that we can hope to have that image at least partially restored.

I shared this earlier tonight:

It is therefore with special reference to the communicable attributes [of God] that human beings are said to be created in the image of God, and likewise, in God’s work of redemption, to be recreated and conformed to the image of Christ.

That is what is contained in our purpose statement:

Proclaiming the Gospel; Experiencing the Miracle of Changed Lives

Ryrie’s Basic Theology (C.

Ramifications of the Concept)

Regeneration and sanctification serve to renew the believer according to the image of Christ, to whose image we shall someday be perfectly conformed.

Only grace can do this.

Not only that, but when we find that our fellowship - not our relationship - has been affected by sin, we need to do something about it.

Turn to and read 1 John 1:3-10.

Now, going back to Genesis chapter 3…After Adam and Eve sinned...

God still desired to have fellowship with mankind.

However, because of sin, things changed.

Mankind was made to reflect and represent our Creator.

“There is something about human beings where we uniquely reflect God the Creator in a way nothing else created does.” - Unknown

One of the ways in which we reflect our Creator is as we reflect His glory.

Question: How are you doing at reflecting and representing your Creator?

Mankind was given dominion over God’s creation.

No other part of creation has been given that responsibility.

When Adam was given dominion over the fish of the sea, etc. in Genesis 1:26, mankind was given the responsibility to represent our Creator within the creation.

Ian Hart (whom I referenced earlier) wrote:

...the 'image of God' text in Genesis 1:26-28 could be summed up thus: man is appointed king over creation, responsible to God the ultimate king, and as such expected to manage and develop and care for creation, this task to include actual physical work.

Yet, because of sin, even that has been marred as Satan has been given a measure of authority in and dominion over this world.

However, as Christians, we still are Christ’s representatives - ambassadors - in this world.

Again, no other part of God’s creation has the opportunity to be a direct ambassador for God!

Also, as Christians, we have been made stewards - managers - of the Gospel message.

How are we doing representing Christ in this world?

Are we being faithful stewards?

There’s much more that I could say here but I just don’t have the time.

Mankind has been created in God’s image.

Then, the last thing for tonight...

Mankind was created in a state of innocency.

We see this in Genesis 2:25

However, as we’ll see next week…How quickly can things change!?

We believe that through his transgression sin entered into the world, and death by sin—not only physical death, but spiritual death, which is conscious and eternal separation from God;

We believe that consequently, his posterity inherit a corrupt nature, being born in sin and under its condemnation, and, as soon as they become capable of moral action, become actual transgressors.