The Beginning of Humanity

Introduction

The creation account moves towards the creation of man as its culmination and most important aspect

More time is given to the creation of man than anything else

Attention is given to the divine thought process for creating man

The life of man should be God-centered

This is the fundamental weakness of secular approaches to understanding people – they start without the most important truth

The Creator Gives Us an Identity

Gen 1:26 “26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness […] 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

Meaning of being created in God’s image

In ANE the king was referred to as the image of God

By applying such language to all mankind Genesis emphasizes the royal rule of mankind

Because we are created in God’s likeness we resemble him in some way distinct from the animals

This explains the significance of sin – the ones who were supposed to look like and represent God in the creation betray him by misusing the creation

Implications of being created in God’s image

There is a unique value which humans possess

Value is found in identity rather than function

Equality – Because our creator is the source of our unique position, we do not determine which humans have this value – they all do

This text is absolutely clear that men and women both bear the image of God

Before we talk about the ways that men and women are different, we should emphasize the ways we are the same

Murder – This is the foundation of the biblical prohibition on murder

Gen 9:6 “6 “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind.”

Much injustice has been propagated by Christians throughout history; however, the Bible provides a framework for treating all people fairly and mistreating God’ s image bearers is rebellion against him.

The Creator Gives Us Responsibility

Genesis 1:28–31 NIV

28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” 29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Filling (28a)

The creation (plants, animals, and man) is responsible to reproduce itself

The dignity and uniqueness of mankind is emphasized by our distinct reproductive role

Our filling role is different from the animals, two humans are responsible to fill the earth. The animals were created in large number. (The sea and sky “team” with animals)

The animals reproductive process is largely performed through mere biology, but humans are expected to reproduce within the confines of the divinely ordained social structure of marriage.

An entire section of chapter 2 discusses the relationship between the man and woman with a special emphasis on the uniting of the two in one flesh

The unique reproductive expectations form a foundation for parenting with a purpose of training future worshipers. The truth of the creator is expected to passed on by the image bearers to their children.

Ruling

Adam and Eve are responsible to rule over God’s creation

They function as his ambassadors and stewards. It’s still his world.

The creation is not given to be abused for the pleasure of mankind but to be governed by those who steward the creation of the one in whose image they are made

This is a position of serious dignity and responsibility

How does this affect our interaction with creation?

Triangulates the culture

The environment should be cared for and preserved

The environment ought to be used for the benefit of humanity

Psalm 8 puts forward our unique place in the world

Psalm 8 NIV

For the director of music. According to gittith. A psalm of David. 1 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. 2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? 5 You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. 6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, 8 the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. 9 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

The Creator Gives Us the True Man

What happened to this glorious creature – mankind?

When we confront the wonderful position and the corruption that came later it may have two effects

Motivating us to fulfill the role we have been given

Leave us hopeless because we have failed at this glorious role

Not every man has fallen short of God’s expectation – there is a true man who fulfilled the expectations

Daniel 7:9–14 NIV

9 “As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. 10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. 11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. 12 (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.) 13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Revelation 1:9–20 (NIV)

9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.” 12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. 19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.