WK 2: What makes humans unique?

Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
0 ratings
· 2 views
Notes
Transcript
WK 2: What makes humans unique?
Who is God: He’s the Creator, Sustainer, Governor, and Judge of the universe. And in his justice and mercy, he devised a way, from all eternity, for sinners like us to be forgiven and to be adopted into his eternal family as the children of God and as a kind of bride for his Son, Jesus Christ, so that by sharing the joy God has in himself, our joy in him would show the fullness of his own glory.
What makes humans unique?
Humans, unlike every other living creature, are created in God’s image and meant to be in a loving relationship with him.

How do you define Identity?

The Cambridge Dictionary defines identity as “who a person is, or the qualities of a person or group that make them different from others.”[2] As this definition implies, identity is an individual’s answer to the question: “Who am I?” Every person endeavors to give a distinctive yet reasonable answer to this question, which can satisfy both oneself and others. Identity formation can take a lifetime as people strive to establish their identity.
If we try to define our identity by worldly standards we will never find the right answer. When I was young I wanted to be a pirate or fire fighter or a pilot.
But who does God say you are.
Genesis 1:26–28 (ESV)
Then 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 birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Images are created to image. If you create an image, if you make a sculpture of someone, you do it to display something about that someone. You put it in the square in the middle of town, and you want people to look at it, notice it, think about that person, think something about them — that they were noble or strong or wise or courageous or something.
Now what would it mean if you created seven billion statues of yourself and put them all over the world? It would mean you would want people to notice you. God created us in his image so that we would display or reflect or communicate who he is, how great he is, and what he is like.
Maybe the most beautiful thing about being a human—we are capable of receiving love from God.” Read 1 John 4:7–8 Our capacity to receive and give love—with God and one another—comes from our creator, because God is love.
1 John 4:7–8 (ESV)
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
John 15:12–17 God desires a close, loving relationship with us, his image-bearers who were created for intimacy with him. Being made for friendship with God is a beautiful mystery.
John 15:12–17 (ESV)
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
1. Pray Hebrews 4:14-16
Hebrews 4:14–16 (ESV)
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
2. Love others John 13:34-35
John 13:34–35 (ESV)
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
In a world that is so divisive.
3. Do Good
Matthew 5:13–16 (ESV)
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
SO WHAT?
Our series title is What is a Christian?
Christ’s followers are more than their race, social status, gender, and nationality since their new identity in Christ supersedes all the worldly markers of identity.
Christian identity is strengthened as a believer’s relationship with God deepens. While a constant change of personal identity due to various life changes can cause confusion and even identity crises, a Christian identity that is rooted deeply in the Word of God gets stronger over time as believers’ divine-human relationship is solidified. Here is the beauty of Christian identity: just as Jesus is the founder and the perfecter of the faith of all believers (Heb. 12:2
Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
John 3:16–17 ESV
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more
Earn an accredited degree from Redemption Seminary with Logos.