The Blueprint of Our Identity

In the ancient world, Pharaohs would erect statues of themselves in distant lands they had conquered. These images signified their rule, even in places they did not physically dwell. It was a declaration of dominion.

In Genesis 1, we see something similar—but greater. God, the Sovereign King, declares His dominion over creation by placing His image not in stone statues—but in us. You and I are the living representations of His authority in the earth.

Now to help us understand how we were created with purpose, I want to use a simple illustration—the design process of a smartphone.

Cell phone demonstration:

1.         Original Idea- explains what and why.

2.         Mock-up- gives us a visual of what it will look like

3.         Prototype- Build the first physical version

Genesis 1:26-28

1. Ideation — “Let Us Make Man…” (Genesis 1:26a)

Every product begins with an idea. Before the phone was in your hand, it existed in someone’s mind.

God said, “Let us make man…” You weren’t made randomly—you were conceived with divine intent.

Just as a phone begins with vision, your existence began in the mind of God.

Jeremiah 1:5 – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…”

You were God’s idea before you were ever your parents’ child. That means your value precedes your birth certificate.

2. Mock-up — “In Our Image, After Our Likeness” (Genesis 1:26b)

Before mass production, there's a design mock-up—something that reflects what the final product should look like and do.

God said: “In our image and likeness.”

Image speaks of form.

Likeness speaks of function.

You weren’t just made to look like God—you were made to live like Him, to operate with His nature, His dominion, and His Spirit.

Illustration: The outer shell of a phone is the image. The operating system is the likeness. You have both.

3. Prototype — “Be fruitful and multiply…” (Genesis 1:28)

A prototype is the first functioning model. It’s the proof that the idea and mock-up actually work.

God didn’t stop at forming man—He blessed him, and released him into purpose.

 Genesis 2:7 – He breathed into man the breath of life…

Humanity didn’t just bear God’s image—we were commissioned to act on His behalf in the earth. You weren’t saved to sit.

You were saved to function—to be fruitful, multiply, and carry His authority.

After the Fall — A New Prototype: Noah

When sin corrupted the first Prototype, God restarted His plan through another prototype: Noah.

Genesis 9:1 – “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth…”

This echoes the original blessing, but sin still needed a greater solution.

The Divine Original: Jesus Christ

Here’s where everything turns: Jesus was not Plan B—He was the original plan.

 Colossians 1:15 – “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”

 John 14:9 – “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”

 Revelation 22:16 – “I am the Root and the Offspring of David…”

Beginning and the End

If David came from Jesus, then Abraham came from Jesus.

If Abraham came from Jesus, then so did Adam.

This reveals a powerful truth: Jesus Christ is the original idea, Mock-up, prototype, and the actual model of humanity, not Adam. Adam was the first human formed in time, but he was created to be like the Son

Jesus is not the second draft—He’s the original template.

 Revelation 13:8 – “…the Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world.”

This means: Before Adam, before sin, before failure—Jesus was already the model.

Jesus Christ existed in eternity past as the divine original. Therefore, the “last Adam(1 Cor 15:45)” is not a replacement but the original design

Adam was a reflection. Jesus is the source.

Closing Application:

So what does this mean for you?

You are not a mistake.

You are not a reaction to sin.

You are God’s idea, God’s image, and God’s instrument in the earth.

When you walk in Christ, you’re walking in your original design.

Sermon Summary: Divine Blueprint

Step Design Phase Scripture Meaning

1. Ideation Gen. 1:26a You were God’s idea.

2. Mock-up Gen. 1:26b You reflect His image and likeness.

3. Prototype Gen. 1:28 / 2:7 You’re made to function with purpose.

4. New Prototype Gen. 9:1 Noah was a type of restart.

5. Original Template Col. 1:15 / Rev. 13:8 Jesus was the divine blueprint all along.