Made in His Image

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Text: Genesis 1:26-31 (NKJV) Main Idea: On Day 6, God created humanity in His image, endowing them with unique purpose and dominion, supported by scientific evidence for a recent creation and rapid population growth post-Flood. Objective: To help learners marvel at their creation in God’s image, understand scientific support for a young Earth, and live as image-bearers reflecting Christ’s glory and purpose. Key Question: How does God’s creation of humanity in His image, backed by scientific evidence, inspire us to fulfill His purpose today? Target Audience: Adults or older youth (adaptable for mixed ages) Lesson Duration: 45-60 minutes Materials Needed: Bibles (NKJV), whiteboard or projector, handouts with key verses and discussion questions, images of human diversity or population growth charts (optional), paper for reflection activity.Text (NKJV): “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, 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. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’ And God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food’; and it was so. And God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” (Gen. 1:26-31)Lesson Plan1. Opening Activity (5-7 minutes)Purpose: Engage learners and introduce the theme of humanity’s unique creation in God’s image. Activity: “What Makes Us Special?” Reflection

Genesis 1:26–31 NKJV

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, 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. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Instructions: Show images (or describe) a diverse group of people (e.g., different ages, cultures, professions). Ask: “What makes humans unique compared to animals or other creation? How might we reflect something greater?” Invite 2-3 brief responses, noting qualities like creativity, relationships, or purpose.

Transition: Genesis 1:26-31 reveals that God created humanity in His image, setting us apart with purpose and dignity. Today, we’ll explore this truth, supported by science, and how it calls us to live for Christ.

2. Biblical Exegesis (15-20 minutes)Purpose: Provide a grammatical-historical exposition of Genesis 1:26-31, focusing on the creation of man, connecting to Christ, and setting the stage for scientific discussion. Teaching Method: Interactive lecture with whiteboard visuals (e.g., Hebrew terms, creation timeline). Content (Grammatical-Historical Perspective):

Literary Context:

Genesis 1:26-31, part of the creation account written by Moses (~13th century BC) for Israel post-Exodus, affirms Yahweh as the sovereign Creator, contrasting pagan myths (e.g., Babylonian Enuma Elish, where humans are slaves to gods). The creation of man on Day 6 is the climax of the creation week, following animals (vv. 24-25) and preceding the Sabbath (Gen. 2:1-3).

The passage emphasizes humanity’s unique role as God’s image-bearers, tasked with dominion and multiplication, reflecting divine purpose.

Historical-Cultural Context:

Ancient Near East: Pagan cultures often viewed humans as afterthoughts or divine laborers (e.g., Atrahasis epic). Genesis 1 elevates humanity as God’s representatives, created intentionally by one God (Elohim), distinct from Egypt’s deified pharaohs or animal gods (e.g., Anubis).

Israel’s Setting: As former slaves (Ex. 3:7-10), Israel needed to know their dignity and calling as God’s image-bearers, reinforcing their covenant identity (Gen. 17:7) amidst a world of idolatry.

Grammatical Analysis:

V. 26: “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…”

Hebrew: na‘aseh adam b’tselemenu kidmutenu—“Let Us make man” suggests divine deliberation,

possibly the Trinity (cf. John 1:1-3)

John 1:1–3 NKJV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

divine council

Legacy Standard Bible PSALM 82

1 God takes His astand in the congregation of God;

He judges in the midst of gods.

2 How long will you ajudge unrighteously

And bshow partiality to the wicked? 1Selah.

3 Give justice to the poor and the orphan;

Justify the afflicted and destitute.

4 Protect the poor and needy;

Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.

5 They do not know and do not understand;

They walk about in darkness;

All the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6 1 said, “You are gods,

And all of you are sons of the Most High.

7 “Nevertheless you will die like men

And you will fall like any bone of the princes.”

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth!

For it is You who will inherit all the nations.

(Isa. 6:8).

Isaiah 6:8 NKJV

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

“Image” (tselem) and “likeness” (demut) denote humanity’s capacity for relationship, reason, morality, and stewardship, unique among creation.

It speaks to our spiritual dimension as well

God is Spirit, and we have spiritual life.

“Man” (adam) is collective, including male and female (v. 27).

“Dominion” (radah) implies responsible rule over creation, not exploitation, reflecting God’s kingship (Ps. 8:5-8).

Psalm 8:5–8 NKJV

For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen— Even the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas.

V. 27: “So God created man in His own image… male and female He created them.”

Male and female to complement each other.

Genesis 2:7 NKJV

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

Genesis 2:18–25 NKJV

And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

“Created” (bara, thrice) emphasizes God’s ex nihilo act, used only for divine creation (cf. Gen. 1:1). Repetition underscores humanity’s special status. “Male and female” (zakar uneqevah) affirms equal dignity and complementary roles, foundational to God’s design.

V. 28: “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it…”

“Be fruitful” (parah) and “multiply” (rabah) align with God’s blessing (Gen. 9:1 post-Flood), enabling rapid population growth.

“Subdue” (kabash) suggests active stewardship, managing creation’s resources.

V. 29-30: “I have given you every herb… for food…”

God provides vegetation for humans and animals, indicating a pre-Fall vegetarian diet, reflecting harmony. “Given” (natan) highlights divine provision.

Many envision a world prefall where there is no death in all of creation. However, the Bible doesn’t specifically say that.

Reasoning: No death, all were vegetarian

Fall occurs (Adam and Eve eat of the tree) and God kills the first animal as a sacrifice (its life substituted)

OTHER VIEW:

Some animals were already carnivores

Mankind was not until after the fall.

Specifically included meat in diet post flood

Genesis 9:1–7 NKJV

So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of man. “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man. And as for you, be fruitful and multiply; Bring forth abundantly in the earth And multiply in it.”

**V. 31: “Very good” (tov me’od) declares creation’s perfection, completed in six literal days (“evening and morning”), supporting a young Earth view.

Christ Connection:

Jesus, the “image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15), perfectly embodies humanity’s intended role. As the Word (John 1:1-3), He created man, and through His redemption, He restores our image-bearing purpose (2 Cor. 3:18; Rom. 8:29). His dominion over creation (Heb. 2:8-9) fulfills humanity’s calling, inviting us to reflect Him.

Theological Insight:

God’s creation of humanity in His image establishes our unique dignity, purpose, and responsibility. The young Earth view, rooted in literal days and rapid post-Flood adaptation, upholds Scripture’s authority, as seen in prior series lessons (e.g., Genesis 1:1-5, June 18, 2025).

3. Scientific Evidence Exploration (10-15 minutes)

Purpose: Highlight scientific support for a recent creation, emphasizing humanity’s rapid population growth and fossil evidence. Teaching Method: Guided discussion with visuals (e.g., dinosaur fossil images, population growth chart). Content (Young Earth Creationist Perspective):

Soft Tissue in Fossils:

Issue: Evolutionary models claim dinosaurs lived 65+ million years ago, but organic material degrades rapidly, challenging long ages.

Young Earth Response: Paleontologist Mary Schweitzer’s discovery of soft tissue (e.g., blood vessels, collagen) in dinosaur bones (Nature, 2005) suggests preservation incompatible with millions of years.

Young Earth scientists like Brian Thomas argue these fossils, buried during the global Flood (~4,500 years ago, Gen. 7:19-20), retain soft tissue due to a recent creation and rapid burial.

Key Concept: Organic material should degrade in thousands, not millions, of years, aligning with a young Earth and supporting the rapid formation of the fossil record post-Flood.

Example: Finding a preserved apple in a 1,000-year-old ruin would shock historians—soft tissue in dinosaur bones is like a “fresh apple,” pointing to a recent Flood, not millions of years.

Link to Humanity: The Flood’s rapid burial preserved animal remains, allowing humanity to repopulate and adapt quickly afterward, consistent with Genesis 1:28’s command to “fill the earth.”

Population Growth Models:

Issue: If humans existed for millions of years, population growth would yield an impossibly large number (e.g., trillions).

Young Earth Response: Geneticist Robert Carter’s models show that starting from a few individuals (e.g., Noah’s family, ~4,500 years ago, Gen. 9:1), a growth rate of ~0.5% annually fits today’s 8 billion people (reached 2022). Over millions of years, even low growth rates would produce absurd populations (e.g., 10^2000).

Key Concept:

Current population aligns with a young Earth timeline, starting from Adam and Eve (Gen. 1:27) and restarting post-Flood, supporting rapid adaptation and multiplication.

Example: A family tree starting with two people in 1800 growing modestly reaches thousands today—scale that to 4,500 years, and it fits 8 billion, but millions of years would overflow the planet.

Link to Humanity: Genesis 1:28’s “be fruitful and multiply” enabled rapid population growth, evident in post-Flood adaptation, as humans spread and diversified (Gen. 10).

Discussion Prompt:

“How do soft tissue in fossils and population models strengthen your trust in Genesis 1’s account of a recent human creation? What questions remain?” Encourage 2-3 responses, affirming faith and reason.

Theological Tie-In:

Scientific evidence supports Genesis 1’s literal days and recent creation, reinforcing that humans, created in God’s image, are part of a purposeful, young world. Christ, the Creator (John 1:3), affirms our value and calls us to reflect Him.

4. Application and Discussion (10-12 minutes)Purpose: Connect the text and science to learners’ lives, fostering faith and action as image-bearers. Activity: “Reflecting God’s Image” Journaling

Instructions: Provide paper and pens. Ask learners to write one way they see God’s image in themselves (e.g., creativity, compassion) and one area where they struggle to reflect Him (e.g., patience, stewardship). Then, write how trusting God’s recent creation and Christ’s redemption can inspire change. Discuss in pairs or small groups: “How does being made in God’s image shape your purpose?”

Key Applications:

Personal Faith: Embrace your dignity as God’s image-bearer, trusting His design despite doubts or societal pressures (Ps. 139:14).

Stewardship: Exercise dominion responsibly—caring for creation, family, or community—as God intended (Gen. 2:15).

Biblical Authority: Defend Genesis 1’s truth with evidence like soft tissue and population models, growing in confidence (2 Tim. 3:16).

Witness: Share your identity in Christ, the perfect Image, inviting others to know Him (Col. 3:10; Matt. 5:16).

Christ Connection: Jesus restores our marred image through salvation, empowering us to live as God’s representatives (Rom. 8:29; Eph. 4:24).

5. Closing and Prayer (5 minutes)Purpose: Summarize the lesson and commit to living as God’s image-bearers. Summary:

On Day 6, God created humanity in His image, with purpose and dominion (Gen. 1:26-31). Soft tissue in fossils and population growth models support a recent creation, affirming Scripture. Jesus, the true Image, redeems us to reflect God’s glory. Closing Challenge:

This week, read Genesis 1:26-31 daily and act in one way to reflect God’s image (e.g., create, serve, steward). Share one insight about creation with someone. Prayer:

“Lord, we praise You for creating us in Your image, with purpose and dignity. Thank You for evidence like fossils and population growth that upholds Your Word. Help us reflect Christ, our Redeemer, in all we do. In His name, Amen.”

Notes on Integration and Focus

Provided Details:

Main Idea: The lesson centers on the creation of humanity in God’s image, emphasizing a young Earth view and rapid post-Flood adaptation, as specified.

Scientific Evidence: Soft tissue in fossils (Schweitzer, Thomas) and population growth models (Carter) are explained accessibly, with analogies (fresh apple, family tree) to clarify for a general audience, linking to humanity’s recent origin.

Objective: The lesson highlights humanity’s unique creation and purpose, reconciled with a young Earth, as requested.

Grammatical-Historical Perspective: The exegesis roots the text in Hebrew terms (tselem, demut, bara), 13th-century BC context (Israel post-Exodus), and literary purpose (contrasting pagan myths), ensuring fidelity to Scripture, as in prior lessons (June 18, 2025).

Christ Connection: The lesson ties humanity’s image to Christ as the perfect Image-bearer and Redeemer (Col. 1:15; Rom. 8:29), aligning with your prior requests (e.g., April 26, 2025, Exodus 2).

Series Fit: As Week 6, the lesson completes the creation series, focusing on Day 6’s climax (man’s creation), complementing earlier lessons (e.g., Day 1, light). It maintains the young Earth focus and Christological lens.

Illustrations: The opening activity uses human diversity images to engage, while scientific analogies make evidence vivid. The journaling activity personalizes the image-bearer theme, as in prior lessons (June 18, 2025).

Connection to Prior Series: While not directly tied to “From Hosanna to Hallelujah,” the lesson’s emphasis on redemption through Christ complements the series’ arc from oppression to victory, and its Exodus references (e.g., May 15, 2025) maintain continuity.

Additional Resources

Handout Content:

Key verses (Gen. 1:26-31; Col. 1:15; Rom. 8:29).

Summary of soft tissue evidence and population models.

Discussion questions: “How does being God’s image-bearer shape your identity? How does scientific evidence strengthen your faith?”