Why did God create you, and what are you going to do about it?

Illustration:

When babies are little, they often do not understand the purpose of things. How do you know this? What do babies do with shoes, papers, phones…etc

Once you figure out what something is, then you put it to use.

Have you ever seen a toddler pick up a plastic, fake phone? What do they do with it? They pretend. Why? They have learned the purpose of it.

God has created man with a purpose. Once you find out what the purpose it, you and I need to do something about it!

I. Creator: God created animals and man on day six (v. 24 - 27)

(v. 24 - 25) God is the One who created land animals

* Nephesh - self-conscious (example: look to preserve self); self-aware

* "after their kind"

(v. 26 - 27) God is the One who created man

* Emphasis on image - what this means

* What is meant in that culture at that time? - ,

The NIV Application Commentary: Genesis Day Six (1:24–31)

Rather, the deity’s work was thought to be accomplished through the idol.

The NIV Application Commentary: Genesis Day Six (1:24–31)

In Mesopotamia a significance of the image can be seen in the practice of kings setting up images of themselves in places where they want to establish their authority.

* What is meant for man's inherent responsibility?

* The value of both male/female attached to their Creator

Illustration: Had the privilege of spending time with Wilbur Gibson this past week. Through the time, I was able to look at several photo albums. During this time, I became aware about how much his grandchildren were striking resemblances of Wilbur.

The image represents someone or something. Man and woman were created in the image of God. They are representatives of God on this earth.

II. Sustainer: God gave blessings for life to continue on day six (v. 28 - 30)

(v. 28 - 30) God is the One who gave blessings (; )

* God blesses for the purpose

* of reproducing

* for the purpose of replenishing

* for the purpose of ruling

* God blesses by giving all that is necessary to sustain life (after the fall meat is available - false teachers oppose this speaks how God created meats to be received)

The cultural mandate refers to the earliest commission given to mankind....When God created Adam and Eve after His own image and placed them in the garden of Eden, He gave them some responsibilities: to cultivate the earth, to rule the earth and to fill the earth by multiplying their offspring (see ).

Taube, Jake. Send Me, I’ll Go: Letting the Mission Choose Your Direction (Kindle Locations 1789-1790). CLC Publications. Kindle Edition.

III. Finisher: God finished creating perfectly on day six (v. 31)

(v. 31) God is the One who created perfectly

This means that God did not create evil.

This means that God did not create sin.

This also means that death and sin were NOT already in existence.

Summary: We thus conclude that man was created by God and for God. What this means is that man was created to reflect God’s image in the midst of many other creatures who are NOT created in the image of God.

IV. God, in the New Testament, confirms that there is more to day six than we initially thought or believed.

* Your image of God is horribly marred

Image of Man (; )

the New Testament upholds that man was created in God's image in spite of the Fall

Illustration: This all means that man did not live according to his original purpose for which he was created. Have you ever opened a can of grease. I went to the auto shop recently and me and my friend purchased a can of grease for bearings for the trailer wheel that he had. We opened the can of grease and it looked like carmel. What happens of you take that grease and use it for a topping on ice cream?

* Christ is the image of God that is equal to God

the New Testament unveils the express image (representation) of God in the most perfect way -

(likeness);

(character; mark engraved; The phrase expresses the fact that the Son “is both personally distinct from, and yet literally equal to, Him of whose essence He is the adequate imprint” (Liddon). The Son of God is not merely his “image” (His charakter), He is the “image” or impress of His substance, or essence. It is the fact of complete similarity which this word stresses [Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vol. 2, p. 319). Nashville, TN: T. Nelson.

* God sent Jesus Christ to make us new creations after his image

The New Testament affirms that we have put on a new man, which is renewed (made new; also used in ) in knowledge (means discernment, recognition - something lost in the beginning) after the image (likeness) of him that created him (see also - created in Christ Jesus)

The New Testament affirms, not that physical reproduction was prohibited by the Fall; but rather the New Testament (by virtue of what God has done in Christ) is teaching is that what was lost in the Fall was the worship of God by man.

* The New Testament affirms, not that physical reproduction was prohibited by the Fall; but rather the New Testament (by virtue of what God has done in Christ) is teaching is that what was lost in the Fall was the worship of God by man. IOW, man was created to be a worshipper of God, and so the New Testament, in response, shows us how God is now restoring man back to his original and ultimate purpose - the worship and glory of God.

IOW, man was created to be a worshipper of God, and so the New Testament, in response, shows us how God is now restoring man back to his original and ultimate purpose - the worship and glory of God.

- this has massive implications for the cultural mandate: we were not made to simply procreate other living creatures; we were made to pro-create worshippers of God.

this has massive implications for the cultural mandate: we were not made to simply procreate other living creatures; we were made to pro-create worshippers of God.

- we were not made to merely procreate other little humans to replenish the earth; we were made to replenish the earth with worshippers of God.

we were not made to merely procreate other little humans to replenish the earth; we were made to replenish the earth with worshippers of God.

* You, as a new creature are blessed and commanded to reproduce according to God's original intention

The New Testament affirms that God's original intention still matters ();

this brings great hope to those who will remain single all of your life; because the gospel shows us that the ideal is not procreation. the ideal is spiritual procreation, which any worshipper of God is able to devote themselves to.

- this brings great hope to those who will remain single all of your life; because the gospel shows us that the ideal is not procreation. the ideal is spiritual procreation, which any worshipper of God is able to devote themselves to.

this is why: - It is good to be single & it is good to be married because the purpose does not change for either of you.

- this is why: - It is good to be single & it is good to be married because the purpose does not change for either of you.

What happens if you preach or teach or understand the cultural mandate without seeing how the New Testament addresses this?

* What happens if you preach or teach or understand the cultural mandate with seeing how the New Testament addresses this? You have people who devote themselves to having big families, good family values, and devoted to families but who are not thoroughly devoted to God. Why? Because the cultural mandate becomes a fog that does not allow them to see the fullness of what God intended in the beginning.

You have people who devote themselves to having big families, good family values, and devoted to families but who are not thoroughly devoted to God. Why? Because the cultural mandate becomes a fog that does not allow them to see the fullness of what God intended in the beginning.

* people grow up aspiring to have a family rather than aspiring to procreate worshippers of God.

people grow up aspiring to have a family rather than aspiring to procreate worshippers of God.

* people who are single grow up aspiring to have a family rather than aspiring to procreate worshippers of God.

people who are single grow up aspiring to have a family rather than aspiring to procreate worshippers of God.

Conclusion:

So, why did God create you, and what are you going to do about it?

* Blessing & Reproduction

(). We see clearly that the NT affirms our marriage to another so that we can reproduce to God's glory

(). We see clearly that the NT affirms our marriage to another so that we can reproduce to God's glory

* We see that we have been blessed with the Holy Spirit

We see that we have been blessed with the Holy Spirit

* We have been blessed with the gift of the Holy Spirit so that we can be productive. (; , , ; compare , , with ; ).

We have been blessed with the gift of the Holy Spirit so that we can be productive. (; , , ; compare , , with ; ).

Is this not the heart of the Great Commission that God has saved his people, blessed them with the Holy Spirit, brought them into the BRIDE OF CHRIST, and COMMANDS THEM to go forth and reproduce?!?!

* Is this not the heart of the Great Commission that God has saved his people, blessed them with the Holy Spirit, brought them into the BRIDE OF CHRIST, and COMMANDS THEM to go forth and reproduce?!?!

GOD CREATED YOU TO GLORIFY HIM. GOD CREATED TO TO BE A WORSHIPPER OF GOD. HE CREATED TO MAKE WORSHIPPERS OF GOD. So, what are you going to do about it?

(1) If you are not saved by the blood of Christ, you have not been created in Christ Jesus and you do not bear Christ’s image. You must come to Christ.

(2) When you go to work tomorrow, go as a worshipper of God seeking to make worshippers of God.