THE JOURNEY: Session 2: Our Creator By Pastor Brad Kuechler

INTRODUCTION

Gen 1:24 Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind"; and it was so.

Gen 1:25 And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Gen 1:26 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."

Gen 1:27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Gen 1:28 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."

Gen 1:29 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.

Gen 1:30 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.

Gen 1:31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man ofthe dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. NKJV

GOD CREATED US WITH 6 DISTINCT FEATURES

1 – We are created in the IMAGE of God

Gen 1:26 a - Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likenesss NKJV

Gen 1:27a - So God created man in His own image

· People are the Apex and Climax of God’s creation

o From a literary standpoint – each day of creation the descriptions get longer and longer until we get the longest explanation of man.

· God is both 1 God and the Trinity

o Verse 27 says specifically “So GOD (YHWH) Created man in His own image

§ God is a monotheistic God.”

o Verse 26 says “let Us make man in Our Image, according to Our likeness.”

§ God is also known as Father, Son and Holy Spirit

· What is the Image of God? Imago Dei = Image of God

o This phrase is found in only 3 passages (Gen 1:7-27; 5:1-3; 9:6)

o The Hebrew word for image means “Similar but not identical”

§ We are similar to God but we are not God

· It shows that man is distinct from animals and all other created things

o It shows that man is elevated above all created things

o Scholars disagree on this subject….

§ Some say man (Hebrew word = adam) was created with 3 parts:

· Body

· Soul

· Spirit

§ Some say man was created in 3 parts:

· Will

· Intellect

· Likeness

§ Some say man was created in 3 parts:

· Ability to rule

· Ability to be fruitful

· Ability to recreate

o We are God’s distinct representation on the earth

§ The heaven’s may declare His glory, the earthy may declare the works of His hands, but you and I are created “like Him.”

· The starry nights, the majestic mountains, the vast oceans can all point us in God’s direction, but you are and I are the only ones that “Look and reflect who God is and are the only ones who can share what God is like to one another.”

· The New Testament teaches us how to reflect God to the world

o We are becoming more and more “like” God

§ 2Co 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. NKJV

o We are to put on the new man who is now being formed back into the image of God

§ Col 3:9 - Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. NKJV

o The old man does not reflect God’s image… only the new man

§ 2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he isa new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. NKJV

2 – We are created to RULE over God’s creation

Gen 1:26b - 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." NKJV

· Man and animals were created on the same day for man to learn to care for something

· Woman was taken from the rib of man to show intimacy

· Just like God cares for us… we are told to care for the animals and our wives

· Man is to be fruitful, multiply, subdue it and have dominion over all of God’s creation

· Definition of Dominion = refers to the rulership over creation that God granted to humankind (adam).

· This means…

· We are to care about deforestation

· We are to care about animals going extinct

· We are to care about animals in a humanly way and care for our pets

· Note: nowhere in this passage or bible does it refer to the idea that Christians will rule the earth and make all the world Christian.

· This can not and will not happen until Christ comes and sets up His kingdom and makes His enemies His footstool.

· This does not mean we believe in dominionism, Reconstructionism or Kingdom Now Theology

· Dominion theology’s beliefs are based on Genesis 1:28, which says, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth" (emphasis added).

· This verse is taken by Christian Dominionists as a divine mandate to claim dominion over the earth, physically, spiritually, and politically.

1. However, this is taking a large step away from the text, which only says to have dominion over

a. The fish

b. The birds

c. And over all the creeps or moves

i. Remember no other men were living during this time.

2. It is likely that this verse simply means for humanity to

a. multiply and expand over the face of the earth instead of staying in one place and

b. keep and take care of all other living things.

· However, dominion theology goes even further with this verse, leading to two other philosophies:

· Christian Reconstructionism

1. Christian Reconstructionism is an intellectually high-minded worldview, believed by some Christian faiths.

a. Reconstructionism says that dominion will be achieved by each Christian excelling in his or her individual field (Christian artists taking dominion of the art world, Christian musicians taking dominion of the music world, Christian businessmen taking dominion of the business world, etc., until all systems and fields are “subdued”).

· Kingdom Now theology, most popular among SOME Charismatic and Apostolic groups, focuses on taking dominion of the earth by way of spiritual battle.

1. Kingdom Now adherents believe that long ago Satan stole the “keys of spiritual dominion” when he deceived Adam and Eve.

2. Then, when Christ gave the “keys of the kingdom” to Peter in Matthew 16:19, it was a sign that dominion had been returned to man.

3. Now it is our job to “take back” what is rightfully ours – that is, to claim dominion over the earth and spiritually subdue it for Christ.

a. Again, the only way the world will be subdued for Christianity is at the 2nd coming of Christ when He sets up His kingdom in Jerusalem and rules and reigns over all the earth.

b. Until then the world will be in conflict.

· There are 3 things we are to rule over in a spiritual sense

o 1 – we are to take care of the animals and creation

§ Genesis 1:28, which says, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living (or that provides life) thing that moves upon the earth"

· Provides life = water, animals, food, etc.

o 2 – we are to rule over our thoughts and demonic principalities

§ 2Co 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, NKJV

o 4 – we are to rule over our families

§ 1Ti 3:4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence

3 – We are created to be fruitful and MULTIPLY

Gen 1:28 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." NKJV

· Fruitful and multiply means 3 things:

o To increase who we are

o To increase what we have

o To increase our influence

· 4 scriptures about being fruitful

o #1 – Jesus told us to be fruitful

§ Joh 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. NKJV

o #2 – God is glorified when we are fruitful

§ Joh 15:8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. NKJV

o #3 – God removed the unfruitful and gives more to the fruitful

§ Joh 15:1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. NKJV

o #4 – God wants us to also bear spiritual fruit

§ Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. NKJV

4 – We are created with only TWO genders

Gen 1:27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. NKJV

§ When God created the human race He made only 2 genders

o Male

o Female

§ From the beginning there is no indication that God “might” add other genders.

o No He made 1 man and 1 woman.

§ Today there is much confusion in our society propagated by a reprobate mindset

o Many say there are hundreds of genders

o These genders can be made up depending on how you feel

o You can be LGBTQ X Y Z or if those don’t fit you can make up a letter than doesn’t exist

§ Now with that said, we all have sins we fall into and that is why we all need Jesus

§ There is hope for those are confused about their gender.

· The hope is Jesus… He will help remove those feelings and show you your true identity in Christ.

§ 3 things to do to fight sexual addictions

o 1 – Starve your eyes

o 2 – Feed Your Faith

o 3 – Know God’s Word

5 – We are created from the DUST of the ground

Gen 2:7a - 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. NKJV

§ Man is created from the dust of the ground

o Not from primordial ooze

o Not from a tadpole

o Not from a monkey

o Not from aliens from another planet

§ In Hebrew the word for humble is ‛ânâh

o This word means “To crouch down” or “to take a lowly position”

§ Why dust?

o To remind man that we are not God

o To keep man humble

o To return man to the place he was created (God care)

§ Humility scriptures

o Psa 9:12 When He avenges blood, He remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the humble.

o Psa 18:27 For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty looks.

o 1Pe 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

§ Being formed from the dust helps us

o Stay humble knowing where we came from

6 – We are created with the breath of LIFE

Gen 2:7b - and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. NKJV

o If we didn’t have Neshamah (Hebrews for breath) we would not be a living being.

o God breathed into the nostrils of dirt and made a living being.

o Many say they don’t believe in God and others say they don’t want God

o If God would to take back what He gave them they would have to give back Neshamah.

§ The very breath they are breathing.

CONLCUSION

A recent Gallup Poll found that the greatest number of Americans (47% of those expressing an opinion) hold to the strict creationist view, that God created man pretty much in his present form within the last 10,000 years. Most other Americans believe in some combination of evolution and creationism, and only nine percent of Americans believe in strict evolution.

Today there is a great lie in our society

o It is permeating our schools and government

o It is seducing our kids and families

o It is sinking our country and those who live here

It is the idea that science is God…

But God doesn’t need science to be God… Science is theory. God is fact.