The Creation Mandate

Making Sense of the Bible

Introduction

Have you ever found the Bible to be difficult to understand?

Do you see it as a series of 66 books that have no continuity or plot?

The Bible Is Unique

The Bible was written over a period of roughly 2,000 years by 40 different authors from three continents, who wrote in three different languages.

In this series, “Making Sense of the Bible”, we will be looking at what I believe are some of the most important passages of scripture.

I believe this series will help us make greater sense of the over–arching story of scripture and further understand God’s purposes for our lives.

Creation

Genesis 1:26–30 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.

Genesis 1 gives us the “Creation account” of the Bible.

After creating everything that is on days 1-5, God creates man and woman on day 6.

Genesis 2 gives us more detail on this creation:

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 NKJV

And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

Genesis 2:21–25 NKJV

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.

Image and Likeness

God created mankind in his “image and likeness”.

What does this mean?

“The word image is “selem” in Hebrew, and it can be translated “idol” or “statue.” An idol is a visible representation of an invisible being. A statue was put in the temple of every god in the ancient world so the worshiper could see what that god was like. We are God’s statues. His selem. We were put on earth — because the entire cosmos is this God’s temple — to make visible the invisible God. To show the world what God is like. We are the Creator’s representatives to his creation.”

(Comer, John Mark. Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human. (p. 39). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. )

Created For

We are created in the image and likeness of God for two primary reasons:

Relational

We relate to God in worship and obedience.

Worship is a response to God’s greatness.

Obedience is a response to God’s expectations.

Functional

God’s expectations for mankind is to extend His glory in the world by extending the Garden of Eden into the world.

This is called “The Creation Mandate”, because it was given to man at Creation.

Transition: Let’s look more at this mandate.

The Creation Mandate

Genesis 1:28 NKJV

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.”

Genesis 2:15 NKJV

Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.

After God blessed mankind he commanded:

Be fruitful - be productive; creative culture making.

Multiply – procreate; multiply image–bearers do the same.

Fill the earth - extend the Garden into the world; create a flourishing culture.

Subdue it - bring all the earth under your productive and creative submission.

Have dominion - rule the earth as God’s vice-regent; submitted to His authority.

Tim Keller said, “rearranging the raw material of God’s creation in such a way that it helps the world in general, and people in particular, thrive and flourish.”

John Mark Comer-”We’re called to a very specific kind of work. To make a Garden-like world where image bearers can flourish and thrive.”

This is what God has created us to do.

When we do this well, God is glorified.

Be Fruitful!

The reason this is so important for “making sense of the Bible” is that we’ve tended to “over–spiritualize” what we are to be doing with our lives.

Our life in Christ goes beyond “spiritual disciplines” and “church–based activities”.

Too often it is said “only what we do for Christ” matters.

The problem is we negate our vocation and signify what we do outside of the church as “secular”, insignificant, and menial.

Example: ”About the King’s business today.”

Think About This

When God met with Adam in the Garden, he showed up in the “cool of the day”.

This to me is the late afternoon, early evening.

What was Adam and Eve doing “in the heat of the day”?

When God gave Mose the law, he commanded that ONE day in seven was to be a “day of worship” unto the Lord.

What were the people to be doing with the other 6 days?

Fulfilling the Creation Mandate

They were fulfilling the Creation Mandate!

They were living fruitful lives to the glory of God!

Jesus Said, Be Fruitful!

John 15:5–8 NKJV

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Disciples of Christ will bear much fruit.

We’re mistaken and shortsighted of we think this only pertains to “spiritual fruit”.

This applies to being fruitful in all of life!

Final Thoughts

The “Creation Mandate” gives us a clear directive to what we are to be doing with our lives.

We are to be fruitful with the gifts, talents, and abilities God has given us.

This doesn’t apply only to what we would think is “spiritual”

The “sacred/secular divide” needs to be dismantled.

Ask: Was what I was doing at Amazon Books any less fruitful than what I’m doing here on a given Sunday?

Ecclesiastes 9:10 NKJV

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

Colossians 3:17 NKJV

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Everything we do, we do in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Quote: “You were made to do good— to mirror and mimic what God is like to the world. To stand at the interface between the Creator and his creation, implementing God’s creative, generous blessing over all the earth and giving voice to the creation’s worship.”

(Comer, John Mark. Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human. (p. 49). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.)

Final Word

A most important reminder;

Everything we do is a demonstration of God’s love for mankind.

The greater demonstration of this love is the demonstration and declaration of the gospel.

We must guard against becoming a “good works” people and neglect sharing the gospel.

Take Action

Each and every day live your life to be fruitful.

Contribute to the “common good” and human flourishing”.