Day 6 "Image and Likeness": Gen. 1:24-31

Intro:

Answer the question about “evening and morning”

Outline:

Living Creatures: “Livestock, Creeping Things, and Beasts” (vs. 24-25)

Mankind: “In our Image and After our Likeness” (vs. 26-28)

Food: “Every Plant” (vs. 29-31)

Summary:

Prayer:

Living Creatures: “Livestock, Creeping things, and Beasts” (vs. 24-25)

Creates (Said) (v. 24)

And God said- He expressed in words, he commmanded! This is not a vaugh guesture

Let the earth bring forth living creatures-

Let the earth- recognize where they are coming from, not an eneba that is coming out of the water through millions of years of evolution and adapting to its environment.

bring forth-“to come or go out, proceed”

according to their kinds

livestock- “behemah” land animal- a kind of animal that lives on land from the size of a hare up to the size of an ox or horse or perhaps larger; often domesticated

Creeping things- “Remes” “small moving things- small animals (including reptiles) that move along on land or water, possibly by creeping.”

Beasts of the earth- “hayah” “wild animal- any undomesticated animal living in the wild”- could include dinasaurs or dragons

according to their kinds

and it was so

Defines (Separates) (v. 25)

and God made

the beasts of the earth- “hayah”

according to their kinds- category, species

and the livestock- “behemah”

according to their kinds- category, species

everything that creeps on the ground- “remes”

according to its kind- category, species

Evaluates (Saw) (v. 25)

and God saw- examined, inspected, “Elohim”

that is was good- desirable, pleasant, efficient

Application/Implications:

God said, separated, and saw. He creates, defines, and evaluates and it is continuing on Day 6!

How many of us enjoy animals? Have you ever seen a dog give birth to a horse? have you ever seen a frog give birth to a moose? Have you ever seen a cow give birth to a human?

Okay Pastor Jeremy, God created the animals. I got it, so what? Are you saying that I need to become a animal activist. This can be the temptation as we walk through this, “oh, God created the earth, should I become more active in climate control?”. Remember, there is only one chapter on all of creation, what does this mean? Creation is a part of a bigger narrative, a world view. Creation points to an origin account that is the result of a God who creates, defines, and evaluates. A God that creates with purpose, boundaries, and consistency. A God that has authority over His creation and has blessed it. Genesis is not merely about creation vs. evolution. It is much bigger than that, it is about your worldview.

We must be careful that we do not pick one thing out of the whole and make it the main thing over the whole. This translates into your world view. Do you believe that God is just a part out of your life or is He the main thing over the whole? In other words, are God’s Words only important to you on this day, Sunday.

Transitional phrase: The light is focused, the audience is in place, now it is time for the main event!

Mankind: “In our Image and after our Likeness” (vs. 26-28)

Image and Likeness (v. 26)

Then God said- “the purpose of education is to know what God said”- this is the basis for the sufficiency of Scripture that we talk about and hold to.

Let us make man in our image- this word for “make” is different than before, it is first person plural, not 3rd person singular.

man- “adam”, not “Behemah, remes, or hayah”.

in our image- “selem” “form”, statue, replica, the visual appearane of something or someone.

after our likeness- “demut” model, shape, similarity in appearance, character, or nature between persons or things.

And let them have dominion- “to exercise authority over, as of nations or other entities, even natural ones (like animals)”

over the fish of the sea

over the birds of the heavens

over the livestock

over all the earth

and over every creeping things that creeps on the earth

Male and Female (v. 27)

So God created man- Man is created, we did not evolve from some other animal or creeping thing.

in his own image- “selem”

in the image of God- “selem” the visual appearance of something or someone” a right representation of the invisible God.

he created him

Male and female He created them

male- “zakar”

female- “neqe-vah”

Both genders are made in the image of God. One is not superior to the other. One is not more “God-like” than the other. Yet, you need both to accomplish the image, or visible representation of God. You also need both for what He is about to say next...

Be fruitful and have dominion (v. 28)

and God blessed them- “invoked divine favor” upon them. The same as the living creatures

and God said to them

be fruitful- command, imperative, “to reproduce, be fruitful”

and multiply- command, imperative, “to be numerous, increase in number or quantity”- we bear representation and divine likeness in the blessing of creating life!

fill the earth- command, imperative “to make full”

and subdue it- “kib-su” command, imperative “to make subordinate, dependent, or subservient”

and have dominion- “redu” command, imperative, “to rule, to exercise authority over, as of nations or other entities, even natural ones (like animals) same word as before

over the fish of the sea

over the birds of the heavens

over every living t hing that moves on the earth- to govern it, because it doesn’t belong to man. Mankind is not the the authority, we are the representation of that authority. We act as a statue of rememberance to creation that the real ruler exists even though He is not “here”.

Application/Implications:

Don’t forget, man is a replica, a statue of the real ruler. Earth is not here for our use to serve us in our desires. We are to be a right representation of the invisible God. Where as there is a focus on the earth and the sun, moon, and starts serving the earth, it is the not the focus. Whereas there is a climax, divine attention given to the creation of mankind, we are but a replica of the true creator, the author of everything.

In what ways does your authority of dominion over your part of creation show that you are a right representation of the creator or are you seeking to hijack and take control for yourself?

How you respond to the authority in your life

How you approach romantic relationships

How you treat your spouse

The way in which you parent your children

The way in which you run you business

Illustration of my son or the little bronco

Once again, we must be careful. Does this mean that God wants me to become an activist against abortion, protest birthcontrol, and march against doctor assisted suicide? Don’t get me wrong, based off of the dignity and divine representation of ever human being whether unborn, born, or near to death, we should care. But there is a bigger question at stack here. How does all of this play into your worldview? Is God only going to be God on this issue in your life? There are a lot of people in the world that care for people but do not care for the creator of those people or live in light of their divine purpose and mandate to represent Him accurately.

Transitional phrase: The peak of God’s creation is revealed! Mankind is created with a distinct purpose to be a right representation of the invisible God.

Food: “Every plant” (vs. 29-31)

Mankind (v. 29)

And God said

behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth

and every tree with seed in its fruit- we are aware of this...

you shall have them for food

Living creatures (v. 30)

and to every beast of the earth

to every bird of the heavens

to everything that creeps on the earth

everything that has the breath of life

I have given every green plant for food

and it was so- the vegetation reproduces to feed the creatures and they reproduce. The vegetation fuels mankind and they reproduce.

Very Good (v. 31)

and God saw

everything that he had made,

and behold, it was very good

and the was evening

and there was morning

the sixth day

Application/Implications:

So, are you saying that Christians should all become vegetarian farmers?

Transitional phrase:

Summary

Song: Jesus all for Jesus

Jesus, all for Jesus All I am and have and ever hope to be

All of my ambitions, hopes and plans I surrender these into your hands

For it's only in your will that I am free Jesus, all for Jesus All I am and have and ever hope to be

Discussion questions

Worship- Renew the Mind (Scripture)

1. What passage of Scripture did we look at? Summarize it in your own words.

2. ?

3. ?

4. ?

Grow- Engage the Heart (Conversation)

1. ?

2. ?

3. ?

Serve- Enlist the Body (Action)

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