Gtcotr/ws011613
Genesis 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."
27 So God created man in His own
image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
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."
Genesis 2
7 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.
18 And the LORD God said,
"It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper
comparable to him."
21 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.
22 Then the rib which the
LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the
man.
Commentary
God made man on the sixth day of
creation. Man’s first day was God’s seventh day, the day God rested. From this
we conclude that man was first invited to rest in God’s finished work. God
purposed man to have dominion over all creation upon the earth. Dominion is
understood to be both the right and the power to govern and control. Man is
God’s steward. Furthermore man was created in the likeness and the image of
God.
Man, like God, is a three-part being. God
formed man’s body from the dust of the ground; breathed into man’s nostrils the
Spirit of Life; and man became a living soul. The scriptures rightly identify
God as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – God in three persons, the Holy
Trinity. Man was purposefully created a triune being like God – Spirit, Soul
and Body.
Once created, God did not find it best for
man to be alone. God further divided man into two genders, man and woman. He
gave to each gender the qualities and capacities of life which are necessary to
fulfill their ordained roles and responsibilities according to His plan. God
does not intend for His relationship with man to take the place of man’s
relationship with man … both relationships are important to God and to man.
Whether man or woman, male or female, you
are a unique individual created in God’s image, a three part being, invited to
rest with God in His finished work, given dominion over all God’s creation upon
the earth, charged with stewardship responsibilities, and destined to live
forever. However, man’s only connection with God is through the Spirit.
One day your earthly body will perish but
you will continue to exist far beyond the grave, even throughout eternity – the
only question is where.
Important
Points
1.
Every individual is like God – 1 person, 3 parts.
2.
Every individual is designed to have dominion over God’s other
creations.
3.
Every individual is invited to rest with God in His finished work.
4.
You are a unique individual with special value.
5.
You will live forever – the question is, where?
